Camp Echo Monthly Alumni E-News March 8, 2004 Back issues are archived at If you want to be removed from this list, reply and let me know. ***** This is the February issue. (!) Next issue: late March ***** Contents -------- Please Welcome ... Brian McGinn High School Work Weekend Send a Kid to Camp Alumni Website 2004 Camper Enrollment 2004 Staffing Wintertime at Echo Join the "Echo Spirit Team" Wish List Alumni Notes - Eric Maltzman - Rich Skolly - Mwansa Mulenga - Tom Gardner - Julie McGinn Correction Announcements - Child Care Job Available - History of Teen Programs at Echo - Jobs at Eagle Rock - For Sale by Owner Song of the Month: ONE TIN SOLDIER Please Welcome ... ------------------ Brian McGinn has joined the full-time staff of the McGaw YMCA as the Assistant Property Manager at Camp Echo. Brian has been a successful Evanston builder for many years. In April he will move to Fremont with his wife Julie, son Zach, daughter Sarah, dog Spencer, and cat Echo. Brian will join Rob Johnston on the summer staff and will assist Rob with off-season maintenance projects and eventual winter programming at Camp Echo. Julie will be directing the Outdoor Education program this spring and fall, and helping out this summer while house-hunting. High School Work Weekend ------------------------ April 23-24-25 is our annual high school work weekend. We need many adult "crew chiefs" to make it all happen. JC Mike Mortell is coordinating the weekend as an Eagle Scout service project. Please join us! Contact Mike at . Send a Kid to Camp ------------------ Echo Alumni have contributed enough to send four 6th grade Ted Fund "graduates" to Camp Echo this coming summer. Any additional donations will be held over to continue this program in 2005. The Ted Fund sends economically disadvantaged, worthy Evanston 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to local day camps. Checks in any amount may be sent to the McGaw YMCA Development Office, made out to Camp Echo, with memo "Send a Kid to Camp." Alumni Website -------------- We are just a few weeks away from going "live" with our new and improved Echo Alumni website. You'll be able to browse the nearly 5,000 names we've collected from staff and family camp lists, and send messages to others via a private web-based form that keeps emails anonymous unless the recipient wants to reply. You will receive a special bulletin when the website is ready. 2004 Camper Enrollment ---------------------- With over 1,130 spots filled for summer 2004, we're approaching 90% of capacity. The last 10%, though, is the hardest to fill. Although some programs and sessions are filled, there are about 150 spots still open. Please encourage your friends, neighbors, nieces, and nephews to register for camp. Here's a partial list of specific programs with openings: Main Camp & Pathfinders, 3rd-8th grade, one week, June 13-19 Main Camp & Pathfinders, 4th-8th grade, two weeks, July 4-16 Main Camp & Pathfinders, 4th-8th grade, two weeks, August 1-13 Outpost (Nature Theme) 8th & 9th graders, July 4-16 Minnesota Canoe, 9th & 10th graders, July 4-16 Birches, 9th & 10th graders, June 20-July 3, July 4-16 Ropes & Rocks Adventure, 10th & 11th graders, June 13-19 Isle Royale Trek, 10th & 11th graders, June 20-July 3 Taste of the Southwest, 11th & 12th graders, June 20-July 16 Pacific Northwest Trip, 11th & 12th graders, July 18-August 13 The 2004 Camp Guide is available on the Camp Echo website. If you would like one mailed out, reply and let me know. 2004 Staffing ------------- Only a few positions remain open for summer 2004. Tomasz Jureczyk, our third cook for the past three years, has graduated from college and won't be returning to Echo. We're looking for a third cook for the entire summer. We may also have a health officer position open for one or more sessions. Finally, we're looking for Echo alumni who would like to take on a leadership position in Main Camp for one or more sessions. Please let me know if you are interested. Wintertime at Echo (written by Rob Johnston one month ago) ------------------ Last night under clear skies and a beautiful full moon, Laurie Marshall, daughter Elizabeth, and brother Dan joined Ruby and me on a headlamp-assisted night of cross-country skiing. The snow shown like a diamond-bejeweled blanket on the ground. By itself, skiing can be a daunting task (especially for novices) but the addition of darkness adds some particularly exciting challenges. Admittedly, I was the first of the brave souls to "bite it" by taking a downhill turn a bit too sharp, stepping off the trail and immediately being sucked into two feet of frozen white fluff. We have had lots of snow this winter thanks to the 5th most snowy January on record. The skiing conditions are terrific. Quite a few of our neighbors have been using the trail system that we have here and have been enjoying the winter "scene" that Echo has to offer. Following our evening of winter sport fun, we (intrepid adventurers that we are) enjoyed a pizza dinner with homemade frozen strawberry yogurt for dessert. It doesn't get much better. Perhaps sometime in the not too distant future Echo may be able to offer a wintertime program