The Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew

The Mother Church of the Diocese of Dallas

Christ | Compassion | Community

The Bishop’s Camp is a huge outreach ministry of the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew.  In the summer of 2006 the camp provided a safe, healthy, Christian learning environment for over 100 children ages six to fourteen who live in the Cathedral neighborhood.  The goal of our camp is to transform the long summer break from an unstructured time when boredom and lack of supervision can lead children into mischief into a time where learning is maintained and the love of Christ is demonstrated by caring teens and adults. 

The heart of the camp is the reading program.  Under the supervision of a Dallas ISD reading teacher, volunteers come to the camp each morning to spend time reading with each child.  The children blossom when given this individual attention and reading practice.  In addition to the reading program, Bishop’s Camp teachers provide classes in math, science, arts and crafts, and music.  You are invited to volunteer at the camp in any of the classes, although volunteers are particularly needed for the reading program.  Just let the camp coordinator, Deacon Powers, know that you are interested and we’ll work out a schedule that is convenient for you.  The camp is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 until 3:00 during June and July.   

Working alongside the camp at the Cathedral is the Summer in the City program for youth.  The camp provides an opportunity for these young people from other Episcopal churches to read or play games with the children, show them acceptance and respect, and model Christian faith to our campers. 

No child is asked to pay a fee for attending the seven weeks of Bishop’s Camp.  The major source of funding for the camp is our annual Bishop’s Camp Golf Tournament, which is held each year in September.  The 2005 Golf Tournament was underwritten by the Schlicting Group and was very successful! The other funds for operating the camp come from the Diocese of Dallas, contributions from other churches, a grant from Weed and Seed, and donations from individuals.  Donations of any amount are always welcome and greatly needed to continue to provide a quality camp program.

The Bishop’s Camp at the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew provides is one way of reaching out to the world around us in the name of Christ, meeting practical needs while giving parishioners and other volunteers a unique opportunity to share God’s love with children.