WHITE OAK - North Carolina’s Sandhills rang with laughter at the annual Catholic Camporee for Scouts March 7 - 9. Held at Camp Bowers, the theme was "All Creatures Great and Small.”
The event was sponsored by the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Raleigh and welcomed youth from Scouting America, which includes Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts and others, and Girl Scouts of the USA, which includes Daisies and Brownies and others. Scout leaders, parents and siblings, whether Catholic or not, were also welcomed. A host of volunteers contributed to the event.
The spiritual heart of the event was the celebration of Mass, offered by Father Scott McCue, the Diocese of Raleigh’s chaplain for Scouts. During the camporee, seminarian Rob Lane spoke about the beauty of God’s creation and shared stories of saints who held a deep reverence for nature. His words encouraged Scouts to see the natural world as a reflection of God’s love and to cultivate a sense of stewardship for the environment.
The weekend’s activities also included climbing a 65-foot tower, range and target sports, campfires and cooking demonstrations.
Live animals from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences are a perennial favorite at the camporee. This year educator Carolyn Brooks shared a corn snake, Madagascar hissing cockroaches and blue-tongued skink.
Michelle Rose, of North Carolina Catholics Caring for our Common Home, led informative nature walks.
During the camporee weekend, the CCoS recognized outstanding contributions to Catholic Scouting with the presentation of the prestigious St. George Award. CCoS members Ed Walsh and Dawn Leone were honored for their dedication to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in Scouting.
“The Catholic Camporee continues to be a cherished tradition, bringing Scouts together for faith, fellowship and outdoor adventure,” said Father McCue. “As the Scouts departed Camp Bowers, they carried with them not only new skills and friendships but also a deeper appreciation for God’s creation and their role as faithful stewards of the Earth.”
The 2026 Catholic Scout Camporee will take place March 13-15 at BSA Camp Bowers. Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama will join the group for Mass and dinner.
For more on the activities of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Raleigh – including the Camporee, fall Mass of Thanksgiving, religious emblems for Scouts, and more – visit scouting.dioceseofraleigh.org. The CCoS welcomes your participation.
