Misplaced and Found

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.

(more…)

By: Sara Knutson

Last week I painted a rough sketch of the extent of our year-round program — we definitely stay busy! Today, I’ll go into a bit of detail as to how we pull it off.

Unlike our summer staff, which numbers well over 40 people plus week-long volunteers, the year-round program succeeds largely due to the efforts of six volunteers (called program specialists), two head cooks, and myself. With occasional (and much appreciated) assistance from Chris, Jeff, Rebecca, and Tricia, the program specialists work together to create meaningful, personalized, and fun retreats for each school and parish that visits.

They meet and pray before groups come, build community with the students, work in the kitchen, belay students on the climbing tower, plan and lead spiritual, teambuilding, and environmental activities, and clean camp afterward — all on the same retreat! Their pay? (more…)

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:

(more…)

By:  Camp Gray

Camp Gray is excited to announce that we will again be hosting an open retreat for all college-age students January 7-9, 2009. This retreat, called VISION, is a fantastic way to sit back and relax from life’s normal craziness, grow and deepen your faith, and meet some amazing staff and retreatants.

Spots are still available — pass the message on to your family and friends who might be interested! For more information and to sign up, go to www.campgray.com/Retreats or contact Sara at sara@campgray.com.

We hope to see you in January!

By:  Camp Gray

By: Meghan M O’Connell

            Hey everyone!  This is my first time writing on the blog and I’m very excited to introduce myself and share my latest adventure with you.  My name is Meghan O’Connell and I’m from Dayton, Ohio.  I am a year round volunteer here at Camp Gray and this is my first time in Wisconsin.  I really enjoyed working with all the kids that came this fall for various retreats.  Recently we have been transitioning from a very busy fall retreat schedule to a more laid back winter filled with projects on camp and traveling retreats.  Now that I have more free time I have been able to take advantage of some outdoor activities that the great state of Wisconsin has to offer…..specifically skiing!!  I love the fact that I can put on some skies and step outside my door and ski off on the trails of Camp Gray. (more…)