Amber Payne, a young adult volunteer, climbs the Jacob’s Ladder with camper Amelia Fagella during 2024 summer camp at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green. COURTESY OF CALEB JONES, GASPER RIVER
What can God do through you this summer?
An invitation to volunteer at Gasper River
BY BEN WARRELL, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Are you looking for a new way to be involved in this New Year? Are you looking to grow in your own faith? Have we got an opportunity for you!
As Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center continues to grow, we have so many new needs. One of the biggest needs we have is something you can directly help us with. We need volunteer helpers every week of camp!
First of all, if you are an adult who cares about kids and are baptized, you are qualified for this position. We often talk to so many people who would love to help out but don’t feel like they know the faith well enough to teach it. But think about the apostles: they were uneducated and very simple people and most of them couldn’t even read. What they did have was a relationship with Jesus Christ that they wanted to share and they helped change the course of human history. So, you’re already ahead of the apostles! With that knowledge, what can God do through you this summer?
Secondly, we are called to be evangelists! All of us are called to this mission. This was Jesus’ last command to us, “Go and make disciples.” Evangelizing is simply being in relationship with someone and helping them see or come to know Jesus. It’s really simple as that. Giving up a week of your summer and allowing God to use you to make an impact in the life of child is amazing! Honestly, the campers don’t mind if you can’t quote scripture or have all the prayers of the Church memorized. What they do care about is: Do you know who I am? Do you care? Do you realize that I have dreams? That is what matters most to them. We are simply called to accompany them, help them grow in relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
So if you’ve read over all of this and realized that it describes you, then we need your help this summer! Please go to www.gasperriverretreatcenter.org and click on the Volunteers link at the top of the page. There you will find information on the role of counselor and all the questions most people have about this vital position.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to call the camp office at (270) 781-2466 and we’ll gladly talk with you. We have never had a volunteer counselor tell us that this wasn’t worth their time. In fact, most tell us that they feel like they get more out of the week than the campers do!
We are counting on you, the campers are counting on you, and most importantly, God is counting on you. Get involved and come be a part of an amazing team that is having lasting impacts on our diocese and beyond. Come and have the time of your life. Come share your gifts and talents and make a difference in the life of young person. Camp is just not for kids! The beautiful thing about giving to serve God is that you get blessed so much by our Lord in return. Give a week of your time this summer and let your life never be the same.
Ben Warrell is the director of Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green, which is a ministry of the Diocese of Owensboro.
Originally printed in the February 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
