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humanaevitae
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| Posted: Jan 27 2007 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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Has anyone been to these "camps"? (Especially the family fests) I would love to hear your thoughts!
http://www.familyland.org/content/Content.aspx?CategoryID=11 8
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Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
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humanaevitae
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| Posted: Jan 28 2007 at 10:00pm | IP Logged
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What! Has nobody been there?!
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Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
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chicken lady
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| Posted: Jan 28 2007 at 11:24pm | IP Logged
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Well I live right here in Steubenville Catholic Familtland is right down the road. What are you looking to know? It is not our cup of tea, I have been there, I know lots of families travel quite distance to come to the camps.
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rivendellmom
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 6:18am | IP Logged
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Friends of ours go every year. We haven't because I've been told that there is an expectation that you will go home and promote their products.The kids that go love it- and I guess it just doesn't bother some adults- but to us it sounded too much like- used car salesman pressure. Plus all your time is planned for you and that just isn't our style. For the opposite opinion I could give you my friends email if you want-she loves promoting the place.
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Jen in suburban Chicagoland Mom to Connor(91), Garrett(93), Reilly (95), Mary Katherine (98), Declan (05), Ronan in ^i^ 6/28/08
visit our new blog: http://recreationalscholar.blogspot.com/
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KellyJ
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 10:40am | IP Logged
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I've heard the same things from various friends of ours who have gone through the years. They've all loved it, but there is that pressure. Some have spoken to me about he pressure; others simply and continually give the sales pitch.
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KellyJ
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humanaevitae
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 1:25pm | IP Logged
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Maybe I haven't looked in to it much...what are they "selling"?
We just love the idea of a camping experience with other Catholic families. Singing songs around a campfire, hiking, swimming, etc...
We are in MN so it would include a bit of travelling and precious vacation time.
Molly, Jen, and Kelly- thanks for your comments and maybe I'll pm you! 
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Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
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KellyJ
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 2:21pm | IP Logged
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In my experience, they are mostly "selling" Catholic Familyland's TV (last I knew it was some satellite thing) and the various events like the family fests and retreats. I was never asked to donate money, nor had any of them mentioned a strong push for donations from families who go on the retreats, but I do see on the site that they accept donations. The biggest push, in my experience, has been for the family fests/retreats.
I am pretty sure there is an extra day or so that you can stay on at their site to learn about promoting Catholic Familyland. I don't know whether the families I know stayed for that portion or if the encouragement to promote the CF apostolate was part of the regular weeks/weekends they were there.
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ALmom
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
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What I heard is that there is more of the dividing the family up into age segregated sessions. We were told that it was better to go to the other event (it is generally in the winter) rather than Familyland if we went. Anyways the following is what we put together in talking to family fest people and in talking to my sis who did go - so it is not direct or first hand experience and take it with a grain of salt.
We had looked into Family Fest at one point but in discussing it with folks there, it just didn't fit our family's desire to be together. Sending 6 different aged dc in 6 different directions drives me nuts and I feel I cannot properly tend to my own in this situation. If they would have allowed us to skip some of the stuff (one adult attending some/ even a majority of the adult presentations) and just camp out and visit with other families and do the whole family things, we would have gone. I'm sorry, but I just don't know the people personally who are dealing with my dc and would want to be with them and if we are going on vacation we want the memories to be as a family - not individuals.
On the positive side, priests were available everywhere, Sacramental Confession was easy to access and traditional Catholic devotions were simply woven into the day.
Janet
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KellyJ
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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I got the impression from one family that you don't have to do the activities. I specifically asked about how a family manages when there are little ones who need naps, etc. Of course, I've not been there; so, I really don't know how everything works out and how much decision making you have in how you spend your time.
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 3:53pm | IP Logged
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Nicole, I've never been, but I have a friend that has and loved it.
Have you considered organizing a camping trip with your Catholic homeschooling community? We did this 2 years ago, 9 families went, about 4 hours away, it was SO much fun, just a long weekend, we had a great time. I hope we are able to do it again this summer.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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humanaevitae
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
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Uhhh, Lisa, you guys are MY homeschooling community!
We've recently found a Catholic homeschooling group 2hrs from us so I have great hopes! Right now we have been meeting them on the ski slopes every Tuesday and it has been so much fun. Of course I want to share you all with them 
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Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Jan 30 2007 at 6:01am | IP Logged
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That's it then Nicole, we must all go camping together!  Really, though, wouldn't that be great!
I'm glad you meeting up with other homeschoolers. I often take for granted the wondeful Catholic homeschooling community we have here.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Nique
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| Posted: July 07 2011 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
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May I please reprint what my DH wrote to his friends after we returned from our first year at Catholic Familyland last year? We just recently got back from our second trip this year (2 weeks ago actually) and I ditto everything he wrote! 
Here it is:
We just returned from our vacation at Catholic Familyland and I want to recommend it unreservedly. CFL is an 850 acre campground near Stuebenville Ohio run by The Apostolate for Family Consecration.
The Apostolate was founded by Jerry Coniker and his late wife, Servant of God Gwen Coniker. It is one of 120 organizations worldwide that have Papal status meaning they report directly to Rome. Their mission is to teach families about Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with St Joseph, using the method of St Louis de Monfort.
(Check out www.familyholiness.com for a video summary of the message of hope.)
Everyday begins with Mass with huge processions and rock-solid homilies. Mass is followed by breakout sessions for kids divided by gender and age down to age 4. That leaves the parents free for their cathecesis. There are two large play areas for little tots and parents that have closed circuit TV of everything going on.
Afternoons are free time but their is tons of stuff to do including pools, waterslides, sports, horseback riding, nature trails, frisbee golf, fishing etc.
There is Eucharistic adoration and daily Benediction. Confessions are heard by 4 or 5 priests all afternoon. At 3pm everybody stops where they are for praying the Devine Mercy. The Rosary is prayed around their big campfire one night, the rest of the nights, you can say it with your family or invite other families to join you .
The families you meet are incredible and come from Alabama to Alaska. Really great kids, polite and helpful teens, parents who are trying to live their faith. Large families don't stand out and nobody will ask you if those are all your kids.
There is an amazing bookstore / gift shop, laundry service, huge jungle gym, Fryer Tuck store, and a snack bar.
Cabins sleep 9 people and are air conditioned and heated and have a full size fridge and microwave. They also have campsites for trailers. Our family of 9 stayed for the week for $950 including the optional meal plan. ($608 without meal plan)
They have 5 separate weeks each summer called "Holy Family Fest".
The only bad thing I can say is it is very hard to leave.
Here is their main website!
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Topic: catholic familyland?
