Camp Gray’s First Family; Jeff, Rebecca, and Andrew

Hoeben

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

Paid Madison, WI

Permit No. 2783

Camp Gray - The Catholic Camp of the Diocese of Madison

www.campgray.com 608-356-8200 bigfun@campgray.com

E10213 Shady Lane Rd. Reedsburg, WI 53959

Tye-dye Tuesday will be here soon!

(He’s not quite ready to write, yet!)

An invitation from our Camp Directing family!

Monsignor Francis X. Gray

A Look to the Past

Fr. Larry Bakke, Camp Gray Director from 1979-1994, celebrates Mass in camp’s old St. Joseph Chapel

(presently The Joe)

Andrew

Dear Parents and Campers-to-be,

Summer camp is a special place for your child to have fun, be challenged, take risks in an encouraging environment and to grow in faith and friendships. We know from first-hand experience! At Camp Gray we are committed to spreading the Gospel and sharing in the awe and wonder of God’s presence here on this beautiful holy ground. Kids today deserve, and need, a chance to get away from the busyness of everyday life and just be kids. Camp Gray is the place for doing just that. Camp Gray’s staff is camper-focused, mature, faith-filled, and most of all, fun! The experience of Camp Gray is more than just a one-week experience. Campers and staff alike become a part of the Camp Gray family, welcomed and accepted for who they are. You are invited to join us this summer and become a part of our family.

Thanks to feedback from many of our returning families, we’re continuing to improve our online registration process, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy the changes. Please take advantage of these improvements and let us know what you think. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about Camp Gray, or check us out online at www.campgray.com. We look forward to seeing you this summer as together we grow in Faith, Friends, and Fun!

Though much has changed in our 53 years of summer camp, the archery range remains!

“One week at Camp Gray has forever changed my life. “ - Camp Gray Camper

It all started with a simple dream back in 1953. Monsignor Francis Xavier Gray, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Baraboo, WI, dreamed of a “place where youths would be free and away from the temptations of the streets; where they could enjoy nature and become acquainted with it firsthand... a place where they could commune, under supervision, with their Creator and away from paths so frequently leading to

delinquency.” The land that present day Camp Gray occupies was soon purchased, and thanks to an enormous amount of help from St. Joseph parishioners and the local Knights of Columbus Council #746, Monsignor Gray’s dream became a reality, with cabins erected from old ammunition crates donated from the nearby Badger Ammunition Plant. Unfortunately, Monsignor Gray passed away in July, 1957, a year before the camp held its first summer camp. That first summer camp had a mere 25 campers, but it was a major success of faith and fun and is the foundation upon which Camp Gray was built. Camp Gray has grown by leaps and bounds since that simple dream by Monsignor Gray back in 1953. A typical summer of summer camp these days has well over 1300 campers. At Camp Gray, we are a Catholic Summer Camp dedicated to providing a week of faith, friends, and fun to all who step foot on our holy ground.

Future Campers, you’re probably asking yourself, “Self, what are the counselors like?” We’re glad you asked...

WHAT MAKES CAMP GRAY SO SPECIAL?

The staff are the heart of Camp Gray! We carefully choose staff members who are high school graduates based on spiritual values, maturity, and interest in working with youth. We complete background and reference checks on each staff member. Through our extensive training, our staff very quickly become a close-knit family, having exper ienced “summer camp” as your children will.

WHAT ABOUT SAFETY?

It takes a special kind of person to be a Camp Gray counselor. Not only do they have to be responsible so your parents don’t worry, they have to be FUN! Our counselors will plan cool activities like sand castle building competitions or dam building in Harrison Creek, help you make new friends, play and pray with you, and they will be there to listen if you just need someone to talk to. (Kind of like a big brother or sister!)

“[The Camp Gray Staff] Rock! They are so full of life and love for these kids and the Lord. Although, we as parents are not there during the week you can see it as you drop them off and certainly when you pick them up. How they keep it up all summer long is amazing!” - Parent Evaluation

Not for the faint of heart, the Leader-in-Training program is a 3-week leadership development program that will challenge your socks off. As an LIT you’ll learn all about what it takes to be a great leader: behavior management skills, child development, fun games, team building, and you’ll grow in knowledge of the Catholic faith. To top it off, you’ll finally get to pray and play with the staff community. Call or e-mail camp for a special LIT application.

