
Hiram House Supports First Lady’s & President’s Challenge on Childhood Obesity
 |
by
Russell R. Grundke, Executive Director |
Across the country, childhood obesity has reached epidemic rates, due in part to modern lifestyles. Children need up to sixty
minutes of vigorous physical activity and play each day to maintain healthy weights throughout life, according to experts.
Studies show that many children often spend hours a day watching TV or sitting in front of the computer.
First Lady Michelle Obama has announced a new “Let’s Move” Campaign to ensure children have access to increased physical activity,
healthy, affordable food, and information and tools for parents to make healthy choices for their farmilies. President Obama has
also established a Task Force on Childhood Obesity to solve the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation.
He has called upon public, private and non-profit groups across the nation for their ideas and collaboration.
Hiram House fully supports this national initiative to benefit America’s youth. Camps, like Hiram House - one of the oldest in the
United States, are in a unique position to partner with parents, schools and communities to serve as a vital resource for children of all ages and backgrounds.
Whether in Summer Camps, School Camps, or Group Retreats, Hiram House offers the year-round facilities, programs, staff and expertise to provide children with
needed outlets for physical activity in a safe, natural environment, as well as nutritional, well balanced meals, that can help them develop healthy habits for life.
 First Lady Michelle Obama
You can read our public comments on this subject at: www.regulations.gov - For more information on the campaign visit: www.letsmove.gov
|
|
Hiram House
Happenings - 2010
Pre-Camp (Staff only)
June 7-11
Summer Resident Camp
June 13 - July 16
Summer Day & Jr. Day Camp
June 14 - July 30
NEW! Survival Camp
July 18 - 20 & July 21 - 23 (for boys & girls, 8 to 14 yrs. old)
Summer Horseback Riding & Adventure Camp
August 2-6 & August 9-13
39th Annual at Hiram House
Sunday, October 10
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Annual Board Meeting
Hiram House Board of Trustees
December 2010
|
Put a Smile on their Faces! Give to the Campership Fund - Help
Send a Child in need to Summer Camp
For many children from families in need a week at summer camp
is only a dream. You can help make that dream a reality by making a
generous donation to the annual Hiram House Campership Fund.
Please put a smile on their faces and help them enjoy a wholesome,
life-enriching summer camp experience. No matter the size, your gift will
make a real difference to a boy or girl that will last a lifetime.
You may donate online.
Hiram House is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Your gift may be tax-deductible.
Thank you for your generous support!
|
With Thanks to All!
Our sincere appreciation
to everyone who
volunteered or
participated in this spring’s
benefit for Hiram House
and the children we serve!
|
Save the Date for Pumpkin Festival 2010!
Are you one of those people, like this young visitor, who
simply jump for joy and just can’t wait for the annual Hiram
House Pumpkin Festival to roll around?
Then mark your calendar now and save the date for this
year’s fun-filled event on Sunday, October 10, 2010,
10 am to 5 pm. All proceeds benefit the “Campership Fund”
to send youth in need to summer camp.
|
Connect with Hiram House Online!
Become a Friend of Hiram House Camp at:
|
|
|
Hiram House Today
| VOL. 11 NO. 1 |
Spring/Summer 2010 |
|
|
Taylor Hall Renovations Ready
New Look Unveiled at Open House
 Exterior of Taylor Hall shows new
raised roofline with dormer windows added for
more sunlight and new wood siding.
After months of renovation, Taylor Hall re-opened in time for
the summer season with a brand new look, inside and out, that
is both attractive and functional.
The facility will be used year-round by Summer Campers,
School Camps, and Retreat Groups. The renovated structure,
which was originally built in the 1960’s, serves as the camp’s
dining hall and multi-purpose activity center.
The existing 3,600 square foot hall can seat up to 250 people
for activities, meetings or dining. It features new vaulted ceilings,
with wooden beams, fans, fireplace, two outside porches, plus a
cookout porch and commercial kitchen.
In the next phase scheduled for the future, the remainder of
the building will be reconfigured to include additional breakout
space for meetings and classrooms, as well as other activities, like
crafts and performing arts, plus an interactive nature center.
An Open House was held to unveil the new changes
this spring. It also featured a retirement celebration for camp
registrar Sandy Buehner, retiring after 41 years of service to
Hiram House.
 Interior with new peaked ceilings
for a more open, airy look and feel, rustic wooden
trusses, remodeled restrooms, new lighting,
ceiling fans and paneling
| |
Hiram House Board, Staff, Well Wishers Honor
Sandy Buehner - Longtime Staff Member
- Retiring After 41 Years Service -
Hiram House officials honored retiring staff member Sandy Buehner (pictured in center of photo)
with a bouquet of red roses, plaque and praise for her dedicated service at the Annual Meeting,
as well as at a special reception in her honor at the Taylor Hall Open House. (Board officers
shown, on left David Moore & John Barrett, on right Susie Cargile & Russ Grundke)
Camp Registrar Sandy Buehner is retiring, after 41 years of service to Hiram House Camp. The longtime staff
member is the friendly voice often heard on the other end of the phone at the camp office. Over the years, she has
registered thousands of children for summer camp and assisted countless families with the regisration process.
When Sandy started working at camp in April 1969, as a printer and assistant for then registrar Mrs. Oleksy,
she never imagined she would still be here today. Over the years she has seen many changes, lots of good folks
have come and gone and decades of young campers have grown up. However, she often encounters a parent who
will excitedly say, “I remember you from the time when I was a camper here myself!”
