Adult volunteers inspired at CAYOCA

By RENEE WEBB Globe editor
Posted March 27, 2002

Year after year third through eighth grade students who attend the Diocese of Sioux City's Catholic youth camp, CAYOCA, sing its praises - adults do too.

According to Linda Anderson, director of catechesis for the diocese, volunteers serve at camp in a variety of ways such as small group leaders and the leader team - music leaders, workshop presenters, camp coordinators and medics.

"We can't run a camp is we don't have adult volunteers. We must have a certain number of small group leaders per number of children," she noted. "They always seem to have a good time at camp and are wonderful role models."

Tim Bottaro, a parishioner at Cathedral, pointed out that he first volunteered as a small group leader for CAYOCA four or five years ago. His wife told him he better volunteer for camp otherwise his son would not attend.

That same son enjoyed the experience so much that he attended every year and this year he will serve as a program assistant. His daughter has also attended camp for a number of years.

"We have all enjoyed it and have kept going back," noted Bottaro, who acknowledged that he is not big on camping. "My idea of roughing it was a motel with no cable TV. When I went, I had one of the best times of my life."

He said he never expected it to be such a wonderful experience.

Marie Washburn, DRE at St. Michael Church in Kingsley, pointed out that this summer will be her fifth year at camp. She became involved in the camp soon after moving to the diocese. She has volunteered as a small group leader, a workshop presenter and now will attend as a head group leader.

"Other dioceses that we had lived in did not offer this opportunity for the youth. I was so excited when I heard Catholic kids could go to camp, because we had two children who were old enough to attend," she said.

Camp fired her up for Jesus.

"I use this time as a retreat, though it's exhausting, to strengthen my faith and my relationship with God. This is a great way for ending my religious ed school year and it helps get me fired up for the coming fall classes," said Washburn, who added that it gives her a chance to connect with other adults from the diocese.

She likes it that the children leave camp "on fire" as they are inspired through campfires, liturgies, music, new friends, activities, and workshops.

Beth Kisch, a parishioner at Christ the King in Dayton, has volunteered at the camp for 13 years. Unlike many of the other volunteers, she has no children. She became involved initially as a group leader and then progressed to leader team and now serves as a coordinator for one of the sessions.

"I had never been to camp as a child and thought I would love it," said Kisch. And she does. "It is an incredible experience. It is hard to understand until you actually do it."

At first, she noted, new adult volunteers question what they have gotten themselves into but by the end of the camp they are usually hooked and can't wait to come back.

"The camp helps the students realize that it can be a fun experience to learn about God," said Kisch. "They can make lifelong friends. I have done that."

Karen Schwaller, DRE at St. Joseph Church in Milford, has volunteered for four years.

"I started out because my daughter went. I work at the church and help coordinate getting the volunteers, so I thought I should go once myself just to know what it was like. I ended up liking it so much that I make it a part of my summer," she said.

CAYOCA is a way to enhance her own life through friendships, noted Schwaller, as well as a means to impact the lives of children in the diocese.

Anderson pointed out that many of the adult volunteers attend camp year after year. If adults are interested in volunteering at camp, they can contact the diocesan office at (712) 233-7520 or (712) 233-7517.