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Camp Echo Alumni News: April 2016
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There are so many ways for you to reconnect with Camp Echo. We are excited to keep you informed of all the great things that are happening.
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A Word from our Camp Director, Bernard Rocca
Camp Echo is for all.
In three short letters, "all" encapsulates the entire breadth of the people and experiences that form the Camp Echo community.
Despite our best intentions, camp has many barriers to success for prospective campers. The barriers that present themselves to campers are as unique as the campers themselves. Do we have activities to suit the interests of ALL campers? Can we support the social-emotional needs of ALL campers? Do we have strong adult role models that ALL campers can aspire to become?
If we are honest, we admit that we can not answer yes to all of these questions. Not yet. But we are working hard and excited to continue asking the question, "How do we make Camp Echo for all?"
Of course, our impact can only be felt by all who have the means to come to camp. With escalating income inequality, many families do not have the means to send their children to camp. Camp Echo gave away $200,000 in fee assistance for Summer 2015 and we hope to provide even more for Summer 2016.
While the Camp Echo staff works hard to remove the barriers for campers at Camp Echo, we ask our loyal friends and alumni to help us remove the financial barrier. Together, we can change lives for the better and strengthen our community!
Nardo.
Bernard T. Rocca IV
Executive Branch Director
McGaw YMCA Camp Echo
847-475-7400 x263
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Camp Echo Annual Fund Progress Update:
Thanks to your fabulous response to our annual appeal mailing, we are closing in on our goal of raising $280,768 for Camp Echo Annual Fund by June 30, 2016. As of March 31 we have raised $191,611 which is 68% of our goal.
Your gift will be matched 1:1
Once again, for the third year in a row,
we have received a challenge matching grant from the Y of the USA's Strategic Initiative Fund to match your donation dollar for dollar up to $12,000 which will be earmarked for our scholarship campers attending Camp Echo for the first time this summer. If you have not already done so, please consider making a gift to Camp Echo for the Scholarship Fund or our Greatest Need before the end of June.
Click here
to make your gift on line or contact
Katie Trippi
for other options.
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Join us for our annual
Send-a-Teen-to-Camp fundraiser and friend raiser.
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Where:
Prairie MoonRestaurant
1502 Sherman Ave, Evanston
Cost: $50 per person $75 per couple tickets purchased in advance.
$60 per person, $100 per couple at the door.
Live band: Suite Mollie 7
Camp Echo memorabilia in Silent Auction and Live Auction
One drink ticket and heavy appetizers included in ticket price.
Contact
Katie Trippi
to RSVP and
purchase tickets in advance.
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Camp Echo cultivates strong Community Partnerships.
Thanks to the great work of our Youth Outreach Specialist, Jesse Chatz, Camp Echo has cultivated and nurtured many partnerships among other youth serving organizations in Evanston to help us identify and serve kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to attend Camp Echo.
Our partnership organizations include:
Thanks to these awesome collaborations more than 100 campers,
4 families, and 2 staff members will be attending Camp Echo this summer.
One of our partners, Evanston Scholars, is looking for current sophomores at Evanston Township High School to join their college mentoring program.
Here is a flyer
with more information about their program. Please pass this along to any sophomore you know who might be interested. You may contact
Steve Newman, E
xecutive Director of Evanston Scholars,
for more information.
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Visiting Camp this Summer
We love having visitors to Camp when we are in full swing.There are a few rules we have put in place to ensure the safety of our campers and the efficient functioning of camp. Please contact Katie Trippi if your plans allow for a visit to camp.
Day Visits: We welcome guests to visit for a couple of hours and stay for a meal if it is convenient. Please let us know at least a week in advance of your visit.
Overnight Visits:
We can accommodate visits of up to 48 hours dependent upon housing availability and camp programming. Visitors staying overnight will undergo a criminal background check and need to complete other paperwork. We ask that you let us know as soon as possible and no later than three weeks before your visit if you would like to stay overnight at camp.
Volunteer:
If you have more time and would like an opportunity to volunteer at camp this summer, we encourage you to apply to for our Expert in Residence Program so you can share your talent, passion, and expertise in a meaningful way with our staff and campers. Expert in Residence volunteers may choose t
o stay for 5 -7 days. We will provide housing and meals during your residency. You will undergo a criminal background check and need to complete other paperwork.
by June 1.
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Meet the Team for 2016
Our Camp Echo year round squad has grown substantially over the past year. Recently they spent several days at Echo planning strategically for this summer.
Click here
to read each of their bios and learn about their important role in our team.
Pictured left to right:
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Volunteer Spotlight:
Shannon and Connor Sullivan, Camp Echo staff members and seniors at the Waldorf School in Chicago, chose to do an internship with the Camp Echo team for the month of March as part of their graduation requirement. They were very helpful to us in the office and completed numerous tasks helping us get ready for the summer.
One of their projects was to reorganize and reprint the Camp Echo Song Books. One songbook is filled with our
Heritage Songs
from long ago and the other includes all our
Current Songs
.
L
et us know if you think we are missing any of your favorite songs.
Here is a video they produced about our traditions at Camp.
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What is your pet's name?
Many of our alums have chosen a Camp Echo related theme for their pet's names.Did you know that Echo Alums Kathy Tisdahl and Pat Hughes have a dog named Echo?
Send us a photo of your pet with an Echo related name and we will be happy to share them in our next newsletter.
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What was your favorite Evening Program?
Emma Sailer (on the left) is our Program Coordinator this summer and she is looking for program ideas that we can bring back from the past,
or any other helpful insight that will help our program staff this summer, please
email Emma with your ideas
!
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Join us at our monthly Alumni Gatherings
Join us on the third Thursday of each month for an Echo networking event designed to engage and connect our alums. We have added specific topics for each evening in hopes of engaging more of you in your areas of interest. You must be 21 years old to attend. Location will change each month, but event will always begin at 7:00 pm.
Please RSVP to Katie Trippi in advance of attending, though last-minute arrivals are always welcome!
Where: Prairie Moon Restaurant
1502 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Topic: Family Camp Program
Future Dates and Venues:
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Campfire at the Fire Pit at Light House Beach in Evanston
You do not have to be 21 to attend this one. Bring your whole family!
Topic: Classic Echo Campfire
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Alumni News for April, 2016
Sara Fiore McCartin: Camper in the 90's, Staff 90's, 00's
Peter Dangremond: Camper in the 90's, Staff 90's, 00's
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