Along with other summer events this year, the typical schedule for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Youth Camp was canceled, but thanks to the innovative staff, the camp was able to host other events.
Daniel Spurr, coordinator of the summer camp, said the staff at this year’s summer was truly special. The camp staff went from a normal staff of 90 people down to nine. He said those nine did everything from planning the programming to cleaning the dishes to leading prayers, and hundreds of other responsibilities.
“Our overall goal is to ‘Go Make Disciples.’ We do this through providing moments of encounter with the Lord, accompanying people on their path of discipleship, building a community, and sending them home to be disciples and to make disciples. We focus on prayer, catechesis and community to build and form everyone who steps foot at camp,” Spurr said.
The adjusted summer schedule included Family Camps and Family Nights. The Family Camp had a total of 344 people, with 66 families participating, and the Family Nights had a total of 313 people, with 65 families participating. The sessions were held outdoors and all COVID-19 health precautions were observed.
Spurr said families provided feedback that they loved the opportunity to enjoy camp together.
Families were able to enjoy some of the regular activities that happen at summer camp such as Mass, confession, prayers, adoration, swimming, fishing, canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, and a drive-in movie.
“We were able to pray and celebrate our faith with everyone who came to camp. Family members of all ages were able to learn about the joy of Christ and grow in their relationship with him.” Spurr said. “Families were able to enjoy all the fun activities as well as strengthen their relationship with Christ and within their family.”
Brooke Basler, a parishioner at Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon, attended a Family Camp July 22-24.
“The kids loved the Slip-n-Slide, fishing, and arts and crafts the most. I personally enjoyed Mass. Father (Danny) Grover's homilies were wonderful. Camp was a wonderful experience for the kids and the closest thing to a vacation they got, since we had to cancel our previously planned trip because of the pandemic,” Basler said.
“Being able to step away from everything for a few days and just focus on God and family was a gift.”
Jennevieve Scott attended the first and last Family Night and the first session of Family Camp with her younger children. “God gives us opportunities to grow closer to him each day. It's just a matter of whether or not we are listening and looking for those opportunities,” Scott said.
“At Family Camp, opportunities abounded. From Mass in the morning to prayer in the evening, God showed up big time. In the same way the slower pace allowed for greater family connection, it allowed for more intentional time spent in prayer and worship of our king.”
Priests who attended the Family Camps and Family Nights were Father Zak Boazman, Father Kelly Edwards, Father Aaron Foshee, Father John Herrera, Father Lance Warren and Father Danny Grover.
Jolene Schonchin is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.