Some things stand out, like the days when she did everything without the benefit of today’s technology. She
jokes that when computers first came out, everyone said things would be easier, but sometimes she’s not so sure.
Or how about the era before business casual when she used to hike across camp dressed in heels and nylons?
What’s the secret that kept her at Hiram House for so many years? “It’s a wonderful place with great people”,
she reflected, “it has been very rewarding to have a job I love and in such a beautiful setting too. I can go out for a
walk at lunchtime, see deer going by, and enjoy the camp in all four seasons.”
But, it’s the children and families, staff and friends she will miss most of all. “There have been so many nice
people I have been fortunate to know and work with over the years.” Memories she finds most endearing are those
of children who wept at the end of their camp stay because they had so much fun, they didn’t want to leave.
Sandy and her husband, Tom, plan to remain active in their retirement. She wants to devote more time to her
passion for photography and the couple looks forward to traveling together to places like England and Florida where
they have friends. Also, she hopes to adopt the new pet dog she has wanted for so long.
A native born Clevelander, Sandy is a graduate of Kenston High School and resident of Geauga County.
Thanks Sandy from everyone at Hiram House and Best Wishes for the Future!
| |
Looking for a Great Summer Job? Now Hiring Summer Camp Staff
Want a summer job that’s rewarding, action packed, in a beautiful natural
scenic setting working with great folks and families, and making a difference in
the lives of children?
Then look no further - Hiram House
wants you!
Now hiring staff for the summer
season. Counselors, lifeguards, nurses,
program and maintenance staff,
plus specialists in archery, canoeing,
and horseback riding, are needed.
Each year the camp employs summer staff members from
some fifty colleges and universities across the country.
Find more information and apply online today.
| |
Welcome Summer Campers 2010!
Summer Camp 2010 kicks off with an
exciting season planned for boys and girls
at Hiram House!
Summer Day, Junior Day and Resident
Camp will run from June through July, with
lots of fun hands on outdoor activities, like
swimming, canoeing, archery, hiking, crafts,
fishing, climbing wall, and more.
NEW! this year will be the addition of
piglets to our barnyard full of calves, sheep,
goats and other baby animals to feed and
groom at the Double H Ranch Farmstead.
The new Survival Camp will also be
held during mid-July, featuring wilderness
and pioneer skills, like shelter building,
campfire cooking, rope making and more.
Horseback Riding & Adventure Camp
will be held in August, with western riding,
challenge and other camp activities daily.
Time for Summer Fun at Camp!
Don’t miss all the fun! Some sessions
still have openings, so sign up today!
For information, please call us at:
(216) 831-5045 read more here.
|
NEW! at our Farmstead for 2010
These Little Piggies Come to Camp! |
| |
Hiram House Elects New
Trustees, Re-Elects Officers
New Trustee Travis Grundke (not pictured, New Trustee John Towslee)
Hiram House elected two new trustees
to serve on the Board at the annual meeting,
Travis L. Grundke and Jon S. Towslee.
Grundke is a consultant with Ashton Technology
Solutions, Inc., based in Beachwood.
He is a graduate of the College of Wooster
where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
International Relations. A native of Moreland
Hills, Grundke now resides in South Euclid. He
and his fiancée Leah Gardner are engaged to
be married later this year.
An active volunteer for many years,
Grundke was recently found volunteering on his
birthday at the annual Hiram House Pumpkin
Festival last fall, as he has every year for as
long as he can remember.
“It’s a family affair,” he explained. Since
his parents, Russ and Joanne, have worked at
the camp since the 1960’s, Travis said Hiram
House has been an important part of his life
and he now wants to give back all he can to
aid in the camp’s continued success. He said
he looks forward to working with Hiram House
on “capital developments and programming
for the 114-year old youth camp.”
Towslee, a former Hiram House Day Camp
Counselor in the 1980’s, is now Vice President,
Strategic Accounts for Novar (Honeywell),
located in Independence. He is also registered
as a professional engineer in the State of
Ohio and as a certified energy manager by the
Association of Energy Engineers.
Towslee earned a Master of Business
Administration from John Carroll University
and completed his undergradute degree at
the University of Akron. A Cleveland native,
he and his wife, Laura, and their family reside
in Northfield Center.
Hiram House Trustees also re-elected
Board Officers, including: President John
D. Barrett, Vice President/Finance David B.
Moore,Vice-President/Development Susan W.
Cargile, and Russell R. Grundke, Secretary &
Executive Director.
| |
Spring & Fall School Camps,
Youth Group Retreats
Kick Off New Season
Laurel Middle School girls work
together to solve the Spider’s Web Challenge to help
foster teamwork, leadership and communication skills.
Hiram House welcomes our new and returning
School Campers and Youth Retreat Groups for the
spring and fall season.
Students from many area schools incorporate
outdoor education, recreation and hands-on learning
activities at camp into their academic studies.
Groups, like the Matthew Salem Foundation for
children with cystic fibrosis, use the camp’s natural
setting for special programs for youth.
|
|
Hiram
House Today - Spring/Summer
2010 Vol. 11 No. 1
Editor: K.M. Bourland Communications
Web Design: ColorBar |
|
|
|
| For previous news issues, visit our archive page. |
|
|