Campers help each other on Jacob’s Ladder during Christmas/New Year’s Camp at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green, which took place Dec. 29, 2021-Jan. 1, 2022. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Gasper River rings in the New Year, looks forward to Tower #68 as biggest highlight of summer 2022
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
The 2021 Christmas/New Year’s Camp at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green was happy to be back in full swing.
“The energy was off the charts!” said Ben Warrell, Gasper’s director, of the retreat which took place Dec. 29, 2021-Jan. 1, 2022. “The kids were so excited to be back at camp and each day was filled with joy.”
He said they had more than 40 campers signed up this year, though they lost a few because of sickness, so they ended up with 36 campers in the end.
Warrell said there was a “good mix” of eighth graders and high school aged youth, and that this year’s theme was the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
“We watched Christmas movies and processed them towards our theme; we folk danced; had a gift exchange; New Year’s Party; zip line; vertical playground; giant swing; and Jacob’s Ladder along with daily Mass, confession and adoration,” said Warrell.
He added that all the campers went to confession on New Year’s Eve “and got rid of what comes between them and Jesus and started the New Year with clean souls!”
Olivia Romero, Gasper’s program director, told The Western Kentucky Catholic that most of the campers had been to Gasper before, and enjoyed “reuniting and building community.”
“I always love this camp because it allows more time for the campers to hang out, which was even more meaningful after Christmas Camp being virtual last year,” said Romero. “They were a great group of teenagers, and it was a great camp.”
Warrell said Gasper’s biggest plan for 2022 – which will be their 15th summer of camp – is a new climbing tower.
“We received a grant for $50,000 to complete Tower #68,” said Warrell.
The tower is named #68 after Logan Davis, a Gasper River regular who tragically died in a single-vehicle accident in 2020 right before his senior year at Owensboro Catholic High School. Davis, who was on OCHS’s football team, had 68 as his football jersey number.
The teen was known for his friendly, joyful spirit and his way of inspiring other people’s faith. As soon as the tower had been donated to Gasper River, Warrell and his staff knew it would be named for Davis.
Warrell said the tower will have a beginner and advanced climbing sides, a rappelling side, and a free flight element – which involves wearing a full body harness, getting hooked into the belay device and jumping.
“If there is enough money left, we hope to add a new drop line off of the tower as well,” said Warrell. “This amazing gift will help young people grow in self-confidence, self-esteem and most importantly in faith!”
Romero added that she, too, looks forward to this coming summer, especially since “we will have a new generation of summer staff coming in.”
“It is always exciting to have new voices and perspectives on our staff,” she said.
Warrell added that Gasper will have two different camps for two different age groups each week this summer. Registration and schedules are already available on www.gasperriverretreatcenter.org.
Originally printed in the February 2022 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.