The annual Campout at the CEC was an incredible weekend filled with lots of faith, family,  fun, and friends! 

While it showered on and off Friday evening, no rain could dampen the sunny spirits of our campers as they arrived! People made the best of the wet weather by picnicking inside the buildings, playing board games and coloring in JPII Hall, or hunkering down nice and cozy in their cabins or tents. 

As the evening wore on, the clouds parted and many joined CEC director Joe Meyer as he led a nocturnal creatures hike on the green trail. After learning more about the amazing CEC creatures that call the night their home, the trek concluded with a roaring campfire where many marshmallows were roasted and smiles were shared! 

The next morning provided time for fellowship as families milled about JPII hall sipping coffee and tea and cooking up delicious breakfasts like homemade pancakes and bacon! At 10:00am adults were invited to a formation talk by Fr. Andrew Linn, who spoke about the virtue of prudence and how to cultivate and practice it in our daily lives. 

Simultaneously, the kiddos got to join together and play some games led by Regina, one of our educators. The games were lots of fun and included hula hoop relay races, ultimate rock, paper scissors tournaments, tag, and more! The homemade cheers and chants added all the more excitement and fun to the festivities!  

The afternoon provided some great free time with lots of activities to choose from. Families took advantage of the nice weather and went fishing in the pond, canoeing down the Rubicon River, and hiking on the trails. Tim Burrus and Al Steinberg, two volunteer astronomers, came out and set up solar scopes- special telescopes with protective lenses, so campers could safely gaze at the sun and even see some sunspots! 

By the pond pavilion, Dominic, our newest educator, ran some crazy and wacky games that included ax throwing, crate pulling, and lots of water balloons! Suffice to say, there was plenty of laughter to be heard! 

On another part of the property, the Milwaukee Public Museum hosted insect catching by the butterfly garden where swallowtails, monarchs, and a whole host of insects were examined amidst the gorgeous wildflowers of our native prairie! 

All of that fun was sure to work up an appetite, and there was plenty of food to go around at the barbeque on Saturday evening! Brats, hamburgers, potato salad, and many other summertime staples were munched on and enjoyed as people picnicked together on the lawn. 

After supper, people headed down to the amphitheater for spiritual nourishment through confession and adoration led by Fr. Jacob Strand. The golden rays of sunlight shining down on the monstrance through the dark green pine boughs and grassy meadow beyond provided a radiant backdrop that extolled the glory of God as Jesus graced us through His presence in the Eucharist. It was humbling to see young and old alike gathered in such peace and reverence, connecting with our Lord in his stunning creation. 

Campers were able to learn even more about God’s glorious creation that night as the Milwaukee Public Museum hosted a moth mania event! By hanging up sheets adorned with lights, people were able to observe and encounter all sorts of amazing moths that were drawn to the luminous area. After another campfire complete with singing and s’mores, families headed back to their campsites for a restful night’s sleep. 

The campout concluded on Sunday with mass in the new Holy Family Chapel. Fr. Michael Joseph joined us as the celebrant, and we were graced with many great altar servers, musicians, and singers! 

The campout was a weekend jam packed with blessings- we are so thankful for the many priests, musicians, cooks, volunteers and loving hearts who pitched in and participated to make it such a joyful, fabulous time! We are blessed to have such an incredible community of amazing people- it was truly a time to rejoice in the goodness of God, others, and the natural world around us!