Detroit — To keep alive proud traditions, sometimes it takes new tactics.

That seems to be a message resonating around Port Sanilac, where the Catholic Youth Organization and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul have spent the last few years upgrading and improving their summer camp offerings.

“There are so many specialized camps out there — sports camps, cheerleading, basketball, leadership camps,” says Robin Carter, assistant director of CYO camps and the camp nurse. “Kids want to go for specialized camps. It’s hard to be a traditional camp nowadays and offer everything.”

But the Catholic camps are coming close.

This year, the CYO, which hosts a boys’ and girls’ camp on separate grounds, launched two new efforts. One is a “mini pioneer” camp where 12- and 13-year-olds take a canoe trip, build their own camp and cook their own food. The other is a horse riding camp that will begin next week.

Stephanie Cobb, 19, a former camper who’s now a counselor at the CYO girls’ camp, says the specialized camps are fun in themselves, and also are a good way to introduce youngsters to the traditional camp she came to love as a pre-teen and teenager. The traditional camps still draw hundreds of youths each summer.

“Once new campers come for horse camp and they see how traditional camp is, I think we’ll keep them for traditional camp,” says Cobb. “They learn that it’s great here, and that they do learn a bunch of new things…about faith and life in general.”

Camp Ozanam, which is the camp sponsored the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, has found its adventure camps a popular choice in recent years. They include offerings such as a ropes course high above the ground, and canoe trips.

The co-ed camp exhibited its own strong tradition this past weekend when Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss — a former camp counselor, chaplain and director — said Mass for a gathering of campers and camp alumni. Bishop Reiss received the Camp Medallion Award for his past volunteer service and his current role in helping raise funds to restore an historic building at Camp Ozanam.

At the gathering, the bishop said it’s important “that kids have an opportunity to get out of the asphalt jungle of the city and come up to camp and enjoy God’s creation.”

Established 85 years ago, Camp Ozanam is sponsored by the Vincentians, and all attendees are given need-based scholarships to attend the summer camp.

Opportunities to camp this summer may still be available at Camp Ozanam for boys and girls, ages 8-12; and at CYO camps for boys and girls ages 7-16. Call the camp offices at (810) 622-8744 for details.