CATHOLIC SCOUTS AND TROOPS INVITED TO RETREAT
The annual Catholic Scout Retreat Weekend will be April 27-28-29 in 2012. Unlike the quiet prayer and meditation of most religious retreats, this one is full of activities, excitement, and fun for the Scouts. It starts Friday night as the Scouts arrive at Akelaland at Trexler Scout Reservation and set up their tents. Although the boys are tent camping, the Retreat staff provides all their meals in the Akelaland dining hall. And the food is great! The activities kick off that evening and don’t let up until the final assembly on Sunday morning. Every year the program is different although it follows the same basic structure. Friday night is get-acquainted time with a fun icebreaker activity, then everyone breaks bread together, recreating the way the early Christians would gather, and finally there is a splendid cracker barrel.
Saturday, after a belly-warming breakfast, the Scouts move through five or more stations, each one different, each one tied into that year’s theme. In past years, the Scouts have met St. Paul and the Blessed Virgin Mary, eaten the foods Jesus ate, used GPS units to find their way, made decoupage icon plaques or stained glass souvenirs, and built their own chariots (and raced them!!). By late afternoon, the Scouts are ready to put on their uniforms and attend Mass in God’s outdoor cathedral, our beautiful Pennsylvania forest. After a fabulous dinner, the evening is filled with Boards of Review for those candidates for the Ad Altare Dei or Pope Pius XII awards as well as games like Bible Jeopardy. Another cracker barrel brings the day to a close.
Sunday is for packing up, cleaning the camp, and a final flag-lowering ceremony. Each participant receives a handsome patch and a pin to take home along with his hand-made souvenir.
This is a great weekend for Catholic-sponsored troops to attend as a troop. For $27 per person you and your Scouts get a great weekend of camping with little or no planning or preparation by the troop’s leadership. More importantly, your unit can bring “A Scout is Reverent” to the forefront of their programming. Because all the meals are provided, it is also a perfect weekend to invite the Webelos along. They’ll have a great first camping trip with your troop.
Even if your whole troop doesn’t go, individual Scouts are very welcome to attend. Arrangements can also be made to accommodate individual Scouts who come without adult leadership.
The Catholic Committee on Scouting has sent out the registration forms for the coming Retreat to all Scoutmasters. You can check the website at www.adccos.org for more information and copies of the registration form. In addition you can call Fred Flemming at 610-966-4239.