What will my child get to do as a traditional Camp Gray camper? Besides taking part in two fun program areas in the mornings (i.e. archery, canoeing, horse rides, fishing, arts and crafts, etc.), your camper will also experience our exciting afternoon rotations: swim time, cabin time - where your camper’s counselor will plan something fun for just his/her cabin group - and choice time - a time when campers choose from several cool activities! In the evenings campers take part in all-camp activities like Capture-the-flag, cookouts, Super Cabin Time, and other super fun and exciting events!

Adventure (Grades 7-9)

Pathfinders (Grades 8-10*)

Explorers (Grades 10-12)

Ranch Camp (Grades 7-11)

Voyageurs (Grades 8-13) Come experience the beauty of God’s country (the North Woods!) Whether on our hiking trip in the Porcupine Mountains or as part of one of our many canoeing trips, you’ll take only what you need for fun, fellowship, and camping! You’ l l be challenged physically, but the rewards are plenty: beautiful scenery, wildlife sightings, c lose fr iendships , and teamwork! Don’t miss out on the thrill of a Voyageur trip!

As an Explorer you will live in a rustic village playing, praying, and working together with a small group of campers and two counselors. As a group you will learn to use each person’s gifts to create a community. You will rely on each other for everything you need, including cooking your own food. You’ll also take a day trip to Devil’s Lake State Park to play. Tower climbing is included in camp fees for Explorers.

SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS For more information, check out www.campgray.com

Horseback riding on Camp Gray property is provided by Wagons West, LLC. While we have taken great care in our selection of our contractor to provide horseback riding and instruction, Camp Gray is not responsible for the actions of Wagons West, LLC.

Settlers (Grades 2-5) Trailblazers (Grades 6-8)

LIT (Grade 12 & 13)

Traditional Camp Programs (Grades 2-8) Calling all cowboys and cowgirls! If horses are your passion, saddle up and let’s ride! Horse care, riding lessons, Dutch oven chili, rustic cabins (no electricity), the occasional mud fight, and much more combined with some awesome counselors and ranch hands make Ranch Camp a n a u t h e n t i c w e s t e r n experience.

Please refer to footnote on the bottom of the next page.

Camp’s newest program (est. in 2009) continues to grow and improve, as the “Johnnies” (so named because of the late Pope John Paul II’s great love of adventures and the outdoors!) have the opportunity to take part in numerous exciting adventures, like canoeing on Mirror Lake, completing a monster hike at Camp Gray and rappelling off the open side of the Camp Gray tower. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Camp Gray is proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association. ACA accreditation means that Camp Gray cares enough for your child to undergo a thorough (over 300 standards) review of its operation--from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American Academy of P e d i a t r i c s , t h e American Red Cross, and other youth service agencies to assure that the practices at Camp Gray reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. Camp Gray and ACA form a p a r t n e r s h i p t h a t promotes summers of growth and fun in an environment committed to protecting the physical and emotional well-being of your camper.

Thumbs up for safety!

THE STAFF!

As a Pathfinder, your schedule will be slightly different from traditional camp, with community time, team building, leadership, service, praise and prayer, and a morning retreat. (Don’t worry, you’ll still take part in traditional camp activities like swimming, cookouts, CTF, a beach party, etc.!) *Recommended for 9-10th graders, or 8th graders ready for a change in

schedule from traditional camp.

Registration is so easy at Camp Gray, even Walter* can do it!

In the operation of the summer camp program, no child, as defined by the program regulations, will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes that a child has been discriminated against should write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.

* Walter is the gargantuan mythical fish that resides in Camp Gray’s Lake Jake

The Online Canteen Store format is user

friendly, and with a safe and secure format, you

can even pay with credit card! Just go to www.campgray.com,

and click on the “Online Canteen Store” tab on the front page.

SUMMER CAMP 2011 SESSION CHART

Family Camp Labor Day Weekend

Prices vary from $100-$390 according to family size and lodging preference. Please call for more information.

