Camp CAYOCA workshop to focus on self-esteem, treating others with respect

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
May 5, 2005

Each summer the Diocese of Sioux City's Catholic youth camp - CAYOCA - features a variety of workshops and this year is no exception. The 2005 camp will be built on the theme Our Radical God.

At camp students will explore self-worth and self-image among other faith-related topics. To tie in with that concept, one of the workshops to be offered is titled Fingerprints of God. Sister Julie Tebbe, who is a member of the CAYOCA board, wrote the workshop. Volunteers will present it at the four sessions of camp.

"Several of us are connected with the school setting and there was an agreement among all of us on the board that there are a lot of bullying issues," said Sister Julie. "We as a board thought it might be a good way to help our kids better understand how to get along with one another. It has to start within themselves. They have to know and like themselves before they can know and like other people."

Sister Julie pointed out that in order to come up with materials for the workshop, she called upon the assistance and expertise of Pam Schermerhorn and Mary Uhl. They are K-8 guidance counselors for the Catholic Schools of Sioux City.

Schermerhorn mentioned that when she first started with CSSC eight or nine years ago self-esteem was a hot topic in and of itself so they have many materials on hand. She noted that through the years, the concept of self-esteem has been incorporated with other topics that stress the bigger picture - how they treat and respect others. It's good to have a positive self-image, but it is also important to show Christian courtesy to all people.

"We need to show dignity toward everyone. Everyone is important," she said.

Uhl said she believes the workshop on self-esteem is a good idea for grade school students because a positive self-image and self-confidence is important in order for them to make good decisions.

The guidance counselor mentioned that she likes the title of the workshop and finds it to be very fitting - Fingerprints of God.

"I take it to mean that we are all unique people, but that we have to be accepting of ourselves and other people," she said.

The workshop will start with an icebreaker that will help identify the campers' personalities and hobbies. For one of the activities, the campers will make their own personal crests, which will highlight their individuality and personal gifts.

"The workshop will encourage people to interact with other people and appreciate that we all have different gifts and talents. Everybody is not the same and that is okay," noted Uhl.

These same counselors had put together materials for the CAYOCA board for a workshop presented a year or two ago that focused directly on bullying.

Sister Julie mentioned that the guidance counselors were the perfect people to provide resources for the workshop as they deal with these issues on a daily basis.

She noted that the inspiration for the name of the workshop came from the song by Steven Curtis Chapman that is titled Fingerprints of God.

"It's all about how sometimes we don't like ourselves, what we see in the mirror, but actually it is about seeing the fingerprints of God. We are a masterpiece that God has created. Each of us is special and unique in our own way," said Sister Julie. "That will be a culminating song at the end of the workshop."

Linda Anderson, director of catechesis for the diocese, said they wanted to provide a workshop to the campers that stressed the fact that everyone "is made in the image God and is special, unique and equally loved by God. There is no favoritism in God's family. We want to help them realize their own gifts, value and worth. That is the starting point for relationships."

She pointed out that presently there is space available at all sessions of camp.

Camp dates for 2005 are: 7th/8th grade service camp, May 27 - 30; 5th/6th grade session A, June 3 - 6; 3rd/4th grade session A, June 7 - 10; 5th/6th grade session B, June 11 - 14; and 3rd/4th grade session B, June 15 - 18.

If you would like more information about camp please contact Anderson by phone at (712) 233-7517 or e-mail her at lindaa@scdiocese.org or contact her secretary, Judy Forrest, at (712) 233-7520 or e-mail her at judyf@scdiocese.org.