A camper rock climbs up Tower 68 during Camp Life at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Gasper River: Biggest summer ever
BY BEN WARRELL, GASPER RIVER CATHOLIC YOUTH CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER
It was another amazing year for Gasper River. We worked to expand and chip seal the entrance road into camp, and it is now an amazingly smooth two-lane road. We also had to build a new camp director’s residence, as the current house had no foundation and was rotting from the bottom up. The new house will be completed in May 2024 and is beautiful. We also built a new canteen and remodeled the male staff house.
For the near future, we are planning on adding two new elements to our teams’ course, adding a new giant slip-and-slide activity, and creating a new maintenance area complete with a barn with a workshop and plenty of storage. We are also looking at options for bridges/walkways across the river to the new Tower #68, which was named in honor of our former camper, Logan Davis, who died in 2020.
This past year, we hosted 86 retreat groups (44 different organizations). Of the 86 groups, 62 were Catholic groups and 24 non-Catholic groups. Forty-two groups were overnight retreats and 44 were day retreats. Of the 86 retreat groups, 46 used at least one of our program activities while onsite. Two-thirds of those groups used more than one activity during their stay. We also served 4,200 meals during our retreat season. Retreat season includes our Christmas/New Year’s Camp – which had 32 high schoolers ending 2023 and beginning 2024 here at camp.
Campers waiting their turn and cheering each other on as they jump off Tower 68 during Camp Life at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
The 2023 summer camp program was record-breaking. We served well over 500 campers (our biggest summer ever), had 17 summer staff working summer camp, with 36 volunteers and 7 SIT (Staff in Training). During summer camp, we served over 15,000 meals and led ropes course and river activities daily. In addition, Tower #68 had its first summer of use. The campers loved the two climbing sides, and the Leap of Faith activity challenged young people out of their comfort zones and into growth!
We visited many parishes and schools in and outside of our diocese, and all three of our diocese’s Catholic campus ministries this past year, as we led retreats and game nights and recruited campers and summer staffers.
It was another great year for growth, outreach, and evangelization. The future is exciting and bright for the ministry here at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center!
Ben Warrell is the director of Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center.
Calvin Padgett reads the Prayers of the Faithful at daily Mass during Camp Life at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Camp counselor Karina Romero checks a camper’s helmet before she jumps off Tower 68 during Camp Life at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Campers tend a fire they built for the Survival Track during Camp Life at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Campers and camps staff members hang-out before dinner starts during Camp Life at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Tower 68 sign at Gasper River Youth Camp and Retreat Center, named in memory of camper Logan Davis. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Fr. Jason McLure speaks to campers for “Faith Experience” during Camp Life at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center on July 11, 2023. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Campers play 9 Square in the Air on the Sports Track during Camp Life at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Originally printed in the June 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
