Three Observations from Middle School Camp 2024
While driving along the Coeur d’Alene River en route to Middle School Camp last week, I could finally take a deep breath. The last few weeks in the office were a marathon sprint of projects, and I anticipated doing fieldwork for a change—and the fresh air and silent prayer that accompanied it. With a camera in hand and an observing eye, I set out to document the annual week of summer camp for junior high students.
This year’s theme was “To The Heights,” an English translation of the Italian Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s maxim, Verso l’Alto. I am unsure whether the saying was a motto he lived by or simply a caption to a photo of him rock climbing. Regardless, it reminds us why we were created, who we were made for and where we are called to be after our Earthly pilgrimage is through: with Jesus in Heaven.
The sold-out camp lasts about a week in mid-August every year. It is put on by the diocese and hosted at Shoshone Mountain Retreat, an auxiliary property of Lutherhaven Ministries in Coeur d’Alene. It is surrounded by dense forest and is flanked by both the river to the west and Shoshone Creek to the east. The week is filled with adventurous camp activities (like real rock climbing), team-building opportunities, daily formation and abundant opportunities for prayer and the sacraments. The formation this summer was based on a core message of the Gospel, answering questions like “Who is Jesus?” and “What is prayer, and how do we pray?” while also leaving time for discussion among campers.
During my brief 25-hour visit, three moments stood out, filling me with hope for our Church and the generations of faithful disciples she is raising up. The camp's positive impact on the young participants was unmistakable.
Arriving roughly halfway through the week, one of the first things I noticed was the camaraderie among the assigned youth groups. Each co-ed group was assigned a color and worked together to create a team name, flag and chant for the impending “Camp Olympics.” My favorite team name was “Red 40,” comically named after the synthetic dye in many prepackaged foods and beverages. Notwithstanding the goofy humor one expects from middle schoolers, I was edified by the sense of leadership, collaboration, and fellowship fostered in these groups.
In a fitting spectacle for a ballpark hotdog and a soda, I simultaneously watched two games of eight-base kickball and one game of mega beachball volleyball. While I observed great sportsmanship between teammates and opponents, I could not help but smile as I witnessed a priest, still in his blacks, running full-speed around first base to second, unbothered by the loss of his hat. It would have been easy to observe from the bench, but this pastor wanted to be with his flock. “I’m only here for the day,” he admitted. “Holy Day of Obligation tomorrow.” Although this priest’s time at camp was even shorter than mine, I was inspired by his ministry of presence to the youth and choice not simply to be involved—but invested. He became the unofficial chaplain for Team Purple and gathered the team for prayer before each game. I suspect his parish may experience the same level of investment.
Finally, the morning before my departure, I hoped to get at least a little time to be with Jesus. I was up early because I had forgotten my sleeping bag (again) and was quite chilled by the mountain air coming through the window of my room. As I walked to the chapel, morning light illuminated the ridge of pines above, and dew soaked my bare feet in sandals below; it was about 6:30 a.m. I said good morning to Jesus and sat down in the back with frozen feet. I enjoyed the silence and one-on-one time with my Lord in the Tabernacle because, as a young father, most of my prayer happens at home.
Before long, a priest joined us and exposed Jesus in the monstrance—a true gift. Then, moments later, a few campers began to stroll in quietly, first two boys and a young girl. I was pleasantly surprised; reflecting on my time in junior high, I would not have been among those three in my day. I remembered an optional rosary would take place at 7:30 a.m., but it was barely 7. As time passed, the door kept opening and was eventually propped open. Before 7:30 a.m., the chapel was nearly full of campers, with a few volunteers and staff. Character comes through in the options. The rosary was optional, and the chapel was always open, with Jesus available at any time. None of those campers had to be there, but they chose to be there. Some even decided to come nearly thirty minutes early.
I don’t know if they were focused in prayer or spacing out. Frankly, I am quite prone to spacing out, too, but presence matters—giving Jesus the time to speak every day bears fruit, even if it doesn’t feel like it. These young campers inspire me in their choice to get up and pray. Sleeping in is always the easy choice, yet they chose to be with Jesus, and their actions encouraged me as I try to do the same. If a middle school camper can do it, I can, and you can too. Maybe they forgot their sleeping bag, but they are likely wiser than me.
While this is only a snapshot of one day at middle school camp, it is a snapshot of what the future of the Church might look like. God-willing, these young people will become our future priests or religious sisters, fathers and mothers and the face of Christ in the workforce. They inspire me to grow in my discipleship with Jesus daily through prayer, are an example of building up the body of Christ, and have modeled being fully alive in Him. Please pray for these young people because they, too, carry heavy burdens and need our prayers. Pray that they may lead lives not for themselves but for Jesus. Pray that they my find their vocation when the time comes, and live it in abundance.
