Welcome to Gasper River Retreat

Wow! What an amazing summer! This summer at Gasper River almost 300 campers, 47 volunteers, and 18 staff had the most spiritually powerful summer in our history. The Holy Spirit touched the hearts of everyone who was on camp. Lives were changed and the feedback from campers and parents has really been overwhelming. "Last night at adoration was the best night of my life. I've never felt closer to God." "What did you do to my child? This is not the same girl that I dropped off on Sunday. Thank you so much for helping her grow in her faith." "This has been the best week of my life. I can't wait to go home and make a difference for God." These a just a few of the responses that we've had from this summer. Thank you all so much for all the thoughts, prayers and support that you have given to camp this summer. The power of the prayers was felt all during the summer camp program. Please continue to pray for the campers and staff to stand strong in what they learned this summer and put their faith into practice.

Summer Camp is here! Eucharistic Life Camp started this past week and it has been amazing. The day is spent working on service projects around camp and preparing for the summer camp program. The evenings are spent studying Pope John Paul's encyclical on the Church of the Eucharist. It is a powerful week! Next week, our Expedition Camp I begins on Sunday afternoon. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will bless the grounds, staff, volunteers and most importantly the campers. We still have space available and will take regisitrations up to the first day of camp. We've already surpassed last year's number of campers and are still getting registrations in the mail every day. If you haven't already, sign up for camp or encourage a young person to come! We'll post on the Camps Link when a camp is full. Come on out and have the time of your life while growing in your faith! Look for new pictures of camp each evening on the Camps Link.

Camp Angels-sponsors who will help cover the cost of camp for deserving youth.
Volunteer counselors for camp: must be safe environment certified, please contact our office for more information.
Work teams-many projects need to be completed here at camp and we need people to be involved and help out.
Adirondack chairs, hammocks, picnic tables to help guests enjoy the outdoor beauty of camp.
Haywagon-large enough to hold 40 young adults.
Sound system-speakers, 2 microphones, wireless microphone, speaker stands, etc.
Electric, plumbing and carpentry supplies are always in need.
Tools of all kinds for maintenance-hammers, rakes, nails, screw drivers, wrenches, etc.
Major financial donors or sponsors for large projects at camp.
Batteries-D, AAA and AA.
Office supplies-copier paper, stamps, pens, envelopes, etc.
Sports equipment-basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, frisbees, volleyballs, etc.
Ping Pong tables (2)
Pool Basketball Goal or volleyball set up

We were hit pretty hard by the recent heavy rain. The camp received over 10 inches of rain in just over 24 hours. The river quickly rose to within 15 of the back deck of McRaith Lodge. We lost one canoe, two of our elements on the low elements course, our new Stations of the Cross along the river and the new trellis and plants at the Rosary Walk. Our road was washed out pretty good as well. On the positive side, none of our buildings were damaged. If you are able to help with a donation of treated lumber or a canoe, please contact our office at 270-781-2466. Please pray for the camp and for all those affected by the floods. We've already received several calls from groups willing to come and help us clean up and get ready for camp! God is good and we'll be ready for the summer in no time. Please get your registrations in to camp as well, there are still openings, but they are filling up quickly. Thanks so much for all of the prayers and support.

Summer camp will be here before you know it! Our theme for this summer is the Rich Servant-"Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" We've completed interviews for summer staff and we have several registrations coming in the mail every day. It's going to be a great summer so make sure you get your forms in as soon as possible. Several big events have happened out here at Gasper since our last posting. Bishop Medley had his first visit to the camp. He was very impressed with all that we have going on and is very excited about the future. We greatly look forward to having the Holy Spirit and Bishop Bill lead us into the future. Also, the five young men from Quincy University came and did an amazing job helping us get ready for camp. They came during their spring break and by Tuesday, they had completed most of the items on the "to do" list. They were outstanding witnesses of faith in action. Thank you gentlemen for your work, your faith and your friendship. Also, touching back to last summer (our theme was "Hope" and "Hope in Action,") we received a letter in the mail last week that greatly touched all the staff. Three young ladies from Fancy Farm took to heart the challenge from last summer. These young ladies learned how to make bracelets at camp. They sold them at St. Jerome and sent the money in to camp. Their gift will help other young kids come to camp. What a great witness of hope in action and it fits in so well with our goal at camp-have kids come, learn and grown in their faith and take it home to put into action. Thank you ladies and we can't wait to see you this summer! Many people have asked about financial aid for camp. If you are able to help, we ask that you prayerfully discern this opportunity to help make a difference in a young person's life. As always, we ask that you continue to pray for the camp, staff and campers that will visit this summer, that God will touch their hearts in new and amazing ways. Easter blessings to you all!

