New Catholic Summer Camp Launching in July 2023: Camp Little

New Catholic Summer Camp Launching in July 2023: Camp Little Flower

Jared Simoneaux, Fr. Raney Johnson, Co-Directors of Camp Little Flower in the Diocese of Shreveport

WHAT IS CAMP LITTLE FLOWER?

Camp Little Flower began with the ordinary idea of bringing a Catholic camp to the Diocese of Shreveport. Camp Little Flower will not only be a summer camp, but also a ministry of the Church. The camp will be for campers from the ages of 8 to 13.

WHY THE NAME LITTLE FLOWER?

St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, taught through her Little Way model to do ordinary things well. Camp Little Flower seeks to follow the Little Way of Saint Therese. Under the patronage of St. Therese of Lisieux, Camp Little Flower desires to discern God’s will as it tries to bring a Catholic camp experience to the people of North Louisiana.

WHY A CATHOLIC CAMP?

A Catholic camp brings a unique opportunity to the camp experience. Fewer and fewer children have the opportunity to experience a Catholic education for a variety of reasons. Catholic camps offer children the opportunity to have a Catholic educational experience with their peers that they otherwise might never experience. Of course, camp offers them a different type of education, i.e. an outdoor education. Camp Little Flower also seeks to provide what Pope Francis calls an ecological education.

“Ecological education can take place in a variety of settings: at school, in families, in the media, in catechesis and elsewhere. Good education plants seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life.” - Pope Francis Laudato si’, 213.

WHO IS CAMP LITTLE FLOWER FOR?

In the same way that all students can benefit from a Catholic education, Camp Little Flower is meant for all campers. Yes, Camp Little Flower will be a Catholic camp, but it will be a place where campers from a diversity of backgrounds can come together and share a summer camp experience with each other.

WHEN WILL CAMP LITTLE FLOWER START?

Camp Little Flower plans to start off with one week of camp in July of 2023. The plan is to find an already existing physical camp location and use that camp’s facilities to host Camp Little Flower. Presently, Camp Little Flower will use the facilities of Camp Bethany in Bethany, LA. Check out the diocesan website and find us on social media for updates.

WHAT WILL THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

The hope is that from this one week of camp will grow all that Camp Little Flower seeks to be. From this little mustard seed of one week, will hopefully grow a large tree with many branches, whatever that might look like, only God knows. Under the protection and guidance of the Blessed Mother, Camp Little Flower will help spread the good news of Jesus Christ in the Diocese of Shreveport.