By Father Chris Carrara
Founder, chaplain of Sportscamp

Sportscamp, 18 years and counting!  The summer of 2012 will mark the 18th anniversary for this unique diocesan camp dedicated to the service of the athletic minded youth of our diocese.

At its beginning camp was a one week experience focusing on one sport, basketball. In time a second week was added with a second sport, soccer. No matter which sport was being offered, camp was and is a great place for active kids to come together in a safe, wholesome and active environment that combines, faith, fellowship, and sports, sports, sports!

Over the years camp has been served by a number of excellent coaches, camp counselors, chaplains and directors. Each chosen staff member is a person of faith, respected in their community who encourages campers to reach their potential on and off the court and field. Most importantly, by rough estimate camp has offered over 1000 young people a positive, fun filled experience of Church.

At its 18th year I am excited to see sportscamp getting back to its roots. This coming year both soccer camp and basket ball camp will be offered during the same week, July 8-12. This means that in all the activities off the court or field, campers from both sports will interact and enjoy one another’s company. It also means that the non-sport specific workshops and faith experiences will be enhanced with larger crowds. It also has the added benefit that friends from different sports can come to camp together and share a room.

In these days of financial challenges, it is good to know the Church is doing our part to keep camp expenses low which in turn means the camp fee remains accessible to average families. Not that those campers with financial hardships have ever been turned away!

God willing, Sportscamp will continue to serve the youth of our area for years to come! Let us pray that the summer of 2012 brings many blessings on both Sportscamp and camp Guggenheim.