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Greetings from Camp Echo!
It has been a long winter. I cannot believe we still have snow forecast in April, long after the first day of spring has passed.
The coming of spring does mean that summer camp is around the corner. We have been preparing for it. I would like to share with you a few things that have been happening at camp: With the retirement of Robert Johnston, we needed to hire another staff member. After a lengthy search, we hired Scott Tyink, a Fremont resident with an impressive resume. He joined the team this April as the Assistant Property Manager. He will be working with Brian McGinn who is now the Property Manager.
Last fall we started building our new bathhouse, replacing KYBO North. The work is well underway and scheduled to be finished for the summer. This bathhouse is more sanitary, will allow us to serve more children and families, and it meets all health department regulations. The Rob Johnston Nature Center is also getting close to completion and will be ready for summer camp.
Enrollment is going extremely well, which means we are steadfast in fulfilling our main mission, changing the lives of many children who come to camp in the summer. Brian, Scott, Meredith, Bernard and Katie are in the process of doing what they do best: Making sure camp is ready, safe and fun for the campers.
We have been truly blessed by your continued support of our efforts and would like to thank you. We cannot do what we have been known for, changing people's lives, without you. There are many exciting things happening at camp, and I am very heartened to know the place you allow us to hold in your life.
With gratitude,
Koffi Kpachavi
Camp Echo Director
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Brand New this Summer:
KYBO North & the Rob Johnston Nature Center
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Two more key components of our 2007 Master Plan will be completed in time for Campers to arrive in May of 2013. The dream for these buildings has been realized due to generous donations from our Camp Echo Alumni and Friends.
Donations to the Camp Echo Building Fund are always welcome. You may designate your gift toward a specific project or put your money to work immediately by helping to fund a current project.
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Welcome to the Camp Echo Family:
Scott, Robin, and Natalie Tyink!
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Scott Tyink started as the Camp Echo Assistant Property Manager on April 1st. Scott, his wife Robin, and their daughter Natalie moved into the Gate House along with their dog. The Tyinks are originally from Fremont and Scott worked previously as a general contractor in the Fremont area. Join us in welcoming the Tyink's to Camp Echo.
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Join us at Wrigley Field on May 14th
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We have a generous donor who has given us 50 tickets to the Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies game on Tuesday, May 14th at 7:05 pm. This will be a fundraising event for the whole family. Gather your Echo friends and spend a fun evening at the ball park. Tickets are $30.00 each and all proceeds benefit the Camp Echo Scholarship Fund. You may purchase your tickets online via PayPal or contact Katie Trippi to pay by check or credit card over the phone.
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Camp Echo On Line Auction May 9 - 12, 2013
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Stay home and enjoy bidding against your friends near and far for great Echo memorabilia and other unique items in our on-line auction. We will send out a link to the auction site just before it opens so that you can peruse this year's items. Last year our on-line auction raised over $5,000 for camp.
This year we have a number of new items including 8 X 10 prints suitable for framing of 2 of the David Bremer Watercolors created exclusively for our use, seven signed and numbered original acrylic paintings by Chris Heisinger titled "The Road to Camp Echo", Camp Echo clothing, A Chicago Bulls Derek Rose Jersey, and other items donated by generous Echo alums. If you have an item you would like to donate to the auction, please contact
Katie Trippi
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Make a donation to the Annual Fund get a letter from Camp
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Our annual fund solicitation mailer should have arrived in the last few weeks. If you did not receive it, please let us know and we will send another one. Anyone who donates at least $50 to the
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| The Camp Echo Website Has it All! |
 Visit our website to view up-to-date information about all that Camp Echo has to offer. |
| Echo Alumni Activities |
There are many ways for you as an alum to reconnect with the Camp Echo Spirit!
Volunteer:
- Join us at a work weekend in the spring and fall to open and close camp. Contact Brian McGinn for information.
- Help out in the Echo Office at the McGaw YMCA during the non-summer months. We can always use volunteer help! Contact Katie Trippi for information.
- Serve on the Echo Spirit Team at bus departures and arrivals at the McGaw YMCA. Contact Bernard Rocca for information.
- Volunteer to be a member of the Camp Echo staff during Family Camp and/or Main Camp. Contact Meredith Stevens for details.
Sign up for Camp:
Come for a Visit:
You are always welcome to visit and take a tour of camp. At first glance Camp Echo looks very much the same as it did when you were here last, but we would love the chance to show you all that is new and improved as well as give you a peek at our plans for the future. During the winter months, please call Brian McGinn. During the summer months, call Katie Trippi to let us know when you plan to arrive so that we can plan accordingly.
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Alumni News & Notes
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Josh (P'Nut) Stern (Camper 80's and 90's, Staff 90's and 00's) and his wife, Kirsten Mahoney welcomed their first baby, Tobias Sheamus Stern on August 22, 2012.
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P'Nut and Tobias
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Margaret Bernstein (Camper 80's, Staff 90's and 00's) and her husband Carlos Leon welcomed their first baby Lily Leon on October 6, 2012
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Margaret, Carlos and Lily
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Kate Jones (Camper 80's Staff 90's and 00's) and Evan Howell (Camper 90's Staff 00's) Welcomed their first child, Adeline June Howell on December 3, 2012.
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The Jones Howell Family
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Tom Engelhard (Family Camper '60's,70's,80's,90's,00's Family Camp Staff 2012) announced his engagement to Katherine Sivier in January 2013. Tom wrote, "I would like to share with my Echo friends that in December, Katherine Sivier and I became engaged! Of course before proposing, I had to make sure she embraced the Echo Spirit, didn't mind spiders, liked bug juice, and kayaking, so we attended Labor Day Weekend Family Camp and she loved it right away (phew!!) Thank you to everyone who welcomed her into the Echo family. Special thanks to Bill Tramel for not scaring her off with too many stories."
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Gillian Stevens (Camper 90's Staff 00's) married Andrew Eastman in Portland, ME on November 17, 2012
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Gillian and Andrew Eastman
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Dave Hunwick (Staff in the 90's, Current Family Camper) and his wife Cara Eme-Hunwick (Camper and Staff in the 90s, Current Family camper) welcomed their third child, Sean Owen Chidiegwu Hunwick on February 8. 2012. Sean joins big brother Johnny and big sister Sophie.
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Sean, Johnny and Sophie Hunwick
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Nate Plotkin (Camper in the 90's Staff in the 00's) and his wife Eileen welcomed their first child, Alexander Edward Plotkin on April 12, 2013
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Nate and Alex Plotkin
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Vivian Bianchi Sherman (Camper 90's Staff in the 90's and 00's) and her husband Kevin Sherman welcomed triplets!!! Eve Therese, Emeline Cecelia, and Elodie Lyn Sherman on April 3rd, 2013. Baby's pictures to be included in the next newsletter.
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We'd love to hear from you!
Send us your Camp Echo Stories and Memories.
Wishing you a great spring and summer 2013.
Live the Spirit,
Katie Tucker Trippi
MCGAW YMCA CAMP ECHO
Alumni and Development Director
1000 Grove Street,
Evanston, IL 60201
847-475-7400 x 226
katiet@mcgawymca.org
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