Annual Discover Camp draws 40 girls to Motherhouse

For a 6-minute video filled with photos from Discover Camp 2015, CLICK HERE.

Forty junior high-age girls filled the Nazareth Motherhouse with giggles, chatter and song this week for the slumber party/spiritual retreat known as the annual Discover Camp.

With the help of 10 high school- and college-age counselors, two “camp directors,” eight “camp staff members” and countless other volunteers, the girls came from across Kansas to spend Thursday afternoon through this evening (Saturday) with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia.

The campers spread their sleeping bags throughout the open space on the fifth floor of the historic Motherhouse, but shared meals and other activities — including a Nazareth scavenger hunt and afternoon bingo — with the sisters who live there.

One special shared activity Friday evening was a cookout on the Motherhouse grounds. The meal is made possible by the local Knights of Columbus, who donated the hamburgers and hot dogs and then handled the grilling duties.

All of the counselors had previously been campers, and both of this year’s camp directors — Micayla Pachta and Justine Dlabal — had been to Discover Camp before as counselors.

The theme of this year’s camp was “ACTS of Disciples,” with play, prayer and discussions throughout the camp focused on the idea of putting faith into action.

Campers’ families were invited to a special Mass this evening in the Sacred Heart Chapel at the Motherhouse, followed by an ice cream social hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph.

The sisters have hosted Discover Camp for girls entering the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grades since 2000.