It's been an exciting last few weeks here at Gasper River. We found out that the camp will be featured in a magazine article by the National Catholic Extension Society. Look for it soon. Also, five students from Quincy University will be at Gasper River for their spring break to help work on several projects. In honor of Quincy's 150th anniversity, they are doing 50 States, 50 Service Projects. We were lucky enough to be a part of this incredible mission and are very excited about hosting these young men and all they will do to help us prepare for camp. Registrations are flowing into camp at a great rate! We are hoping to have over 400 campers this summer and we'll need your help. Please pray for the summer and please encourage any young person you can to see what God has in store for them at camp. If you have any questions about this summer, please contact our office. It will be an experience they will never forget. Also, please don't forget to check out our wish list and help in any way you can. Thank you all so much for the support and prayers, please keep them coming! Have a blessed Lenten Season.

Registrations are starting to flow into camp! Go to our Camps Link above to find information on all the camps, dates, costs and all the forms that you'll need to come to camp this summer. If you have any questions about camp, please contact our office and let us know. This summer is going to be great, make sure you don't miss out on an encounter with God. Also, if you are on Facebook, become a fan of Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp & Retreat Center to get any additional information or updates on camp. We can't wait to see you this summer.

The New Year is off to a wonderful start at Gasper River! The snow was beautiful and added greatly to the peace and stillness of the camp. The Summer Camp Schedule for 2010 is now available on the Camps Link above. Our first summer, we had 118 campers. That number climbed to over 200 last summer and this summer we hope to surpass 400 campers. We need your help in spreading the word about camp, so please encourage any young people to come to camp and any others to come help out. If you have any questions about the program, please contact our office and we'll be glad to help in any way we can. As our numbers increase, we will need more help from young adults and adults as counselors. A counselor volunteers for a week, gets a camp t-shirt, gets 3 meals a day, gets to do all the camp activities and most importantly, they can help make a difference in the life of a young person. Please pray about your role here this summer. We need your help and we need you to be involved. If you would be interested in spending the summer at Gasper River as a paid summer staff, please click on the Jobs Link above for more information. Please contact our office to step out in faith and join the team here. Our rates are not increasing for this summer and we offer one of the best camp experiences you can imagine for the money. If you are able, please check out our Wish List below and help in any way you can to help keep camp affordable for so many. Don't forget, this place is yours. If you'd like to come for a visit to see the camp in person and see what happens here, contact our office and set up a date for a visit. We can't wait to see you!!!

The entire staff at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp & Retreat Center would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed and wonderful New Year! Looking back, this has been an incredible year for us here at Gasper River. So many people have helped with their time, treasure and talents to help others have an encounter with God while at camp. Thank you so much for all who have given their gifts to serve God. Special thanks to the Murphy family from Scott & Murphy Construction for all they have done for us. Also, special thanks to the Embry family with Embry Medical Supply in Caneyville for ensuring that our guests have a comfortable place to sleep. And there are so many others who have given of themselves, thank you so very much. It is the true meaning of church when people are willing to share their gifts for God, that others may come to a deeper understanding of their faith. Thank you very, very much, we could not do it without you!.

We are very excited about our new bishop, Rev. William Medley. Please pray for him during his transition and we look forward to many years of service and guidance under Bishop-elect Medley as we move forward into the future. We are excited to have the Bishop-elect come down and see what a treasure the diocese has in the camp and retreat center.

