Southern Nebraska Register
Summer camp registration opened March 1 for Camp Kateri Tekakwitha, the Diocese of Lincoln’s campgrounds near McCool Junction.
This year will see some changes, with director Russell Koos announcing his departure. Father Harlan Waskowiak will serve as interim director.
“For the past eight years, I’ve been blessed to work with campers in a setting that promotes wholesome outdoor fun, and uses nature to prompt encounters with God,” Koos said. “I want to thank Bishop Conley for entrusting me this responsibility, and look forward to seeing the continued growth of the camp under Father Waskowiak.”
Koos saw plenty of growth in his eight years at Camp Kateri. The facility, which held its first event in 2001, now serves more than 900 campers each summer. Koos established several new summer camps, such as the “Tekakwitha Games” in which teams compete to win the “Kateri Cup,” and “Catholic Adventure Camps,” knight-themed and western-themed events. He also added many new program activities like the extremely popular “gaga ball.”
He formed Kateri’s first seasonal summer staff – program staff and cooking crew – in 2015, and the addition of five new sleeping cabins on the property made room for staff or additional campers.
There were rough times, too – during a flood in 2015, the campgrounds had to be evacuated and shut down for a short time. The camp weathered the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, staying financially solvent when an entire summer season was cancelled – a huge hit, given that program fees account for 80% of the camp’s income. And after several storms last summer, Koos said, “it felt like every building sustained some sort of damage.”
But Koos learned from the challenges, helping Kateri follow best practices in the camping industry, ensuring safe and healthy campers through sound policies and procedures.
While leaving the “demanding way of life” that goes with working in the camping field for more than 20 years, Koos remains a supporter of Camp Kateri and its mission.
“More than ever, Kateri is a unique space for children to experience God’s natural wonders,” he said. “We need our volunteers and stakeholders to continue their efforts, to ensure Kateri evolves and thrives for future generations.”
Father Waskowiak, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Geneva and St. Mary Parish in Shickley, also serves as chaplain of Camp Kateri. He accepted the bishop’s appointment as interim director “with joy.”
He said he looked forward to continuing “the great work that has been done with Camp Kateri these 25 years of its existence,” especially growing the SKY Camp that originally led to the purchase of camp Kateri by the diocese to offer a truly Catholic camp experience.
He hopes to “build on Pope Francis’ idea of faithful stewardship of creation, and as Bishop Conley has mentioned, our need to be reborn in wonder of nature,” he said.
“This will allow all who experience Camp Kateri to have the opportunity to encounter God's first book, that of nature, and to disconnect from the digital world.”
Prices, dates and registration for summer camps are available at the camp’s new website, www.campkateri.org. High school students who want to volunteer at the camp can also find applications on the website.
