The mission for Camp Karol is to provide a serene environment for Catholic youth of the Diocese of Lake Charles to seek Christ, live Catholic, build community, and ignite the world.  

Camp Karol is named in honor of Saint John Paul II whose birth name was Karol Wojtyla. In Polish, his native language, Karol means Charles. This underscores the strong link Camp Karol has to our Saint Charles Retreat Center of the Diocese of Lake Charles.

Saint Charles Center’s extension through Camp Karol allows for a broadening of programs with the young people of the diocese in mind. This jewel of the diocese is on more than 100 acres situated along the Calcasieu River between the Saint Charles Retreat Center and St. Theodore Catholic Church.

The idea for a Catholic youth camp in Southwest Louisiana was initiated in 2005. After 10 years of independent effort, 89 acres of property known as Bear Island, along with its assets and equipment was donated to the Diocese of Lake Charles in November of 2015. 

Bishop Provost placed the project under the direction of Father Whitney Miller, director of Saint Charles Center, at that time and the vision evolved into Camp Karol with an additional 12 acres purchased by the Diocese. 

The project of Camp Karol became one of the goals of the Return to the Lord Capital Campaign conducted by the Diocese in 2016. The Lodge was dedicated by Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles on April 25, 2020.  The Lodge, designed to bring the beauty of the outdoors in, has a large gathering space, meeting room, dining area complete with commerical kitchen, chapel and offices.  The large wrap around porch adds another 10,000 sq ft of covered space to allow for small group gatherings.  Handmade stations of the cross, are located on the rear porch of the lodge, overlooking the swamp.  Six bungalows located to the north of the lodge, house 72 guests, complete with bathroom and shower facilities. Fundraising continues for the second set of six bungalows which will allow the facility to accomodate a total of 144 overnight guests.   Until that time Saint Katharine Drexel Conference Center dormitory at Saint Charles Center can be utilized for any overflow of guests.