One of the ways we are able to keep our costs so affordable is the generosity and support of so many people. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. If you are able to make a donation or contribution from our wish list below, please know that it is a tax deductable gift. We are not raising our rates for the summer camp season so we do need help for anyone who can offer it. If you have any questions or would just like to schedule a visit to see the camp grounds, please contact our office at 270-781-2466. Thank you all again for a wonderful year and for all you do for us. Please pray for us here and know that we pray for you as well. Merry Christmas and remember the purpose of this wonderful season. May God bless you.

Wow, what a Fall season!. Every weekend was booked this Fall from the end of summer on, including Thanksgiving. And all senior classes from all three Catholic High Schools in our diocese held their senior retreats here for the first time. We're catching our breath, deep cleaning and getting ready for the spring retreat season and next summer. As we do, we focus on the Advent season. We are preparing camp for the groups that will come while also preparing our hearts for the Christ Child. This time of year is a wonderful opportunity to clean out all the junk from our lives and fall more deeply in love with Jesus. Campers remember to put your Hope into Action from this past summer and please let us know what you do to show Christ to others; we'd love to hear from you. Please check out our website at the end of January for the finalized summer camp schedule for 2010. If you are interested in working here during the summer, the info for summer staff positions will be posted after the first of the year. Also, please check out our wish list below and, if you are able, see how you can help us keep our costs down so camp will be affordable to all. Have a blessed Advent Season, a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

We have just completed our second summer camp season here at Gasper River and each week was absolutely amazing. We operated at 90% occupancy for seven weeks of camp and our theme for the summer was from 1Tim. 4:10 "We have put our hope in the living God." Each age group, from 3rd and 4th graders through young adult, experienced God in new and incredible ways here at camp. If you haven't seen some of the pictures from this summer, please go to the Camps Link above and click on pictures of camp to see all that happened here this summer. On the camper evaluations, some of the comments were: "I've never felt God so strongly in my life ever before." "Camp was such a great time and I learned so much." "I never knew what Heaven was like, I couldn't even imagine what it would be like. After being here for a week, I have a feeling of what Heaven is like." "This experience has helped me grow so much in my faith." "I wish it was next summer already so I could come back!" It really was an excellent summer of faith, fun and friends!

On Saturday, June 20th, the Bowling Green Deanery celebrated the 26 years of service to our diocese by Bishop John McRaith. About 200 people came out to Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp & Retreat Center to celebrate this humble servant to the people of the Catholic Church of Western Kentucky. The prayer service and picnic were a wonderful way to say thanks to Bishop John for all he has done for all of us. In addition, the Main Lodge was renamed Bishop John McRaith Lodge as a way to honor the man whose vision and passion for the young people of this diocese led to the creation of this facility. Bishop John, thank you for your leadership, your love, your passion, your dedication, your devotion, and your service for all these years.

In other news, the 2009 summer camp season is underway. The Eucharisitc Life camp again was an amazing experience for those who attended. The campers worked in Bowling Green at a day camp for youth, painted and sealed the roofs of the newly remodeled cabins, upgraded the bath house in the cabin area and did all manner of landscaping around the site. It was a wonderful example of leading a Eucharistic Life-pouring yourself out in service, taking time to rest and allow God to fill you back up to do it all again. There are still a few spaces left for most of the camps so if you are interested, please download any forms and send them in as soon as possible. Check out the camps link for daily pictures of camp happenings and please continue to pray for us this summer.

