History

In the early 1950's Monsignor Francis Xavier Gray dreamed of a "place where youths would be free and away from the temptations of the streets; where they could enjoy nature and become acquainted with it firsthand. . . a place where they could commune, under supervision, with their Creator and away from paths so frequently leading to delinquency."

Msgr. Gray convinced a local businessman to sell land that he had personally scouted and chosen for the camp "at a reasonable price."  A small army of dedicated St. Joe's Catholic parish members and community volunteers beat swords into ploughshares by purchasing and rebuilding a large pile of ammunition crates from nearby Badger Army Ammunition Plant into Camp Gray's first cabins used for summer camp.

Bishop William O'Connor presiding at Camp Gray's dedication in 1953.

Bishop William O'Connor and Fr. Joe Henry at Camp Gray's dedication in 1953

In the early days, Camp Gray was a boys' youth summer camp, owned by St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and directed by the parish priest. Summer camp started in 1958 under Fr. Francis Schmidt's direction.  Four weeks of summer camp for boys were offered, and the counselors were diocesan seminarians.

In 1968 the Catholic Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, incorporated the camp.  In 1980, Fr. Larry Bakke's second summer as director, the first summer session for girls was held.  In 1984 Camp Gray held its first co-ed session, and soon after became entirely co-ed.

In 1994 Jake Czarnik-Neimeyer became the first year-round lay director of Camp Gray.  Since that time, Camp Gray has become accredited by the American Camp Association, and many new summer and year-round programs and facilities have been added and upgraded.

The spirit of service and dedication upon which Camp Gray was founded still runs deep in the heart of the Camp Gray community.  Our theme verse, Luke 22:26, says it best:  "Let the greatest among you be as the child, the leader as the servant."  Along with the laughter and smiles, memories and friendships that go hand-in-hand with summer camp, we are a community committed to growing in faith and justice; each person learning how to best use his or her unique giftedness to build up the whole.

We honor those who have shaped Camp Gray's past and we hope to see you here at camp some time soon in the near future.