with skiing, ice-fishing, ice-skating, snowshoeing and sledding as possible activities. But first, we'll need a winterized lodge and a plan for plowing the entire length of the camp road. Keep the faith, Rob Join the "Echo Spirit Team" -------------------------- We're looking for volunteers to help at the Echo bus departures and arrivals in Evanston next summer. Give us an hour or two on a Friday or Saturday afternoon, or a Sunday morning. Mingle with the parents and campers and talk about your experience at camp. Help with the distribution of bus passes and loading/unloading luggage. To join the "Echo Spirit Team" hit reply and let me know you can help. Wish List --------- bugle copier machine capable of frequent runs of 200 copies kitchen refrigerator (we can pick it up in April) working window air conditioner (8,000-12,000 BTU) washer-dryer (mostly a dryer!) for the Director's House computers: 500 MHz or better PCs; iMacs or better puzzles Alumni Notes ------------ Eric Matlzman writes, "After reading about the adventures of Mary Fischl Wise in the January alumni news, I couldn't remain silent. I was on the Echo staff only one summer -- 1976. I haven't set foot in the state of Michigan ever since. Israel has been my home since 1978, but I often recall the wonderful adventures I experienced as a YMCA counselor at 3 different camps over 7 years. I remember a few great campfires with Rob Grierson, Russ Roeder, Skolly, Trammel, Ted Brunger, Katie Tucker, and Ann Stettner. But in retrospect my real claim to fame is this: when Mary Fischl came to Echo straight from volleyball camp, I was the only one around who could play with her (and vice versa). We set and spiked at each other like most players do in warmups before every practice and game. Congratulations to Mary and keep up the good work! By the way ... "The only reason I ever ended up at Echo at all was because of the current director. Rob Grierson and I are both from New Jersey. In 1970 we were both CITs at Speers-Eljabar YMCA in the Poconos. He showed me the ropes around "outcamping," where we worked together on the food and equipment for the camp trips. Over the years that followed we sang countless songs together, ran dozens of programs, had wonderful times working with campers, and have fondly recalled the highlights. For me Rob was a special highlight during my camp years. Echo is extremely lucky to have such a talented director. I can honestly say that Rob has only one drawback, only one shortcoming. After having worked as a counselor with campers from age 8-17 and as a teacher with pupils from age 5-18, I came to the conclusion a long time ago that the best age to work with at camp is 10. For whatever reason, Rob lives under the delusion that 11 is the ideal age. Maybe some of you alumni can help him see the light!" -- Rich Skolly writes, "I've been married for 15 years to Kate Feinstein. We have no children and two cats. We live in Greektown in the city. Bought a condo three years ago. We like to travel and see plays. I'm a middle-level manager in the engineering department of a large manufacturing company. Last December I traveled to Japan for two weeks on business and will visit Belgium next June. When not at work my hobbies include cooking (!), the study of ancient languages (!) (I haven't turned into a kook), reading, big jazz and classical music collecting. I'm on the board of directors for a not-for-profit theatre (Victory Gardens Theatre). Lots going on! I'm pleased that Rob J, Rob G, and Bill G are associated with Camp Echo. Regards to all!" -- Mwansa Mulenga writes, "Hey Rob, I am now in London with the cold weather, starting an MBA program." -- Tom Gardner writes, "Well it's still summer here and it doesn't look like coolling down too much soon. The swimming pools are busy and going well, but we are about to wind down for the winter, and this is the time I look really forward to Camp Echo. But this year is going to be different, because camp is not in my plans this year. I have the winter all lined up with more work and training, but it won't replace the good times I had at Echo. I will be running another pool most of the time, and other than that I will start my training for the fire fighters, and continue my kick boxing classes. I hope to hear how the summer goes as I will really miss everyone from camp this year. Good luck to you and the staff and best wishes for another awsome summer." -- Julie McGinn <> writes, "Our swimming sensation (Zach) made it to the YMCA State Meet for the 5th straight year. He placed in the top 12 in 50 yard breast and 50 yard free. He will be swimming free style in the medley relay and anchor for the free style relay on March 12th. Sarah Jane will be skating in her 2nd ice skating show in May and has fallen in love with the sport." Correction ---------- I apologize for copying an error that had been made by the Evanston Review in the obituary they published for Connie Blade's husband, Greg Schlessinger: Morley is Greg's sister, not his brother. Announcements ------------- Tom Zwergel reports that a woman he works with is looking for someone to take care of her 9-year-old autistic child for about twenty