There are still some spaces available for camp this summer. Each week is filling up quickly so get your registrations in while you still can. It's going to be an amazing summer! Our theme for this summer is "Our Hope is in the Living God." 1 Tim 4:10. Come to camp this summer to see who God is calling you to be and how to be the people that God created us to be. The Cabin Area is complete! All five cabins are brand new inside and out and the bath house for the area will be getting a make over during the Eucharistic Life Camp the first week of June. New bunk beds are also completed for the Cabin Lodge which will provide more beds for the area. A very special thanks goes to Mike Murphy at Scott Murphy Daniel Construction for the supplies and workers to make all of this happen. Also a very special thank you to the Embry family with Embry Medical Supply in Caneyville for donating the new mattresses for all the bunks. We could not operate without the generosity of so many wonderful families. Thank you for your support, please know that you are appreciated and prayed for and your gifts will help make a difference in the lives of so many children and adults. We'd also like to thank Phil Haire with Hannan Supply Company for a wonderful donation of lightbulbs for all our buildings. We'd also like to thank all those who have given their time, talent and treasure to help us here at Gasper River. We ask for you to please pray for the upcoming summer, that God's will is done and the Holy Spirit is abundant at camp. Also, if you are able, please check out our wish list and help in any way you can. The camp reflects true church in so many ways, especially the Church being universal. This place belongs to you! If you can be involved, please contact our office at 270-781-2466.

The Cabin Area is getting a make over! Thanks to the generous support of so many people, we will have five completly rennovated cabins, an updated, health code approved kitchen in the Main Lodge, two new showers in the Main Lodge and a new floor in the bathroom in the Cabin Lodge. When the projects are completed we will post new photos. These upgrades will greatly increase the quality of the camp experience here at Gasper River and will serve us for many, many years to come. Come check out the new work and be amazed by the generosity and support of so many wonderful, caring people. Camps are filling up quickly so get those registrations in as soon as you can. Special thanks to all those who have helped to make this such a wonderful place for people to spend time with God. Have a blessed Easter season!

The Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp & Retreat Center is proud to be partnering with the Knights of Columbus Kentucky Association for the Mentally Disabled to put on a camp the last week of July this summer! This is a wonderful opportunity for the campers, our diocese and the camp. We will need volunteers to help with this week, and our other weeks of camp as well, to make this week all it can be. For more information on this camp or for registration forms please contact our office at 270-781-2466. The camp will run from Sunday, July 26th through Friday, July 31st. If you are looking for an opportunity to serve God, to help others and to receive more blessings than you can count, then please be involved with wonderful week of camp.

With financial times tough all over, are you looking for a cost effective alternate to your summer plans? How about sending your child to summer camp at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp & Retreat Center. Our price for a week long camp experience includes three well-balanced meals per day, tons of activities, the chance to make friends for a lifetime and most importantly, it will give your child the chance to experience God like they never have before. Our children are exposed to over 5,000 advertisements per day, spend more and more time with technology and the media is now the number one influence in our children's lives. The camp setting-were cell phones don't work and you can't access television or the internet-is ideal for young people. All the junk is filtered out and young people have a chance to hear what God is saying to them in this wonderful, loving environment. Our costs at Gasper River are less than half the national average for a weeklong camp experience. It makes no sense to have this wonderful facility if people can't afford to use it. Also, where else can you spend so little money, yet have results that will last for a lifetime? Please come visit our camp or give us a call at 270-781-2466 if you have any questions. Also, please check out our wish list to see if there is anything you could contribute to Gasper River (tax deductable, of course) to help us keep our costs down.

As you may know, Bishop John McRaith retired this past Monday. Bishop John is such a kind and caring man and he will be greatly missed. Gasper River would not exist if not for his vision and passion for the youth of our diocese. Several years ago we visited with all the bishops of Kentucky to see if we should try to create a camp centrally located around Elizabethtown or Bardstown to serve the entire state or to see if each diocese should do their own thing. Bishop John was a strong supporter of the idea and when it was decided that each diocese should do their own thing, Bishop gave us his blessing to continue to see where the Holy Spirit would lead us. His trust in the people of his diocese and his ministry of "letting" are the significant reasons of why we are here today. I had the honor of working for Bishop John for three years and in that time I was astounded by his love for the people he worked for, the people of the Catholic Church of Western Kentucky. We will continue to try to model our service here at camp after that of the service of Bishop John. Thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do for us Bishop John. Our prayers for you are for a long, healthy and happy retirement!

Summer camp will be here soon and all of the updates will be posted on our Camps link on January 20, 2009. Everything you need for camp-schedule, fees, lists, etc. will be on line to print off and send in. Please get your forms filled out and sent in as quickly as possible as space tends to fill up very quickly.

