Southern Nebraska Register
Villa Marie School for Exceptional Children in Waverly recently held its annual summer camps – for young people, and for adults.
Villa Marie is a boarding and day school in Waverly, for children 6-18 who have special education needs. It was founded in 1964 by the late Msgr. James Dawson.
Camp Villa Marie, held June 12-16, hosted 20 campers with special needs, ages 7-18. The camp was based at the school, where various priests celebrated daily Mass outdoors on the basketball court.
The campers experienced a plethora of activities throughout the week, such as bowling, swimming, boating, and crafting. The camp included visits to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo and the Wildlife Safari Park near Ashland.
Participants visited Darren and Denise Morton at Sunset Ridge for rides on horses, in Jeeps and a go-kart, with teachers Sister Jeannette and Sister Paula driving the karts.
Campers also ate local specialties, such as Valentino’s pizza and Fairbury Brand hot dogs, and the Knights of Columbus of the Cathedral of the Risen Christ Parish in Lincoln grilled Piedmontese burgers and hot dogs for a lunch during the week.
Volunteer Kurt Svoboda also grilled a meal for the campers, and helped erect tents and start a campfire for their night out. In the morning, he served the campers and staff French toast and sausage.
A one-day camp experience was held June 16 for adult participants with special needs, age 18 and over. The camp, which included breakfast, lunch and dinner, was provided to campers at no cost. It is sponsored and staffed by students from Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo.
The day camp is not limited to those who attended the school, but gathers many alumni of Villa Marie. In addition to activities and games, campers spent a lot of time visiting and re-connecting. They also had a visit from former school secretary Sheila Priess, familiar to many of them.
While the adult campers were in the midst of their activities, Bishop Neumann students, led by Gery Kenny and Eva Fujan, volunteered their time to assist Villa Marie as one of the school’s “mission trip” opportunities. Bishop Neumann High School has hosted mission trips since 2016 to New Mexico, Chicago, and Villa Marie School.
The Neumann students assisting at Villa Marie cleaned all the rooms in the school, including classrooms, bedrooms and restrooms. They washed vehicles and windows, spread mulch in flower beds, and took down tents. Some students also worked at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House near Villa Marie School. Some of the adult day campers visiting Villa Marie volunteered their time to assist the high-schoolers in washing vehicles.
The Bishop Neumann students also provided a lunch of Sloppy Joes and played water games with all the campers. The day ended with a dance party for all participants.
Seven students from Pius X High School worked as one-on-one counselors for students who needed special assistance. Seven alumni of Villa Marie also returned this year to work as camp counselors: Ty Lynch, Sam Schmieding, Matt Merwick, Noah James, Scout Pierce, Sapphire Normen, and Sasha Essay.
Villa Marie School is staffed by Marian Sisters. In addition to Sister Jeanette and Sister Paula, Sister Deanna, Sister Faustina and postulant Mary Jo Peter also ran the camp.