hours a week. Hours and pay are flexible. Christine is incredibly bright and loving, and enrolled in private sessions at Yoga for the Special Child here in Evanston. Interested persons should call Michelle at the yoga center, 847-869-8315. -- Josh Newman (Adventure Trip Manager) is doing an independent study at Prescott College, part of which will record the history of teen programs at Camp Echo. if you can answer any of the questions listed below, or if you can provide any other information that might be relevant, please contact Josh at . - What were the original trips? - Who were the original leaders? Who was in charge? - What was the mission or idea behind them? - Where were the trips staged? What kind of gear was used? - How many participants were involved in the program? - How did the program progress over the years? - What about the history of Outpost? PV? Birches? High Ropes? - Any stories or traditions you can share? -- Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center Estes Park, Colorado Eagle Rock is both an independent, full-scholarship, year-round, residential school for high school age students and a learning center for adults. It is fully funded by the American Honda Education Corporation. The school is dedicated to developing innovative ways to educate students who have not found success in traditional settings. Educators from around the world visit the professional development center to study how to re-engage these students in learning. Eagle Rock is seeking two new staff members. Salary is competitive, based upon experience, with excellent benefits. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT This person will work with the Director of Professional Development, staff and students to design on-campus events for educators; to provide outreach (conference presentations workshops, publications, website, videos, brochures, etc.); and to provide professional development for interns. The ideal candidate for this new position has teaching experience and a B.A./B.S. minimally; genuinely likes to work with students and adults; communicates well both orally and in writing; is very organized, energetic, innovative (takes initiative and is creative), flexible, and comfortable with ambiguity; has good technology skills (Mac); and demonstrates high personal standards, and a service ethic. Paper screening of applications begins March 31. Position starts July 1 or as arranged. TO APPLY: Send letter of application and resume (hard copy) to Dr. Lois Easton, Director of Professional Development. LANGUAGE ARTS INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST This person will develop, implement, and oversee a program in Language Arts with emphasis upon writing, literature and drama. Includes opportunity to expand current program; construct curriculum; draft and maintain a budget; mentor an intern; maintain student records; and participate in developing innovations in teaching. Requires degree(s) and have or be willing to obtain state certification; five years teaching experience; experience in a wide variety of course designs and program models; extensive experience in working with adolescents; strong organizational and leadership skills; desire and ability to reform educational practices. Paper screening of applications begins March 31. Position starts August 28, 2004. TO APPLY: Send letter of application and resume (hard copy) to Dr. Linda Sand Guest, Director of Curriculum. CONTACT INFORMATION: Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center, PO Box 1770, Estes Park, CO 80517. See our website at . -- For Sale By Owner: 1616 Washington Ave, 3 Units, $549,000 Garden Apartment and Second Floor have tenants through September who would like to say on after that. First Floor has 5+ rooms with newly renovated kitchen, new appliances. For more information call 1-800-644-5903 x2051. Song of the Month ----------------- ONE TIN SOLDIER (The Legend of Billy Jack) words and music by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter Copyright (c) 1969 by ABC / Dunhill Music, Inc Listen children to a story that was written long ago 'Bout a kingdom on a mountain and the valley folks below On the mountain was a treasure buried deep beneath a stone And the valley people swore they'd have it for their very own Chorus: Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend Do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end There wonÕt be any trumpets blowing come the judgement day On the bloody morning after, one tin soldier rides away So the people of the valley sent a message up the hill Asking for the buried treasure, tons of gold for which they'd kill Came the answer from the kingdom: "With our brothers we will share All the secrets of our mountain; all the riches buried there." Chorus Now the valley cried with anger: "Mount your horses! Draw your swords!" And they killed the mountain people; so they won their just reward Now they stood beside the treasure, on the mountain dark and red Turned the stone and looked beneath it: "Peace on Earth" ... was all it said Chorus Build The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson Camp Echo Director rg@mcgawymca.org