The Experience of Catholic Familyland: A Fun, Faith-filled, Family Retreat (Part Two)

Part One is here (or how a non-camping mom of seven decided the world had turned just craaaaaazy enough for her to pack up and head to Ohio for a family retreat).

This is Part Two.

{Side note: Man, I am on FIRE while typing this.  Since we've come back we have been shamed via Instagram and in real life by people who don't agree with us traveling to Ohio which *gasps* did not require masks while we were there.  We follow all the rules when we live in Maskachusetts (pun intended) and we followed all the rules when we went to Ohio.  And boy did it feel GOOD to communicate/play/pray/be with other human beings!  Not only did it feel great to be back to "normal" but to be with like-minded people who think the same way.  So yeah, I don't want COVID, but I also believe that flattening the curve doesn't mean nobody should ever get this virus, and I also believe that herd immunity is the best immunity (you can thank my family full of doctors for that one), and if going to Ohio to Catholic Familyland means we get COVID...I am totally ok with that.  We already think we had it back in February anyway.  I've never shied away from living during flu season, and according to all the studies I've seen, this should only affect us like the flu.  We are doing our part to make sure we don't potentially affect anyone else's health by self quarantining since we've been back at home.  A lot of people are traveling right now, so if you're scared of people who have traveled, best not come out of your house at all.  By the way, I am also ok if we get COVID from receiving Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass.  I literally would die for Christ on my bravest days :)  End side note.}

Anyways, onward and upward.  We had the best time at Catholic Familyland.  If you can get over your fear of camping (like me) and can make the long trek to Ohio (like we did) I promise you, God will bless your whole family.  Guys, we are not a sheltered family.  We are normal.  Our kids all go to school.  Phil and I both work.  Our kids play sports and instruments and are around all sorts of people all the time.  I was nervous that we were going to "stick out" at Catholic Familyland as the "worldly ones".   That was not what it felt like at alllllllll.  Everyone was so friendly and nice, and because we shared a faith (and usually a political stance as well), it was easy to get along.  There were families there that homeschooled, private schooled, public schooled, worked outside the home, stayed at home, had one child, had ten children, were grandparents, just got married...you get the idea!

Here are some scenes from the place, and I'll give you a sample schedule of a day later...

Beach Volleyball Courts - probably the most competitive tournament was beach volleyball.

Cousins in front of Mama C's Snack Shack.  We gave the kids money for the week and they had the freedom to spend it here as they liked.  But no additional funds!  I gotta teach them finances somehow!

My niece Jo-jo buying an ice cream that's bigger than her head!

My nephew, Liam, up in a tree

The littles with their Snack Shack purchase of the day - we literally bribed them to nap after lunch and then took them here.

A priest, currently assigned at Franciscan University, waiting for his next confession victim :)  There were multiple priests available all afternoons to hear confessions - so beautiful!

Gaga Ball - I had never heard of it!

Bouncy fun for the little ones every day!

We went to the pool every afternoon.

Maggie got in so much wonderful girl time

This is where we ate dinner every night.  We bought the meal plan, because it's VERY hard to cook for nine in a cabin with no stove/oven/grill/any appliances.

One of the evenings was an outdoor family rosary followed with make your own smores.  

I took a picture of our seven kids with their eight cousins.  Two brothers made all these kids!  Well, with the help of their gorgeous wives :)

Speaking of those brothers and their wives, we were very happy to have traveled here with them, as they took us all under their wings and let us know what to do.  The cousins introduced our kids to new friends, as did Bob and Larisa.  This is the kind of place where families meet up and friends hang out together each year.  People were definitely having family reunions here, which is such a great idea as it doesn't put the burden of hosting on any one family member.

There is always something active to do at Catholic Familyland, whether it's throwing a frisbee, blowing bubbles, swimming, playing minigolf, playgrounds, trampolines, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, hiking trails, playing cards...the list goes on and on, just like the acres on the property.

On this evening's rosary, Father Kevin called up different groups to pray each decade.  First up was the Dads.

Then the Moms.

Then the "Saints Under Construction"

Followed by the adults and young adults who volunteer to help at the camps all summer.

