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About Us: CYO Camp History

1946 Bert and Julia Dingley of Indianapolis donate 280 acres of land in Brown County to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. It was specified that this property be used as a camp for the children of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Bert Dingley had one condition placed on his donation and that was the camp be named "Framasa" (a name created by taking the first syllables of the three names of the Dingley daughters: Frances, Margaret, and Samuella). Expected to serve one hundred campers per week for ten weeks (this is the first Summer projections).

EXISTING STRUCTURES : Chaplain’s Residence, Leaders Residence, Caretaker’s Cabin (little House), Bunk Houses, Temporary Kitchen (at the time it was a repair shop for tanks during World War II) and Dining Room, and a Barn suitable for craft shops and play rooms.

June, 1946 CYO Camp Rancho Framasa opens

NEW BUILDINGS : Chapel, More Bunk Houses, Sanitary Building--or the shower facilities, and a swimming pool.

PROPOSED ACTIVITIES : have facilities for hiking, volleyball, softball, kickball, handicrafts, nature study, table tennis, etc. Until pool is built campers will be taken to Brown County State Park to swim.

1955 Archdiocese launches archdiocesan wide fund drive to build new swimming pool.
1956

A $30,000 Swimming Pool is constructed at Rancho Framasa. 1,120 campers attend Rancho Framasa.

1959 The camp is now operating for the full summer with sessions for boys and girls.
1964 First year for the Horseback Riding Program, which consists of 4 horses and 3 ponies.
1966 A Recreation Pavilion is constructed replacing the Old Barn.
1972 The Dining Hall is renovated at Rancho Framasa.
1974 The winterized watering system is completed. A new pool deck was laid, and the pipes around the pool were replaced. Lavatory and shower facilities were added to each of the cabins.
1987 Kevin J. Sullivan becomes the Camp Director of CYO Camp Rancho Framasa.

1995

Pool is renovated: new deck, new lighting, new fencing, and chloronator.
1996 50th Anniversary
First ever Camp Open House and Work-A-Thon.
2000 CYO Camp Rancho Framasa embarks on its 54th Summer of offering children the best experience in outdoor camping. Campers will enjoy the 309 acres of wooded, rolling hills at Camp Rancho Framasa. They will also enjoy living in large cabins that are each complete with indoor plumbing and heated water. The camp currently has a capacity of 170 campers a week.

2001

Conference Center completed September 2001--named the Outdoor Program Center (OPC). Houses the camp's dining hall, main kitchen, 3 break out rooms, restrooms and storage closets. Participants enjoy dining and meeting in this air conditioned buiding. 

 

2002

Existing cabins are rennovated and 3 new cabins are built.

Cabins are now named for saints:

Cabin A: St. Ann  Cabin B: St. John Bosco, Cabin C: St. Christopher, Cabin D: St Dominic Savio, Cabin E: St. Elizabeth, Cabin G: St. Gabriel, Cabin H: St. Hugh, Cabin I: St. Ignatus

 

 
 
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