Rummel’s summer camp heralds longevity, diversity

Archbishop Rummel’s summer camp, set on the sprawling Metairie campus at 1901 Severn Ave., will celebrate its 43rd year of operation in 2014.

“The camp has a long-standing tradition; we haven’t changed much because the formula we have works,” said Kevin Carrigee, a 1992 Rummel graduate who attended the camp beginning at age 5 and worked his way through the ranks as a junior counselor, adult counselor, and now camp director. “Now I’m seeing a lot of the graduates of the school sending their children here,” Carrigee said.

Open to boys and girls ages 5-12, the camp was begun by Easten Roth, the father of Rummel’s current head football coach Jay Roth.

Camp groups, divided by both age and gender, are headed by an adult counselor or coach from the field of education. Support staff is provided by high school and college students, many of whom are current Rummel students or alumni.

Activities include touch football, basketball, soccer, softball, track and field, soccer, kickball, dodge ball, obstacle course, relay races, arts and crafts, indoor games and swimming.

“We swim off site three days a week and we typically take two off-campus field trips a week to places like roller skating, bowling, movies, laser tag and Beaucoup Bounce in Elmwood,” Carrigee said, adding that the female campers also enjoy outings to Posh Paint and a jewelry-making shop.

You go, girls!
But the camp’s Friday relays continue to be campers’ most beloved tradition. While boys-only and girls-only relay races are mounted, there are also races that pit the girls against the boys.

“We keep a running (point) tally for the seven weeks of camp to make it a fun competition between the boys and girls. The girls hold their own!” Carrigee said. “When former campers look back at camp, it’s not the field trips or the swimming that they’ll talk about; it’s who won the relay races. Or if a camper misses camp on a Friday, the first thing he’ll want to know on Monday is who won.”

The camp runs from June 2 through July 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $145 per week; $840 for seven weeks. Campers may be dropped off as early as 7 a.m. at no extra charge; aftercare is available through 6 p.m. for an additional charge.

For more information, call Kevin Carrigee at 834-5592, ext. 333 or email [email protected].