And finally, the teens.

There is a group of consecrated lay people who live on the property year round and run the various camps and retreats.  They wear red shirts.  The black shirts are college aged kids who voluntarily serve during the camps (they might qualify for a small college scholarship?) and the yellow shirts are high school teens who voluntarily serve at the camps all summer.  Everyone was awesome!

On another evening, we had outdoor rosary followed by a Family Dance Night.  It was so fun!  Everybody got involved because they taught us line dances, you can see some videos here.

A Typical Day at Catholic Familyland went like this for us:

Wake up whenever the little kids woke up, usually around 7:30

Breakfast outside on the picnic table (we tried not to eat in our cabin because it was tight and also spills/crumbs)

Morning Mass at 9

After Mass, all kids aged 4 and up, go to their age groups for their morning sessions.  Parents stay in the auditorium and have coffee/donuts/bagels and listen to speakers.

12:30 is pick up your kids time

Lunch back at the cabin (eating outside again - we had gorgeous weather all week!)

The afternoon is free time.  I would try and nap with the little kids while Phil and the rest of the kids were free to roam.  They hung out with friends, entered a different sports tournament each day, swam, went to the snack shack, and just enjoyed their freedom.

When the littles woke up, we would go to the Snack Shack and then to the pool to swim because it was HOT.

Dinner was served between 5-6:30 each night, and it was set up cafeteria style, with outdoor seating.

Each night had the rosary at 7 pm and then some kind of activity for the families (smores, a dance, games, a show, Adoration)

The teens would have their evening session from around 8-11, so we would bring the youngest kids back to the cabin to get ready for bed, and then hang out outside talking to family and the new friends we made.  When the teens were done, we would all try to go to bed around midnight.

My favorite frisbee team - Discombobulated

Declan learned to swim so well without floaties this week!

The three amigos - Grace, Maura, and JP

They take family photos in the afternoons, some families dress up or color coordinate, we just came sweaty and wearing our camp clothes!

On the last evening, there is a big show put on by the volunteers, and the kids all get up and perform a song they've been working on all week.  It was very entertaining and cute.  Like the name of their rock group?

There's our cabin and tent we set up for the older boys.

Nature :)

Some items to note:

The price to attend is about $400 registration + $650 cabin rental.

You can bring your own camper or tents and not rent a cabin.

You can also rent an RV camper for about $1300 instead of the cabin...we will most likely go this route next time so that we have a bathroom and shower and sink in the camper.  Plus I can cook dinners that way too.

The meal plan was about $500 for our family, which is pricey for dinners only.  The food was pretty good, but some of the kids are picky eaters and I didn't feel like they ate enough for what I paid.

We think the charges were completely worth it.  There are so many activities and facilities that you have access to while you're there.   It's like going on a cruise, but on land, with a faith-filled flair.

 There's two "campuses" with different events hosted at either place.  For example, we slept at the campus that had the pools, sports, dining hall, and snack shack.  The other campus had people staying there, and it was where morning Mass and morning sessions were held, as well as the teens' nightly sessions.  The two campuses are about a mile apart, and normally a shuttle is operating, but not in the time of COVID.  It was a little annoying to have to go pick up your teens at 11pm, but Phil took turns with Bob and they didn't seem to mind so much.  I would happily continue to stay at our site because that's where all of the activities are each afternoon, and where everybody is hanging out.  It made running back to change into a swimsuit or grab some more sunscreen very easy.

Our week was the 3rd family fest this summer, in the middle of July, and the weather was perfectly sunny and a bit hot.  I think the earlier camps would have been cooler, but potentially rainier.

I would also strongly suggest going the same week as someone you know, because it's a lot more fun!

Bye Catholic Familyland, you've been wonderful to us at a time when we needed you most.  I wish we could have brought the kids here since they were all young.  Every single one of them had so much fun and has asked me if we can go back next year.  This might be the type of place you have to drag your family to, but you will have to drag them out when it's time to go.  Nobody is sponsoring this post, nobody asked me to give this glowing review, I just really would love to help get the word out about this special place.  WE LOVE CFL!