High School Summer Camp 2015 The theme for Summer Camp 2015 is, Life is worth living in Christ. Too often we try to segregate our lives into two parts: the secular and the sacred. Many believe that God is boring, and that fun has nothing to do with God. Summer Camp is designed to break that mentality, that yes we are here to draw closer to God but we are also here to have the time of our lives. Summer Camp is a five day, life-altering experience. When I was a child I grew up going to a Christian Summer Camp every year starting at the age of 7. It was the highlight of the year for me. I fell deeper and deeper in love with God each passing year and I learned how to have crazy amounts of fun in a safe and Christian environment. When I became a teenager though is when it all suddenly became a lot more real and meaningful. There is something special and vibrant about spending a whole week with hundreds of other teenagers that shared your love and passion for God. The most significant spiritual experiences of my life have happened at these camps and I want to provide the teens of our Parishes with a similar opportunity at a cost that almost everyone can afford. Last year was the first year that St. Teresa of Avila did it s own Summer Camp. We held it at Aquinas High School and we had 50 students attend. We closed the week out by taking them all to Carrowinds. Our students loved it, and we gained a lot of local interest. But this Summer I
want to be a little bit bolder. You and your students are invited. We will be hosting it at Camp Echeconnee and the cost will be $150. Below are some of the details so you can get a bigger picture of the event. Unique Aspects of the Camp: We will be doing something fun and different each day. First the students will be divided up and put into tribes that will be competing for points throughout the week, something we call Tribal Wars. This is the fun, team building, and competitive aspect of the camp. Throughout the week we will have numerous and organized activities for the students to participate in. Spiritual Aspects of the Camp: Our theme for this camp is focused on living out your life to the fullest for Christ - see John 10:10. The theme song for this camp is called This is Living by Hillsong Young + Free, featuring Lecrae. The song can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsjemlkphri.there will be one lesson each day followed by small groups and proceeded by Praise and Worship. We are going to hire a number of young adult music ministers from the Diocese of Atlanta to come and put together a band for us. We will have Mass each morning and will do quiet adoration each day. On Tuesday night we will close with Adoration and Confession. Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure Saint JP2
Lodging/ Food/ Transportation All the students will be staying at Camp Echeconnee. The camp has dorm styled rooms where the students will be sleeping. There will be leader cabins for the Chaperones. We really do not want parents driving all the way up here to drop students off individually, please coordinate with your local Youth Ministry programs. We need enough chaperones from your youth program to commit to staying with us throughout the camp to cover all virtus requirements. These chaperones will not just be standing idly on the sidelines but will be actively involved with the camp so get me their names and info as soon as possible Food will be taken care of at Camp. The students will need to bring money for the cantina though All Youth programs will need to provide their own transportation to and from Camp.
What to bring: 8 Changes of Clothes - not a joke. Modest swimsuit - if you have questions about this contact your local Youth Minister Twin Sheets Pillow Toothbrush Toothpaste Shampoo Deodorant Body Wash 2 Towels Rosary Bible Flip Flops Tennis Shoes - Or Converses - Or Vans- or whatever is cool nowadays Sunscreen Musical Instruments if you play them (leave your drum sets at home..) Snacks Water Gun $20 Spending Money What not to bring: Weapons - duh Drugs - duh Alcohol - duh Bikini s / Speedos Gaming Systems Prank Materials - we will have plenty of fun without them Illicit Reading Materials - nothing unspiritual Crummy Attitudes In order to register we must receive a permission form and a 50$ deposit. After July 5th that deposit will not be able to be refunded. All payments and forms are due by July 5th. The cost for the camp is $150. Please make all checks out to St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church. Our mailing address is 4921 Columbia Rd, Grovetown Ga 30813. Please address everything to Sean Strasma.
If you have any questions please contact me at sstrasma@st-teresa.com I will get back to you as soon as possible. If you plan on attending please email me and let me know how many you plan on bringing, this will help me with how big I need to plan the activities. God Bless and have a great summer Sean Strasma Youth Minister @ St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church sstrasma@st-teresa.com 4921 Columbia Rd, Grovetown Ga, 30813 706-863-4956