Misplaced and Found

By: Sara Knutson

The weather is warming up here at Camp, and that means an exciting return to our outdoor ropes course! We ushered in the new season with a fantastic group of students from St. Ambrose Academy in Madison. They teamed up on our hgh-flying Nitro Crossing element (translation: getting all students from one platform to another using only a suspended rope) and had total success! We captured some of the fun on camera…

Happy April, everyone!

By: Sara Knutson

You may have noticed by now that we’re all about the weather here at Camp Gray — it’s hard not to be when you’re constantly outside. The signs of spring are unmistakable, both in the warm air and in our retreat schedule. Our first environmental retreat of the spring is next week!

To prepare, the retreat team and I reviewed much of our environmental knowledge last week, culminating in a bushwalking hike off the yellow trail toward the stream (roughly behind the office, for those of you with especially good knowledge of camp’s geography). We identified trees and deer beds, scat and tracks, and even built a fire amid the snow!

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By: Sara Knutson

Yesterday was a crazy mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and (finally) snow! I snapped some photos of camp — it was especially gorgeous this morning, before any plowing or tracking in had been done.

Probably not time to start filling up the pool yet…

In just three months, we’ll be having campfires again! But for now, the snow-draped cross is beautiful as is.

Do you recognize the way from the chapel to the pond?

Have a great week, everyone, and remember to live each day well (but look forward to summer camp, too!).

By: Amy Baker 

In case you haven’t heard the wonderful news, Andrew Dennis Hoeben was born on December 17th weighing in at 9 pounds and 6 ounces. 
The little guy put Mama & Papa Hoeben through alot as he was nearly three weeks late (making him not so little)!

Jeff & Rebecca are thankful for all the prayers and well wishers, and look forward to introducing you to their new pride and joy soon!

By: Sean M. Deignan

Last weekend a group of summer campers known as the Explorers came to camp to meet up with the friends they made this summer, and reflect on the awesome times they had.  As an Explorer, campers live out in Explorer Village for the week. They set up their own camp, make their own meals, and choose what they want to do every day, so during this retreat we allowed them to pretty much make their own schedule.

A lot of the time was spent just hanging out in St. Raph’s, talking and playing many different games. The Explorers also had a chance to play dodgeball (a Camp Gray favorite). They felt even more like they were back in the village by cooking a spaghetti dinner for everyone on Saturday night.

By far the highlight of the weekend was when the explorers had a chance to go snowshoeing all the way to Explorer Village. They hung out there, built a couple of snowmen, and had a big snowball fight. While they were at the village, Chris, Mo-T, Nicky, and I built up a ramp on our sledding hill. We spent about an hour waiting for everyone to get there, so we had plenty of time to get the jump just right. Everyone loved going down the hill, and we continued to sled until just after sunset. It was great to be able to play in the snow for the first time all year.

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By: Chris Aderhold

Pat Andera, one of Camp’s co-head cooks, considers himself to be one of the worlds biggest fans of the television show: The American Gladiators.

Because of this passion, he recently helped organize a Gladiator night at St. Joseph Parish in Baraboo, with the help of St. Joe’s Youth Minister, Lindsay Becher. 

On a recent frigid December evening, nine C.G. Gladiators joined forces in challenges against the pride of St. Joseph’s, and their greatest competitors: the high school and middle school youth.  

The Gladiators put on their game faces and did their best to keep up with the stellar competitors from St. Joe’s, however, most in attendance would agree the youths dominated.   (more…)

By: Sara Knutson

“So what do you do the other nine months of the year?”
This is a common question asked of our full-time staff. Camp Gray’s summer camp is well-known, but how do four full-time people plus a crew of six volunteers and two head cooks stay busy during September through May? And just as importantly, why do we bother?

This week, I’ll answer the first question, and in successive weeks I’ll move on to the all-important “why.” Staying busy isn’t hard, especially in the fall and spring! Below are photos of just a few of the schools and parishes that came to visit us:

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