Archbishop Shaw revels in outdoors

The 2017 Archbishop Shaw Summer Camp offers six weeks of fun for girls and boys ages 4-12. The camp runs from June 5-July 14 (excluding July 4) from 8:45 to 3 p.m. daily.
 
Coach Warren Gabriel said the most appealing part of the camp experience here is the amount of outdoor space – 70-72 acres – for swimming in the school’s Olympic-size pool with certified lifeguards, dancing, gymnastics, basketball, flag football, soccer, cheerleading, kickball, cabbage ball, video games and more.

“This is our 37th year doing summer camp,” said coach Gabriel, who has worked the camp 12 years, but now in his third year as director. “We try to cater to that really active kid who loves the outdoors. We have real football and soccer fields and two baseball fields marked with fences (one for little kids and another for older kids). We can really spread out.”

With so much space, everybody participates in activities.

“Nobody has to sit and wait for a turn at anything,” he said. “Every kid is engaged the entire time, no matter what sport or activity.”

Campers also take field trips to the Aquarium of the Americas, bowling, Area 51 Laser Tag, Candyland and Adventure Quest Laser Tag.

With Shaw being a Salesian school, a religious component is added for campers. Young Salesian brothers work the camp, and a Salesian priest celebrates weekly Mass on Friday mornings and conducts two religious activities each week.

Camp registration is May 6 from 9 a.m.-noon in Don Bosco Hall, 1000 Barataria Blvd., Marrero. Camp cost is $775 for all six weeks and includes all field trips and a camp T-shirt and camp bag. Two, three-week sessions are also offered: June 5-23; June 26-July 14, at $415 per session.

Before-camp care from 7:45-8:45 a.m. is free. After-camp care is available until 6 p.m. for an additional fee. For details, visit www.archbishopshaw.org or call 340-6727.