By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
July 8, 2004

Youth from throughout the Diocese of Sioux City continue to volunteer their time during the month of June at Camp CAYOCA. High school and college age youth help in different capacities as group leaders, program assistants and workshop presenters.

"The youth have a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of desire to serve," said Linda Anderson, director of catechesis for the diocese. "This offers that opportunity to them. A lot of them have been there as campers and want to continue with their help at camp. A lot of them continued to come back as group leaders and others have worked up to being workshop presenters."

The youth volunteers help with prayer rotations, games and activities. They assist with morning prayer and make sure that all the workshop presenters have the supplies that they need. They are willing to pitch in wherever and whenever, noted Linda.

"They are so willing and so hardworking," said Linda. "I really don't know what we would do without them, but I also think that we are providing them with some early on leadership development opportunities. It helps them make that transition from being a camper to being an adult leader."

The Dickman family from St. Michael's Parish in Kingsley served in different ways. Lauri Dickman, the mother, served as the medic for one week of camp. Two daughters, Amber and Heather Dickman, were group leaders and have also served as program assistants in the past. Kendra Dickman, another daughter, volunteered as a program assistant this year. It was a whole family commitment to camp, commented Anderson.

Heather is currently taking a few classes at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City and will be going to Briar Cliff University in the fall. She has been involved at Camp CAYOCA for six years, starting as a program assistant when she was a sophomore in high school and working her way up to being a group leader this year.

"I like working with children and every year is such a great experience so I just keep coming back," said Heather.

She commented that one of her joys of working at camp is seeing the children's faces when they learn something new or when they know the answer to a question.

Jarrod Anderson, a student at Briar Cliff University, has been volunteering at camp for four years. He started as a program assistant and became a group leader. This year he was a workshop presenter for the Fellowship of the Saints workshop at one camp. He is from Spencer and belongs to Sacred Heart Parish.

"The knowledge that the kids have in the workshops is amazing sometimes - the answers that they give and the questions that they have," said Jarrod. "It is just such a great ministry for the diocese to get kids involved in their faith and in church."

Jarrod explained that he sees God in the campers when they are learning and having fun.

"Camp is a spiritual reenergizer for me," said Jarrod. "We try using things from their lives to get the message across. It is a different setting that they can learn about their faith and can act a little goofy at church. They can be themselves and not worry about people criticizing them."

According to Linda, the volunteers develop a dedication to camp. The spirituality and hard work they offer to camp is really needed and essential in the sense that they help keep everything running.

"Camp wouldn't happen if we didn't have them," said Kay Morrissey, director of the Office of Faith Formation. "People were willing to set aside their time. Particularly for service camp, people are giving up a holiday weekend because we always have it over Memorial Day weekend."

Liz Kardell, a volunteer from Sacred Heart Parish in Spencer, graduated from college in May and will be teaching in the fall.

"I have a blast every year that I go," said Kardell. "I enjoy being around the kids. I like the service camp with the older kids. We are doing things for the camp and for people in the community. I think it is a good way to see the kids doing the service and have fun while doing it."

This year was her third year at camp. Kardell volunteered as a group leader and cabin leader for the service camp for seventh and eighth graders.

"It is good that they see others that are there for the same reason they are," said Kardell. "I think it is good for them to see that and to meet kids from other areas that share the same faith that they do. They can share things without worrying about what other people are going to think or that they are going to be embarrassed or made fun of."

Stephen Phelps, a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Holstein, also volunteered at the service camp this year. He is a student at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. This was his second year at camp and he volunteered as a group leader.

"Last year was my first year and they came and asked me to help," said Phelps. "I told them I would do it. I loved it so much last year that I wanted to go back and do it again this year. It was so much fun."

He enjoys the closeness that is developed while the campers are there. Everyone gets to know the people that are around them and meet a lot of new people. Phelps also commented that he likes "bringing everyone closer to their faith and bringing out their faith."

"I think that they learn a lot about what their faith is and what faith means to them," said Phelps. "It builds them for their years to come and what they need to get out of their faith."