Hiram House Resident Summer Camping & Day Camps

VOL. 4 NO. 2

Spring 2003

New Equestrian Center Dedication and Gala Benefit Planned for May 31

"We're Back in the Saddle Again"

The eagerly awaited opening of the new Hiram House Equestrian Center and the official return of the camp’s popular Western Horseback Riding Program will soon arrive with a special Dedication and Gala Benefit planned for May 31.

The event will feature a festive evening of musical entertainment, cocktails, dinner, live auction and raffle, with all proceeds benefiting the new Equestrian Center and Riding Program. The new facilities will also be dedicated during the ceremonies. Funding for the project was provided by the Billie Howland Steffee Family Fund of The Cleveland Foundation. Steffee will be the guest of honor at the event.

The Equestrian Center has a 9,700 square foot indoor riding arena, a 4,500 square foot stable (eleven box stalls), pastures and an outdoor riding arena.

This Summer, Hiram House will offer Horseback Riding options for Day and Resident Campers, plus two, one week-long Riding Programs in August. Beginning this fall, Horseback Riding Programs will be available to area schools and community organizations. Please call (216) 831-5045 for details.

Hiram House Welcomed Antwone Fisher

Antwone Fisher answered questions from St. Louis School 7th Grade Students, at Camp (photo courtesy of Catholic Universe Bulletin)

Fisher and his former 5th Grade Teacher Brenda Profit toured cabins where they stayed at Hiram House School Camp 30 years ago.

Hollywood screenwriter and New York Time best-selling author Antwone Fisher spoke here with a group of 7th grade students from the St. Louis Elementary School in Cleveland Heights about his experiences at Hiram House School Camp, his new film, books, and his troubled life of abuse and neglect growing up in a Cleveland foster home.

During his visit to camp in January, Fisher was also reunited with his former 5th grade teacher Brenda Profit. Together with camp officials, they toured the cabins in which they stayed some thirty years ago with Fisher’s former classmates from Parkwood Elementary School, pointing out bunk beds into which Profit would tuck the children into each night. In his best-selling memoirs, “Finding Fish”, Fisher refers to his days at Hiram House School Camp as one of his warmest childhood memories and calls Profit “the woman closest to a mother that I would ever know.” While at camp this winter, Fisher fondly recalled that Hiram House had been “a place of refuge during that difficult period in his young life.”

Fisher answered questions from the students and gave them and their families passes to attend a special screening that evening of the film “Antwone Fisher”, directed by and starring Academy Award Winning Actor Denzel Washington. He also invited them to the signing of his new poetry book, “Who Will Cry for the Little Boy?”, the next day. Hiram House officials were invited to attend the Cleveland Premiere of his film at the Palace Theater in Playhouse Square, which was held last December.

Antwone Fisher (center) met with St. Louis Elementary School Campers in Taylor Hall at Hiram House. Their teacher, Scott Wylie (front row, far right), and Principal, Julie Doughtery (back row, far left), were former Program Directors at Hiram House for many years.

Camp is “All in the Family” for Rimmer-McCaulley’s

Rimmer-McCaulley Family on Hay Wagon - (l to r) Shellie Rimmer, Dakota, Dominique, and Fontaine McCaulley, Shannon Rimmer, with their mother, Antonette Rimmer, in background.

For the Rimmer-McCaulley family, Summer Camp at Hiram House is a real “family affair”. Each of the five girls - twins Shellie and Shannon, 13, Dakota, 11, Fontaine, 10, and older sister, Dominique, 14 - has attended Hiram House as a summer resident camper for the past several years.

What keeps them coming back to Hiram House year after year? According to their mother, Antonette Rimmer, “they really love and look forward to their time at summer camp. They enjoy learning about all the different people and cultures and have made many wonderful new friends throughout greater Cleveland.”

“When I pick them up at the end of camp, they can’t stop talking, wanting to tell me about all the fun things they did in the two-week period – and”, she adds, laughing, “it’s not easy to listen to five kids talking at once.”

What do they like best about summer camp? For Shellie and Shannon it was “learning how to build a campfire, make a teepee, and outdoor survival skills”. For Dominique it was “canoeing”. For Fontaine, it was “making good friends”. And, for Dakota, it wasn’t just one thing - it was “everything”, including archery, boating, crafts, challenge, cookouts, songs, swimming, and, of course, ice cream.

Camp has even spanned the generations. Their mother, Antonette, attended Hiram House Summer Camp as a child. Rimmer remembers that, “it was the first time I had ever been away from home and I discovered that I liked it.”

“Years later,” Rimmer recalled, “when I first moved into this area of Cleveland, a friend and neighbor whose children had attended Hiram House told me about their experiences and recommended I send my kids there.” Now, Rimmer says, she too tells everyone, “they should send their kids to Hiram House Camp.”

She noted that her daughters have all benefited from their time at camp, learning to be more self-confident and responsible,” and it has had an added benefit for her too because, “they are so helpful to me at home now.”

Hiram House Program Director Michele Rothstein said camp counselors last summer had nothing but praise for the girls. “Everyone loved them, both campers and staff. Shellie and Shannon showed real leadership while at camp and were strong, positive role models, assisting with younger campers in their ‘Indian Girls’ group. Fontaine and Dakota, were a pleasure as well, cheerful, friendly and enthusiastic.” She observed that all the girls seemed to blossom at camp and hoped they would return someday as counselors themselves when they are older. Shellie and Shannon have already expressed an interest in doing so.

At 14, Dominique has now graduated from the Summer Resident Camp program, but hopes to return when Hiram House launches a week-long, western horseback riding program designed for older teens this season at the camp’s new Equestrian Center.

As for her sisters, Shellie, Shannon, Dakota and Fontaine, the girls are now back in their middle school classes in the Cleveland School District, busy with studies, sports, and karate lessons. But, they are already dreaming about the warm summer days ahead when they all plan to be back at Hiram House Summer Camp!

Meet Our Staff -
John Roberts is New Camp Facilities Manager

John and Sarah Roberts with their son, Braelyn

John E. Roberts has joined the staff at Hiram House as the new Facilities Manager.

In this position, he and his staff will oversee the daily operation and upkeep of the camp grounds, buildings, and equipment.

Roberts says he is looking forward to “seeing the Master Plan implemented and helping to ensure that the camp’s facilities remain in top condition.”

Previously Roberts was in management with Lowe’s, human resources with Home Depot, and taught outdoor education in Colorado and Arizona. A native of Medina, he also worked in his family’s construction business, Medina Property Managment. He is graduate of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.

John’s wife, Sarah Lauer Roberts, has a background as a nurses aide and in experiential education. She will also work on the camp’s staff part-time, as needed, assisting in the health center and in various camp departments. She is a native of Moreland Hills.

John and Sarah met at Hiram House when both were here years ago. He was in outdoor education and she was with her sister, a former camp counselor.

John succeeds Ray Robertson who retired after forty years of service.