Youth camp fosters friendship and Catholic fun

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Samuel Dinsdale proclaims the Gospel during the closing Mass for the Youth Summer Camp at Camp Tuttle for junior high students. The lodge served as a chapel as well as a dining hall and a place to do crafts.IC photo by Timothy Bell

CAMP TUTTLE — Catholic Youth Summer Camp at Camp Tuttle Aug. 5-10, was a week junior high campers spent making new friends, praying together, playing games, and learning to be team members.

"Our camp motto is safe Catholic fun," said Matthew Boerke, director of the Diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office. "Everything we do at camp is safe, fun, and Catholic at the same time. That includes the types of activities we do, our morning and evening prayers, different team-building games we played, and how we communicated throughout the day.

"The team-building games are a way for the campers to interact and bond, learn about themselves, push their limits, and tap into their creative thinking skills," said Boerke. "Relationships are very important, too. We try to foster interaction between the campers and between the campers and the counselors."

Boerke said this year’s theme was "Following in the Footsteps of Christ." It was kind of sand and beach and kind of Hawaiian. The campers made hula skirts, leis, bug catchers, beads, friendship bracelets, and Hawaiian scenes out of Play-Doh.® They also played foosball, volleyball, and basketball.

Meredith Burden, a member of St. Marguerite Parish, Tooele, was a camp counselor for the first time. She said she loved coming to camp and would like to return.

"I really enjoyed connecting with the campers, inspiring them, and having a spiritual relationship with them," said Burden. "Every morning at chapel we would read a story and have a prayer that would relate to the story, we prayed together at each meal and at evening chapel. We would also pray together in our cabins at night, and it was really a spiritual experience.

"We played games each day, hiked up to the lakes at Solitude Ski Resort, did different crafts, and had a dance the last night that was a blast," said Burden. "On the last night, we prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and it was a very moving experience. Some of us were brought to tears."

William Frakes, a junior high camper from St. John the Baptist Parish, felt comfortable praying with the other students. He also said it felt good to get away from home for a while, and he enjoyed making new friends.

Dannika Valdez, a camp counselor from Blessed Sacrament Parish, said the campers are split up into groups of five for activities as well as assignments for different chores. They helped clean the bathrooms, cabins, and chapel, set up the dining room, and served meals. Valdez said being a counselor offered her leadership skills and experience setting up activities so they ran smoothly. It was so much fun she wants to return next year.

Youth Camp came to a close with a Mass celebrated by Father Samuel Dinsdale, parochial vicar of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Park City.

Fr. Dinsdale asked the campers the meaning of Eucharist. One camper answered, "it is thanksgiving."

"All of you survived, made new friends, and had a wonderful time, so we are giving thanks for a wonderful week," said Fr. Dinsale.

"In the Gospel we are told if we do not lose ourselves, we will never find ourselves," said Fr. Dinsdale. "St. Lawrence, in the Gospel, lost himself. He was a martyr. He was also a deacon who helped the poor and offered his life, everything he had, to give service to those he was called to love and help.

"We are like onions, there are so many layers to us," said Fr. Dinsdale. "In our lives, it is hard for us to realize just what we are capable of because we are made in God’s image. Within us is God. By offering ourselves to others, we find ourselves. A true human being is one who learns better ways to build community.

"This week you all made new friends, peeled off layers, and saw new sides to yourselves," said Fr. Dinsdale. "When we celebrate the Eucharist, we gather together with Catholics all over the world and we give thanks to God. Each of us is called to do special things and develop our gifts. As you go back home and get ready for school, you have a new year ahead of you to offer yourselves to each other and those who need a loving friend."