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CAYOCA 2008 - Catholic Youth Camp

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Jan. 31, 2008

For parents wishing to provide a faith-filled experience jam-packed with assorted recreational activities to their children this summer, the Diocese of Sioux City just may have the answer. The diocese's summer Catholic youth camp - CAYOCA - has been providing sessions for 22 years.

Jessica La Fleur-Malm, director of youth and young adult ministries, pointed out that this year's theme is Under Construction, which is based on Jeremiah 29:11-13. The passage begins, "I alone know the plan I have for you." The theme was selected by the CAYOCA Board.

She said the main focus of the theme centers on the concept that "regardless of what is happening in 
Want to volunteer?

Volunteers are needed to serve as program assistants, adult group leaders, music leaders and other positions such as camp nurse.

Persons 18 and above may volunteer as group leaders. These individuals stay in the cabins with the youth at night and provide small group leadership during the day.

For each camp session there are six high school students - under the age of 18 - who serve as program assistants (PAs). They provide background and behind-the-scenes work as well as help set up for activities. Applications for PAs can be found in parishes or it can be downloaded off of the diocesan Web site - www.scdiocese.org. The application and a reference form must be completed and returned to the diocesan office by March 1.

These volunteers are asked to pay $50 - but the parishes are encouraged to pay that fee.

Those wishing to volunteer may contact Jessica La Fleur Malm at jessical@scdiocese.org, Judy Forrest at judyf@scdiocese.org or call (712) 233-7520.
our life, at some point we need to seek God and we need to pray to him and God will answer us." Just as there are floor plans and blueprints at construction sites, La Fleur said in life as you are trying to build up your faith life it works best to follow the plan, follow God's will.

Just as most summer camps focus on learning more about a particular skill or academic subject - sports camps, dance camps, science camp - this camp allows the students to learn more about their Catholic faith.

"This year I hope many parents will sent their children to camp to teach them more about their Catholic faith," said La Fleur. "They are immersed in an environment for prayer, worship and living as a Catholic."

At the same time, she noted, there is an excellent balance between catechetical learning and all out fun. Each day, campers participate in a variety of educational workshops, prayer experiences and Mass. There are also ample periods of free time so that campers may participate in various recreational activities such as crafts, a cable ride, wall climbing, archery or mini-golf. With its location at Twin Lakes, assorted water activities such as swimming, fishing or canoeing are also available.

As with previous years, there will be four sessions of camp. There is a change this year, however, in the offerings. This year there will be three sessions for campers in third through fifth grade and one session for campers in sixth through eighth grade. (These grades are based on their current grade - if a student will complete the fifth grade this spring - they will register for the third- to fifth-grade camp.)

bulletMay 31 to June 3 - Grades 3 to 5 A 
bulletJune 4 to 7 - Grades 3 to 5 B 
bulletJune 8-11 - Grades 3 to 5 C
bulletJune 12-15 - Grades 6 to 8? 

"Based on our numbers from last year, the great majority of our campers are from third- to fifth-grade range," she said.

La Fleur pointed out that campers are encouraged to register on-line. (See information in box below.) This is the second year that on-line registration is available.

Register your child for CAYOCA on-line and save money.

On-line registrations before April 1 will cost $190 - a $20 discount over the $210 paper registration per camper. After April 1, the on-line registration increases to $210.

You can register at two sites. Go to www.scdiocese.org - go to the youth ministries home page and then the camp registration link. Registrations will also be taken at www.twinlakescc.com. Click on Register Now and it will display the options for Summer Camps. Click on CAYOCA.

You can pay on-line with a credit card or you may opt to have the money drawn from your bank account.

After applying and making a payment on-line, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with a medical release form attachment. That form should be printed off and sent in to the diocesan office.

If you do not want to register on-line - contact your parish office or you may receive a registration form off of the diocesan Web site. That form can be sent directly to Central Catholic Office, Camp CAYOCA, 1821 Jackson St., Sioux City, IA 51102 - unless there are other arrangements at the parish level. Include check of $210.

"It saves a lot of time on the parish end as well as our end," she said. "It also increases the accuracy of the information because if a parent is typing in their child's name, they know how it is spelled and they are less likely to make a mistake and having someone copy it from a piece of paper and then the office here must type in the information."

Besides, she added, people are use to the convenience and ease of registering on-line. They can register at midnight if they wish - without having to stop by the parish to pick up a form and drop it off to the parish contact person. On-line registration is 24 hours a day.

Cost of the camp is $190 if you register on-line by April 1. Paper registrations and on-line registrations after April 1 are $210.