2006 Season

Submitted by phill on Tue, 04/17/2007 - 22:30. «

Table of contents

2006 Camp Hi-Sierra Summer season

A.K.A. "Ought Six"

2006 marked an exciting year for Hi-Sierra programs as the inaugural year of the Mountain Adventure program and a trial year for Pottery.

Mountain Adventure was started in 2006, following springtime discussions between Ryan Andrews and Nick Laskowski, inspired largely by comments and critiques from the Camping Committee.
Webelos Week happened for the second year in its 21st-Century reincarnation.
Pottery was a featured program during International Rendezvous 2006 and the Pottery Merit Badge was offered tentatively during the following Boy Scout week for the first time in recent memory. This program owed its start to Bob Varrelman's expertise and dedication, including the donation of a large kiln.
International Rendezvous 2006 occurred between Summer Camp weeks #2 and #3.

These individuals served on Camp Hi-Sierra staff in this season:

Emile A.J. Mestressat, III, the Camp Director, didn't get sung to quite as often as in his first time at the job in the 2005 Season.
Nick Laskowski made his mark in his first year as Program Director by insisting that all staff sing songs he wrote, whether they liked it or not.
Julio Lachaga, the Head Commissioner, was not a camel and did not have 3 humps.
Joey Baker, the Assistant Program Director, screamed many, many more times about how much he "loved the office."

Liz Martinsen tried her first year as Aquatics Director.
Paul Linggi returned for another year as Nature Director.
Larry Laskowski served another year as Shooting Sports Director and Rifle Range master.
Chris Riley returned for another stint, this time as the all-seeing, all-knowing High Adventure Director, overseeing "Base Camp Trekking" operations as well.
Ryan Andrews continued a proud tradition of never doing the same job twice, working as Scoutcraft Director.

Alan Buscaglia saved the world from imminent destruction once again as Camp Ranger.
Renny Wright kept everyone nourished in the midst of panic with Ivy-League-level cooking in a much-appreciated second year as Head Cook/Food Services Director.
Scott Morse somehow prevented everyone from bleeding to death, at least on his watch, as Health Officer.

The Bunkhouse was nearly complete during 2006, with 4 of 5 rooms finished, and Scouts and Adult leaders working on the remaining room through Tribe of Hi-Sierra service.
The Staff Benches were mostly crushed and obliterated by the fall of the Great Tree. The staff used the "Staff Trenches" for the remainder of the summer, standing, since Alan had yet to muster the super-human strength necessary to move the gigantic, schoolbus-sized logs from the tree. It was sad when the great tree went down.

Some particularly memorable moments of this season:

Tyler Gardner entertained the entire Camp with his "End of the World" skit (and accent!) in the midst of morning flags.
Ian Hoare, Paul Barron, Mike Hofman, Jerry Johnson, and other Staff Alumni shocked and awed the closing campfire of International Rendezvous 2006 with their "Team Martin-Zen" flag retirement. ("Glocks ready!")
Phill Baker earned a Staff Purple Heart by taking one for the team on a mountain biking ride return trip from the Clavey River.