THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 46, NO. 22 | JANUARY 24, 2025
KICKOFF TO CAMP
Camp Tekakwitha registration opens soon
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Prairie Star Ranch, which covers nearly 300 acres in Williamsburg, has been home to adventure camps and retreat ministries since 2000. The ranch welcomes nearly 18,000 guests and hosts over 100 retreats each year. By Amy Reinhardt Special to The Leaven
REGISTRATION OPENING DATES
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The snow and cold temperatures have many longing for summer. For students between 5th and 12th grade, summer means Camp Tekakwitha in Williamsburg. Msgr. Tom Tank had the original idea for the archdiocesan youth camp in the late 1960s, but it wasn’t until approaching Deacon Dana Nearmyer and his wife Debbie decades later that Camp Tekakwitha became a reality. The camp’s nearly 300 acres has been home to the adventure camp and retreat ministry since 2000. The ranch welcomes nearly 18,000 guests and hosts over 100 retreats each year. “Our aim is to provide a place of encounter for all our guests, where hearts are transformed by grace and sent out as full and free disciples,” said Greg Wellnitz, director of Prairie Star Ranch. Its Catholic mission and stunning landscapes make Prairie Star Ranch perfect for Camp Tekakwitha. The camp is popular in the
• Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. High School Extreme (campers entering 9th-12th grades in fall 2025), Women’s Retreat (women campers 18+) and all Family Camps • Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. Jr. High 7th/8th Grade Middle School Camps (campers entering 7th/8th grade in fall 2025) • Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. 5th/6th Grade Kateri Camps (campers entering 5th/6th grade in fall 2025) LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
The various camps offered by the archdiocese not only focus on fun, physical activities, but also spiritual ones, giving participants a chance to grow in the faith. archdiocese because of its blend of outdoor adventure, prayerful liturgies and genuine camaraderie. “Our big hope for campers is establishing a deeply personal relationship with Jesus and his bride the church,” said Deacon Nearmyer. Not only does Camp Tekakwitha host weeklong camps for students,
it also organizes family camps. These invite families with kids 2 years of age and older to play and pray together at Prairie Star. Shannon Lowe, a parishioner at St. Agnes in Roeland Park, attended Family Camp in 2023 and 2024 with her husband and two of her children, Reese and Cooper. This
To register, go online to: archkck. org/camp-tekakwitha.
upcoming summer will be the first time her 2-year-old Reilly will join in on the fun. “Camp has been impactful for my kids,” she said, “because they associate faith with fun. The staff really shows the young kids that a life >> See “CAMPS” on page 4