As you and your family begin making plans for next summer I challenge you to think about attending summer camp. You may think, “I never went to camp, I’m not sure if I want to send my child.” If that is the case, please call our office at 270-781-2466 and come for a visit to see what the camp experience at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp will be like. Last summer, 150 youth were involved with our diocese’s summer camp program. For many, it was a first time camp experience; however, it won’t be their last. Some of the evaluations from the campers stated “this was the best time of life,” “I never knew that learning about God could be so much fun,” “I didn’t want to come at first and then I didn’t want to leave,” “I made new friends, learned about God and had the time of my life,” “I finally understand what the Eucharist is all about. I understand that it is the real presence of Jesus Christ.” As I travel around the diocese for events, I encounter many young people who all tell me about their experience last summer at Gasper River and how they can’t wait for next summer to get here. A parent even called several months after camp and told us that they don’t know what we did but his child was still talking about God. It isn’t anything we did; it is what God does to people’s hearts while at camp. All of the distractions of everyday life are removed as youth find themselves in an unconditionally loving environment. Kids from all backgrounds come together as one body of Christ for their week at camp. The shared experiences at camp, the faith learning and sharing, the experiencing the Sacraments all in God’s creation help everyone to see God at work in their lives. Kids are accepted and loved. They participate in activities that help them grow personally, grow as a group and most importantly grow in their faith. Please check out our website, www.gasperriverretreatcenter.org for pictures of the activities and to see all that happens at camp. If you are still not sure, come and see for yourself. We need adult volunteers as well and you’re never too old for camp. In fact, it almost seemed as if the adults who were involved got as much if not more out of the camp experience as the campers. Be open to allowing God to work in your life. Come to camp and see what God has for you this summer. What better way to spend a summer than growing closer to Jesus Christ.

The diocese has such a wonderful gift in the Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp & Retreat Center. In the year that we have owned the property, every person who has come out has been impressed with what the camp has to offer. This summer many lives were changed by God in this beautiful setting and so many people have been involved with the camp on the front lines and behind the scenes. This is the beginning of a wonderful new ministry for our diocese that will only continue to grow. For many years I filled out a stewardship survey at my old parish in another diocese. I never heard from anyone and just assumed that my help was not needed. That is not the case with Gasper River-we need your help! This facility belongs to you and we need you to be involved with all that is going on here. We need work teams to help with landscaping, painting, staining, clearing, building, and many more of the extensive work project list. To give you a few examples, Adam Keyser has created a Stations of the Cross trail for his Eagle Scout Project. Nick Miller has completed a safe and beautiful set of steps up from the river for his Eagle Scout Project. Alex O’Keefe is working on some incredible, reflective murals for her Gold Award for Girl Scouts. The Squires group from Our Lady of Lourdes has created a scenic Rosary Walk by the river. Prayer areas, a Saint’s Trail, hiking and biking trails, landscaping around all the buildings and grounds and Adirondack chairs or other outdoor seating are just a few of projects on our wish list. Also, so many other youth groups and schools have collected additional items-pictures, statues, crucifixes and other items to help give us a Catholic Identity-a true celebration of who we are as the Catholic Church.

We also need people to be involved with next summer’s camp program. To be in compliance with the American Camp Association (our safety and governing body for summer camp and retreats) we need to have a nurse, doctor or EMT on site when camp is in session. If you volunteer in this role as camp health care provider, you will receive a week’s free camp registration for a camper. Also, we need volunteer lead counselors for week long sessions for all age groups. These volunteers will help keep the camps on schedule and be responsible for bringing in additional, qualified volunteers for the benefit of the campers. The lead counselor will also receive a free registration for a camper. There are so many ways to be involved and we need you. I’ve often heard that we only get out of our faith what we put into it. This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents for a wonderful need and help bring others closer to God and the Catholic Church. If you’ve never been here, please call our office (270)-781-2466, come out here and see what we have to offer and how you can be involved. Please begin praying about your role here at Gasper River for next summer and beyond. Like I said before, this is your facility, come be a part of it.