Two-week Sessions

45P Pathfinder; July 6-16, $760

45E Exployageurs; July 5-15 $795

Leaders-in-Training (LIT)

, LIT2 June 19 - July 8

LIT6 July 17 - August 5 * Call camp for a special

application.

Session Dates Settlers Trailblazers Ranch Adventure Pathfinders Explorers Voyageurs (gr. 2-5) (gr. 6-8) (gr. 7-11) (gr. 7-9) (gr. 8-10) (gr. 10-12) (gr. 8-9, 10-12/13)

1 June 12 - 17 1S 1T 1R Ranch I, gr. 7-8 1P 1V canoe

gr. 8-9

2 June 19 - 24 2S 2T 2R Ranch I, gr. 7-8

2P 2E

3 June 26 - July 1 3S 3T 3A boys only 3P

3V canoe June 24 - July 1

gr. 10-12

4 July 5 - 8 4S (Shorter Session)

4S (Shorter Session)

45P July 5 - 15

45Exploy July 5 - 15

5 July 10 - 15 5S 5T 5A boys only 5E

6 July 17 - 22 6S 6T 6R girls only, gr. 7-8 6P 6E

6V hike July 16 - 22

gr. 10-12

7 July 24 - 29 7S 7T 7R Ranch II, gr. 8-10

7P 7E

8 July 31 - August 5 8S 8T 8A girls only 8P 8E

9 August 7 - 12 9S 9T 9P 9V canoe gr. 8-9

More Summer Camp Information

Is it possible to get a Refund?

The full amount paid will be refunded if a camper cannot be placed in the programs of his/her choice. The $100 deposit is not refundable after registration has been confirmed in a program. The balance of fees paid will be refunded if the campers does not attend camp due to illness or injury. In all other instances, no refund of camp fees will be given unless notice of cancellation is given to Camp Gray at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the camper’s session. A prorated portion of the fee will be refunded if the camper is sent home from camp due to illness or injury. Refund will not be made for a remaining period of two days or less. If a camper leaves early due to homesickness, disciplinary reasons, or parent request, no refund will be given.

Can my child bunk with a friend?

Camp Gray will honor up to two cabin mate requests. Please indicate requests for cabin mates on the registration form. Please note that cabin mate requests will only be honored if both campers are in the same age group and program, and independently register for the same session before it fills and both campers must also request each other on their respective application forms.

Is financial aid available?

Yes! Financial aid is based on need, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are requesting financial assistance from Camp Gray, you must complete and return the request for financial assistance which we will send upon receipt of your application.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call! (608) 356-8200

CAMP GRAY ONLINE!

Camp Gray’s presence on the world wide web is nearly

ubiquitous!

Check out our website at: www.campgray.com.

Additionally, check us out on youtube, facebook, and read our blog by clicking on the links from our homepage.

Other Registration Tidbits

When this camper isn’t pulling monster fish out of Lake Jake, he’s

hanging out with us on the web!

Where you can find:

Camp Gray t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, pennants, beanbags,

stuffed animals, dog tags, and more!

It’s never too early to purchase Christmas presents!

Before we begin with registration instructions, please check out these great ways to make Camp Gray even more affordable!

• Same Rates as 2010! - We’re thrilled to announce that prices have not been raised for summer camp 2011! • Early Bird Discount - Register and pay in full before February 1st and receive $15 off per camper!

• Pay with a check - save on Credit Card service charge. • Regardless of financial need, if your camper has a policy with Catholic Financial Life, contact

(800) 927-2547 for a scholarship of up to $100.

• To begin, login to www.campgray.com, and click on the link that says, “Summer Camp 2010 Registration”. If you don’t have an account with Camp Gray, click on the “Create an Account” tab, and create an account. If you’ve used our Registration System before, please use your existing username and password (contact the CG office if you’ve forgotten your username/password!).

• After you log in, add each of you campers to the account.

• To register campers, click on the name of the camper you’d like to register. When making new registrations for a camper, only the programs that your camper is eligible to sign up for will appear. Each program has a detailed explanation if you have questions.

• You’ll be prompted to fill out a health form for each camper, which of course will take more time now, but will save lots of time later!

• After you’ve registered your campers, you can log back into your account at any time to view sessions, and to keep an eye on your balance.

Visit the online Canteen Store