Because of Catholic HEART Workcamp, thousands of young people have stories to tell about how they spent their summer vacation.
Well, at least one week of it.
Steve Walker, president and CEO of the Orlando, Florida-based ministry, used to be a youth minister “back in the day” and said he tried to get young people involved, “whatever it took.” “We found that the summers were a good time to get away for a week,” and that the students were committed to that more than meeting regularly as a youth group.
Taking 40 youths to a Protestant service camp one summer made a big impact, he said. Afterward, Walker offered three choices for the following year. “And without hesitation, they all wanted the service camp, where we slept in classrooms on the floor and worked our tails off all day and sweat. And they loved it.”
Steve Walker
Walker wished a similar camp could have “a Catholic element” with Mass and “some other Catholic theology.” Out of that, Walker founded Catholic HEART Workcamp, which before the COVID-19 pandemic drew 9,000 young people to up to 40 camps. This year, about 3,500 are attending 14 camps in cities across the U.S. and one in Puerto Rico. Typically, three or four camps are held outside the U.S. Next year, 30 camps are planned.
Walker and Kelly Naas, public relations lead and director of summer staff, recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to describe the Workcamp and its value.
A Workcamp will be based at Holy Family High School in Victoria July 18-24. Young people do not need to be part of a large group to attend a camp, Naas said. At her most recent camp, some groups had 35 or 50 people, and some had five, she said. Most participants are in grades seven through 12.
For teenagers who attend, “you’re not sitting at a desk, we’re out there serving and living in faith and you’re having fun,” Walker said. In addition to the fun, attendees experience faith, the Eucharist, confession “and adoration sprinkled into that,” he said. “It’s a nice package, I think, for teenagers.”
Asked what type of work the young people do at camp, Walker said “they’re doing everything” — painting, putting up ramps, cleaning, landscaping, visiting with widowed people. “Sometimes the person at the house just wants them to sit in their living room and chat,” he said.
And there is time for recreation.
Kelly Naas
“We build relationships, and I think that’s what keeps us going and growing every single year,” Naas said.
An “amazing network of chaplains” travels with the groups, Naas said. Priests travel with their youth groups, too, diving into the camping and other activities, and concelebrating Mass.
Naas said that Catholic HEART Workcamp posts its information on all major social platforms. To check openings at the camp in Victoria or camps in other locations, visit heartworkcamp.com
To hear the full interview, listen to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show. It airs at 9 p.m. July 16, 1 p.m. July 17 and 2 p.m. July 18 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM. Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Jen Messing and Katelyn Filbrandt, who describe how the Frassati Society of Minnesota helps young adults experience God while exploring the wonders of creation, and Bishop Peter Smith from the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, discusses “surrendering to our Lord,” the topic he addresses in an upcoming Summer Speaker Series hosted by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at:
soundcloud.com/PracticingCatholic
tinyurl.com/PracticingCatholic (Spotify)
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