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Bishop Douglas Crosby of the diocese of Hamilton celebrates Mass surrounded by forest at Camp Brébeuf, which has served children for more than 70 years.
Bishop Douglas Crosby of the diocese of Hamilton celebrates Mass surrounded by forest at Camp Brébeuf, which has served children for more than 70 years. Photo courtesy of Camp Brébeuf

Camp Brébeuf goes to market

By 
  • May 10, 2013

The Catholic Youth Organization of Hamilton is hoping to get people shopping so that it can take part in its own shopping spree.

The CYO is hosting a fundraiser May 21 at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington to raise funds to purchase new equipment for Camp Brébeuf, the summer camp the organization runs near Guelph, Ont. The camp has been operating for more than 70 years, and organizers are clear about what the camp needs with the slogan for its Marketplace fundraiser: “Times have changed, but some of our equipment has stayed the same.”

It’s not a typical fundraiser, said camp director Jason Taylor. Supporters are invited to browse and purchase items on behalf of Camp Brébeuf.

“We’ll have vendors there, people actually selling canoes, people selling tents and people selling basketballs,” said Taylor. “We’re actually inviting people to say... you actually purchased this canoe that’s going to get used at the camp.”

Items for sale range from a set of baseball bases for $10 to a defibrillator for $2,325. There’s even an all-terrain wheelchair for $5,620.

Camp Brébeuf was founded in 1941, when summer camp was a distraction for kids during wartime. It’s located on more than 40 hectares of forest and stream in the town of Rockwood, said Taylor. Open all year round, the camp runs outdoor education programs during the school year with retreats held on the weekends, such as confirmation and church-group retreats.

But this Marketplace fundraiser is focused on the summer camp. In the summer, Camp Brébeuf has a high school leadership program for Grades 9, 10 and 11 students, a residential camp for Grades 2 to 8 and a day camp for local senior kindergarten kids to Grade 5. Brébeuf is also equipped to offer the camp experience to children with special needs.

“It’s a mix of fun and faith,” said Taylor.

Kids experience outdoor adventures, like swimming, canoeing, rock climbing and hiking as well as arts, crafts and drama, all in a Catholic context. Mass takes place weekly, liturgies occur daily and Grace is prayed before every meal. Campers also act out skits from the Bible “in a fun, upbeat kind of camp way,” said Taylor. The Camp Brébeuf experience also includes praise and worship.

For more information on the fundraiser, visit cyo.on.ca/marketplace.

More in this category: « Vatican official says July trip to Brazil being tailored to new Pope Youth fund their way to World Youth Day »

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