St. Augustine residents enjoy annual Happy Campers Week
St. Augustine Health Ministries offers a special opportunity for its residents each summer: a chance to go camping. This year?s Happy Campers Week was Aug. 14-19.
About 18 St. Augustine residents spent the week at Camp Cheerful in Strongsville, with as many as 40 others attending day camp. Those who stayed for the week lived in cabins with staff members to assist them. Day campers were transported to and from the camp so they could participate in daily activities. Campers were from St. Augustine Health Campus, which includes the Towers (assisted living) and the Manor (nursing home/skilled nursing and rehabilitation), as well as some residents of Emerald Village Senior Living in North Olmsted, which has apartments for both independent and assisted living.
Dana Carns, director of advancement for St. Augustine Health Ministries, said residents look forward to the camp experience every summer. The program has been offered for about a decade, she said.
Campers do all the ?normal camp things,? Carns said, including swimming, fishing, arts and crafts, games, playing cards, horse therapy, roasting marshmallows, sing-alongs, telling stories and entertainment around the campfire.
Dozens of volunteers assist with the program.
?We had 192 volunteers donate 820 hours of time from Sunday through Thursday,? said Mary Gagen, volunteer coordinator for St. Augustine Health Ministries. ?That would equal having 20 paid staff out at camp Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which would have cost St. Augustine at least $8,200 if they were paid $10 per hour.?
Carns said meals for campers, staff and volunteers were coordinated by different organizations and volunteers, also. ?We couldn?t have done it without them. We didn?t have to pay for a single meal, which helps offset our costs,? she said. Groups that volunteered to handle meals include the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph Parish in Strongsville, Catholic Charities staffers, Friends of St. Augustine, Angels on the Avenue and the Catholic Community Foundation.
Equipment and supplies needed by the campers, including specialized beds, recliner chairs, oxygen and medicine, are taken to camp, Carns said. Residential campers arrived Sunday afternoon, Aug. 14, and participated in activities through Thursday, Aug. 18. After breakfast the following day, they returned to St. Augustine.
Day campers arrived by van each morning of camp week and returned in the late afternoon or early evening.
After the final, full day of camp, Aug. 18, retired Auxiliary Bishop Roger Gries celebrated Mass outdoors for campers, staff members, volunteers and guests.
?I feel like Pope Francis when he tells his bishops to go out and smell the sheep,? Bishop Gries said. ?He means we should be among the people. And I see you here today with wheelchairs, walkers and various disabilities enjoying this experience. Thanks to the many volunteers who make this camp experience possible. I am so happy to be able to be here and to share the Eucharist with you.?
In his homily, the bishop told the assembly, ?Here you get the food that lasts forever
