CAYOCA combines faith and fun

By KARA KOCZUR, Globe staff reporter
June 12, 2008

Struggling to carry his duffel bag with a pillow propped on top, Carter Holzerland slowly made his way to Harvest Hall.

In a few hours, it would be time for him to return home from Camp CAYOCA.

"I wish I never had to leave this place," said Carter, 9, a member of St. Joseph's Parish in Salix. "It's awesome here."

Carter was one of 79 campers at Camp CAYOCA's first session, held May 31-June 3. Overall, 425 kids will partake in the Catholic youth camp this summer. The other sessions were held June 4-7, June 8-11 and June 12-15. This is the 22nd year of CAYOCA, which takes place at Twin Lakes Christian Center near Manson.

The theme this year was "Under Construction" and the Bible verse was "I alone know the plans I have for you" (Jer. 29:11-13). The idea, said camp director Jessica La Fleur Malm, is that God is always at work in people's lives and has a plan for each one of them. However, everyone must ask God where to go, what to do and how to serve him.

"Not only are we under construction, but we're also on God's construction team to help build the kingdom of God," said La Fleur, who is also the director of youth and young adult ministry. "So we're being built, but we're also builders."

The theme was reinforced each day by the teachers, through various workshops and in the theme song. For McCoy Snell, the reinforcement helped drive the theme home.

"I've learned that if you build your foundation on the Lord, you'll stand sturdy," said McCoy, 11, of St. Thomas Parish in Manson.

Max MacVitie, 12, returned to camp this summer because last year he met friends and said he likes learning about God. He wants to use the knowledge he gains about God in the future.

"When I'm older, hopefully I can do things to help my religion," said Max, also a member of St. Thomas in Manson. "I'd like to learn stories from the Bible and other things so I can teach other people."

There were three workshops campers experienced. Building on the Rock emphasized how God must be the campers' foundation. God's Blueprints taught campers that God takes time to build them and how they need to consult the blueprints - the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. God's Toolbox explained things a person needs in his or her life to build a Christian environment and to evangelize.

Besides the workshops, there were also three prayer activities: Reconciliation, Prayer Experience and Mass Prep. In Reconciliation, not only did campers learn more about it, but had the opportunity to go to confession. In Mass Prep they learned more about the Mass and helped plan that day's liturgy. And in Prayer Experience, campers listened to a Bible story, prayed the rosary and did Lectio Divina.

The workshops and prayer activities provided many different learning opportunities for the campers.

"I learned that God is always with us, even through the hard times," said Courtney Carstens, 11, a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Holstein.

Courtney's favorite prayer activity was confession because "you can really be honest and not have a weight on your shoulders."

Mass was one of the reasons Rachel Engel, 10, of Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City returned to camp this summer. She particularly liked how they were held in different locations.

"The Eucharist is the center of our lives," Rachel said she learned this year.

Of course with activities such as fishing, swimming, a rock climbing wall, crafts, mini-golf and more, Rachel and many others enjoyed their free time.

The thing about camp, said La Fleur, is that it combines these activities into the faith. The hope is that faith is incorporated into every part of the campers' lives.

"We're hoping that they learn structure," La Fleur added. "To begin the day with prayer like we do at camp, to pray before meals like we do at camp, we go to Mass every day at camp and we end each day with prayer."

Camp CAYOCA would not exist without its many volunteers. This is the eighth year Marie Washburn of St. Michael's Parish in Kingsley has helped out.

"I come because I love the kids and it recharges my faith," said Washburn, the head group leader. "I'm a director of faith formation at a parish and so it's kind of like a shot in the arm - a booster-shot."

While Washburn enjoys the camaraderie with the other adult volunteers, ultimately it's about Christ and the kids.

"To see those kids learn more about Jesus, you know, that's what it's all about," she said.

Seminarian Aaron Pohlen has experienced Camp CAYOCA in many ways. He attended twice as a camper, once as a program assistant and this year was a group leader. For Pohlen, being a group leader at the camp reminds him why he is studying for the priesthood.

"In seminary we have a lot of study time, but we don't get out a huge amount and work with the people," said Pohlen, 20. "At camp I'm working with the youth and teaching the faith instead of just learning it myself."

As a group leader, Pohlen is able to see the difference the camp makes for the kids.

"I think they come away with a lot more energy or a lot more excitement for the faith," he added. "They're much more willing to talk about the faith and are much more open about it."

Not only did the campers' excitement for their faith increase, but their excitement for Bishop R. Walker Nickless grew as they awaited his arrival the afternoon of June 3. The bishop celebrated the closing Mass of session one.

"I'm really, really, really excited," said Carter, jumping up and down. "[The bishop is] close to being the head of all the priests. He could run for pope! It would be an honor to see him."

At Mass, which was also attended by many parents, the bishop explained some of the objects that are often associated with his role, such as his miter, zucchetto and shepherd's staff.

He also told the kids about the African martyr, St. Charles Lwanga and companions, who were killed because they wouldn't deny Jesus and whose feast day they celebrated. Looking at the example of martyrs, it can be difficult being Christian, Bishop Nickless told the campers.

"I think that's something that we can all remember about what it's like to be a Christian, that believing in Jesus doesn't just mean, 'Yes I believe in you, I love you wonderful God and thank you for everything,'" he said. "It also means that at times we have to do the right thing and that's not always easy."

The martyrs gave their entire lives for the faith, the bishop added, telling the campers that everything they have belongs to God.

"I hope something you learned in camp this week is that Jesus loves you, [you learned] the knowledge and the love of God and that it's hard to be a Christian," Bishop Nickless said. "We don't have to give our lives like those martyrs in Africa did, but we have to be able to do hard things and difficult things if we believe in Jesus."

For Carter, Camp CAYOCA was "everything you could ask for," including being able to buy candy with his mom and dad's money, he said. He thinks other kids should attend CAYOCA, too.

"Tell the other kids that if they want to do something holy with their life, this is the place to come because they teach you all about God and [you] practice prayers with the leaders, " he said. "Don't worry about getting homesick because everyone here is very welcoming."