In January our head counselors for summer 2010 met at International Summer Camp Montana. Along with the camp directors they had several meetings to discuss the new and exciting changes and additions to the camp programme. They also discussed how the camp and the programme can develop with the changes in today’s youth.

This summer Danny Herberich will be the Pioneer Head Counselor. Danny works all year round at camp as our programme director and is in charge of staff recruitment. Almost every past and present camper and staff member will know Danny who will spend his 36 summer at ISCM.

Vanessa Mangold Fluri will rejoin us at camp as the Junior Head Counselor, a position that she also held in summer 2008. Vanessa has worked at camp in various positions for the last 10 summers; she took summer 2009 off from ISCM to become a first time parent and welcome her daughter Emma-Louise.

The senior section will have Scott Stewart as their new Head Counselor this summer. Scott is originally from Scotland and has worked at ISCM in various positions over the last 8 summers.

Scott Stewart, Vanessa Mangold Fluri, Danny Herberich & Beau

Over the last 50 years not only have a lot of children attend International Summer Camp Montana but also a lot of fantastic people have worked at camp. During November 2009 the assistant to the directors, Danny Herberich met up with staff members past and present in California. Please find below photos of the 2 reunions, the first features staff members from many years ago and the second more recent staff members.

It is nice to see that the friendships formed by our staff members while at camp have remained and that they still keep in contact after all these years.

Staff Members 1985 - 1995

Left to Right
Back row: James Etheridge, Danny Herberich, Clinton Anderson
Front row: Carol Gasparini, Bob Scott, Robin Etheridge, Kara Chine

Staff Members 2004 - Present

Left to right: Jonathan Weaver, Heidi Stuckenschneider, Scott Niedermier, Natalie Podgorski, Hanni Stuckenschneider, Carol Gasparini, Erika Redlinger, Danny Herberich, Stephanie Muehlethaler

As of June 2010 the Résidence Erica in front of our main building will be ready to welcome staff as well as some campers.

The garden floor of this beautiful building will be home for our oldest senior boys. Those six rooms are all facing south and have a large terrace. Each unit has its own shower/bathroom as well as a separated toilet. They are also equipped with a large fridge where the boys can chill their soft drinks.

We are sure that those lucky campers will love those rooms.

Here is a drawing of this house with the garden floor rooms’ windows marked in blue.

There will be a new activity at International Summer Camp Montana as from the summer 2010; Yoga!

The benefits of Yoga are numerous. Just to mention a few: better body balance, flexibility and strength, smoother breathing, good stress management and relaxation in general.

The Yoga classes at camp will be adapted to the age and to the physical capacity of the campers. It is a fun activity that can be of use for young adults as they grow in today’s challenging environment.

Here are a few photos of our camp Director Philippe Studer and his yoga teacher Mrs Catherine Lude on the camp terrace practicing yoga.

On Friday 11th September the house staff who works at International Summer camp Montana for the summer finished their season. We gathered in the main dining room for a festive lunch. One person in particular who was celebrated was our camp baker, Pedro Gonzalez.

Pedro started working at camp 40 years ago and has been providing our campers with delicious pastries, desserts and breads since 1969. At International Summer Camp Montana all our baked goods, breads and desserts are homemade here in our kitchen by Pedro and his staff.

Thank you for your work Pedro and see you next summer.

Every day before they begin the day’s activities all campers, tidy their rooms make their beds and put their belongings in order. Later in the day the camp cleaning staff will also pass by to clean the room.

In the morning there is a room inspection and the rooms who receive excellent marks have a special treat during one of their evening meals. Some groups take this very seriously and take on the challenge to do their best to get the top score of 25 points

You will see here the junior room inspection score sheet from this summer and also the photos of room N° 1 in the junior chalet. As you can see almost all rooms made it to 25 points!

Great work juniors!!

On the Sunday when all others were gone, we had 4 campers who stayed on as they were not permitted to travel due to health concerns. These campers were feeling much better and were invited for a relaxing evening at the Camp owner’s family room. Here they watched the Roma vs. Juventus football match, played a little DS and surfed the web. They thoroughly enjoyed the special treatment and we wish them a speedy recovery.