Looking for a great experience for your children this summer? Check out the diocese's Camp CAYOCA

By Renee Webb, Globe editor
March 30, 2006

Run the Race is the theme of this year's Catholic youth camp - CAYOCA - which is held every summer at Twin Lakes Christian Center near Manson in the Diocese of Sioux City. Hundreds of young campers from across the diocese attend the camp each year.

According to Linda Anderson, diocesan director of catechesis, camp offers a nice balance between faith enriching and recreational activities.

"Camp CAYOCA helps kids get excited about their faith and realize that faith is much more than going to a Catholic school, attending parish religious education classes or going to Mass on Sunday. It is actually a life-encompassing journey and we are on that journey together," she said.

The Diocese of Sioux City is presently accepting registrations for the five sessions of camp that will be offered this year.

The first session, which is set for May 26-29, is a service camp for seventh- and eighth-graders. In addition to various hands-on service opportunities right there on the campground, the teenagers participate in workshops, liturgy and prayer experiences. There is also ample free time to allow the campers time for assorted recreational activities.

The dates for the remaining four sessions are as follows: The fifth- and sixth-grade session A camp will be held June 1-4. The third- and fourth-grade session A camp is set for June 5-8. The fifth- and sixth-grade session B camp will be held June 9-12. The third- and fourth-grade session B of camp is scheduled for June 13-16.

At these traditional CAYOCA camps for the third- to sixth-graders, campers attend two faith-based workshops each morning following breakfast and morning praise.

"Of the six workshops that campers attend, one is always Mass preparation where the kids learn about various aspects of the Mass and of ways they can participate. They even help plan the Masses at camp. They also participate in a reconciliation workshop and they always have the chance to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation while they are at camp," said Anderson.

The other four workshops, she noted, are centered on the theme. The theme of Run the Race is based on the Scripture verse 2 Timothy 4:7. The New American Bible translation of the apostle Paul's words reads: "I have competed well. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

The titles of the workshops that are centered on the theme are Put On Your Running Shoes, Just Do It, There is No "I" in Team and I Have Kept the Faith.

In addition to the workshops, a third activity each morning is a rotation between celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation, Mass activity workshop to help plan the liturgy and prayer rotations that allow the campers to experience a new form of prayer.

"The campers usually have three hours of free time each afternoon and then we have Mass everyday in the late afternoon before supper," noted Anderson. "Every evening, there are planned activities. We may have games and one night we have skit night," she said.

A diocesan priest serves as the spiritual director of the camp. They are the ones that teach the Mass preparation workshop and they preside at the daily Masses.

Each evening also features campfire that features music and some faith sharing.

"Not only do the campers learn a lot by participating in workshops or Mass, they are together with a lot of kids and adults of the same faith. They learn that it is okay to be open about your faith - it's an exciting thing," said Anderson.

During the free time there are a variety of waterfront activities such as swimming, fishing, waterslide and paddleboat rides that campers may try. Other fun activities range from rock wall climbing, to archery and shuffleboard to craft making.

The camp is also in need of adult volunteers - males and females age 18 and over - to serve as small group leaders.

"We need at least one adult leader for every eight kids - an that's gender appropriate. One male volunteer for every eight male campers and one female volunteer for every eight female campers," noted Anderson. She encouraged grandparents and even college students to consider this volunteer experience.

Each year, adult volunteers offer positive comments about the camp. Many mention how it enriched their own faith.

"It's a great intergenerational faith formation event," she said.

Every parish and Catholic school was asked to assign a contact person and these individuals are now collecting registrations. If you do not know who your contact person is or if your parish does not have a contact person, feel free to contact Anderson at (712) 233-7517 or e-mail lindaa@scdiocese.org or contact her secretary, Judy Forrest, at (712) 233-7520 or e-mail her at judyf@scdiocese.org.