Gasper River Catholic Camp and Retreat Center News
March 20, 2008
The summer camp season is rapidly approaching. If you’ve never had a camp experience before, you may not know of the incredible adventure that awaits you. God will do amazing things for the campers while they are at camp. Exciting activities, such as low elements, zip-line, tubing the river, and many more challenges, all led by qualified and trained staff members, happen everyday. These moments are combined with learning about our faith in large group time, small group time and personal time with God. Friendships and memories are created that will last a lifetime as well as the deep seeds of faith that are planted. As a youth, you may have never realized that your faith could be this much fun. As a parent, look for the difference in your child between the time you drop them off on Sunday afternoon and the time you pick them up on Friday.
Each camp will start on Sunday afternoon with lots of fun-ice breakers and get to know you games. Each following day is filled with exciting activities to help young people get out of their comfort zones and give themselves the chance to grow. Each evening ends with a night social. Then it’s off to bed to get a good night’s rest and do it all over again. A camp health care provider will be on site at all times and there will be night security at camp to provide the safest environment we can for our campers. The camp week ends on Friday morning after a closing Mass.
If you’ve never been to camp before, take a chance and see what happens. If you have been to camp before come and see our new facility and all that it has to offer. Remember, God changes lives at camp! Come and see for yourself.
First News Update
On June 8th, 2007, the Diocese of Owensboro purchased the Gasper River Retreat Center, located eight miles northwest of BowlingGreen, and immediately took over operations of the facilities.
Ben Warrell, who graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in Outdoor Recreation-Parks and Recreation Administration and worked at Loucon Training and Retreat Center for many years, is the director of the facility.
Susan Warrell is the office manager and they live on the property with their son Paul.
It has been a very busy time as every weekend, and many weekdays, had bookings up through Thanksgiving. Over 1,500 volunteer hours have been documented since we took over. Many people from all over the diocese have volunteered time and materials to help us improve the camp and retreat center.
So far, over 30 Catholic groups, schools, parish youth groups, work teams and adult retreats, have been utilized the property. Currently the summer camp schedule is being worked out and the board of directors is working hard to make the necessary improvements for us to better serve the Church of Western Kentucky.
The diocese has kicked off a capital campaign that covers Catholic Education, the Priest’s retirement, the renovation of the Cathedral and the camp and retreat center. Please pray for the success of this endeavor and for the success of the camp and retreat center as a tool through which all, the youth especially, can grow in their understanding of our loving God.
If you would like to be involved or if you need more information about Gasper River Catholic Camp and Retreat Center please call our office (270) 781-2466.
