Meet Chris Hardy from Covecrest summer staff in 2008. “Why should a college student become a summer missionary at a Life Teen camp? A college student should apply, well… not only to just do something for your summer that would be fun, but to do something to your summer that not only changes your life (for the better) but changes hundreds (even thousands) of lives to the TRUTH.”

Meet Jessica Huff from summer staff at Covecrest in 2010. “Why should a college student become a summer missionary at a Life Teen camp? Summer staff is definitely amongst the craziest six weeks of your life but also amongst the most fruitful. It allows you to grow in so many ways. As a college student, you have the opportunity to learn, love, and grow in community with other individuals also seeking a closer relationship with Jesus. You get to have Mass and adoration everyday! Christ just overwhelms you in so many ways with His love through the sacraments and the wonderful community.”

Alison Loyd, nicknamed “Flails” by my Summer Staff Then: Covecrest 2006 Session 2, Deus Caritas Est! Now: After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2007, I spent a year as a CORE Member/Personal Assistant to the Youth Minister at St. John Neumann in Lilburn, GA. In 2009 I moved to San Diego, where I am getting my Masters and Credential in Special Education at the University of San Diego. I am also volunteering with a small youth group. Was it worth it? Would you do it again? Was it worth Read more [...]

Meet Doro Ludwig from summer staff in 2007 at Covecrest and 2009 at Tepeyac. “Why should a college student become a Life Teen summer missionary at camp? Because it is way better than just sitting at home or working at McDonald’s (not that it is bad thing but Camp is better!) I think that living in community, serving, being crazy, getting dirty, not sleeping enough, experiencing God in countless ways, meeting new people, singing, random dance parties, Mass everyday, Eucharistic Adoration, living in a bunkhouse/cabin, hiking TOD (in case you are at Tepeyac), loving everyone around you, having random conversations with teenagers, and laughing 24/7 are more than enough reason for anyone to apply to be on Summer Staff! I thank God everyday that I got the opportunity and I wish that all my friends at college could experience the same thing!”

Meet Katie Troup from summer staff at Covecrest in 2008. “Why should a college student apply to be on summer missionary at camp? It was the one thing in my entire life that affected my faith life the most! At the time I stated that it was the best 5 weeks of my life. Here it is, 2.5 years later, and I still consider my experience the best time of my life. I was able to dive into my faith in a way that just being on Core team or just going to FOCUS Bible studies can’t do. I was able to live my faith fully, something that is hard to do in the “real world.” Our group determined that Covecrest really is the REAL world though, because it’s how God intended us to live.”

Meet Barbara-Anne Hemrick from summer staff at Covecrest in 2010. “Why should a college student apply to be a summer missionary at camp? College is hard. It’s hard to understand your faith and defend your faith. If you’re currently strong in your faith, you will get stronger and help others. If you’re completely lost in college, you won’t be once you are done with your weeks at camp. Or you will at least learn tools to help you get on track. I learned how to defend my faith which has always been a struggle for me. I learned about cool prayers such as liturgy of the hours. I love this prayer because it is something I can do daily. Before camp, I had no idea you could go to Mass every day!”

Meet Shelby Mongan, summer staff at Tepeyac in 2010. “Why should a college student apply to be a summer missionary? College is such a volatile time in a young adult’s life, especially in the realm of faith. There are so many opportunities for growth, as well as a lot of opportunities to lose sight of what is important. Summer staff gave me an opportunity to completely immerse myself in prayer, community, and service. It challenged me in ways that I never could have imagined. Plus, what other chance do I get to dance to Justin Bieber, ride a giant zip line, and play paintball every week?”

Meet Shannyn Jones from camp summer staff in 2010. “Why should a college student apply to be a summer missionary at camp? A college student should apply because it gives you the chance to meet others that are in the same stage of life as you are. You are all in college and facing the trying times when most begin to question their faith. In college, it’s a time to discover who you really are and make the important decisions of what you want to do with your life. There is no better way to dig in deep, and discover who you are truly meant to be than to give over your life completely to God for those six weeks, and thereafter. It is a truly eye opening experience as to how you can live a life for you, and for others. I learned so much more about myself during those six weeks than I ever expected to. I now have a better idea of where God wants me, and what He wants me to do in life. It’s amazing what He can do when you really do give over everything to Him.”

Meet Ashely Murray from Covecrest in 2009 and Life Teen’s 2010 traveling summer staff. “Why should a college student apply to be a summer missionary at camp? It totally helps in your formation as a Catholic college student to know that there are other college students out there with the same ideas and thoughts and struggles as you. You do so much better in your walk with Christ with Brothers and Sisters to hold you acountable.”

Meet Kelly Ditto Garrison, from Summer Staff 2008 at Covecrest. “Why be a summer missionary at camp? A college student should apply because it helps them focus their lives away from their lives at home. It helps them form their hearts and reorganize there lives in a beautiful place with people who will support them and encourage them. Also, they learn to be missionaries and how to minister to their peers and family and friends when they get home.”

Meet Vincent Dao. Find out why he was on summer staff at Covecrest in Tiger, GA. Find out why he thinks you should apply to be a summer missionary at a Life Teen camp.

Meet Emily Urban, a summer staffer at Covecrest in 2009. “Why should a college student apply to be a summer missionary at camp? It’s much more than being a camp counselor at a catholic youth camp for a month. It’s an opportunity to meet God in a way you never have before. It gives you a chance to feel what a real true family is like. It gives you a chance to meet some of the best people you will ever know. And it will give you a chance to know who God is and who you are in God’s eyes.”

Meet Patrick Kester from summer staff at Tepeyac in 2010. “Why should a college student apply to be a summer missionary at camp? A college student should apply for many reasons. First, it is an amazing time to really develop your relationship with Christ in prayer. Devoting your summer to Christ is a big commitment, and it is something that is rewarded in hundred folds. While at camp, you spend a lot of time finding out who you are in Christ, and what He might be calling you to do. Secondly, you meet some of the best brothers and sister in Christ ever!”

Meet Anne Rohr, summer staff at Covecest in 2010. “Why should a college student apply to be summary missionary at camp? College is a time to discover yourself and find out what you want to do with your life, right? And cradle catholics know everything about their faith? Not entirely. Those six weeks made me realize how more fulfilling my life could be. For the first time I felt what it meant to truly give everything to God. To entirely rely on Him. How my relationship with the whole trinity wasn’t bad, but how He was calling me to get to know Him better. This was all made possible by the Christ centered community that lived at Covecrest with me and days that were set around and depended on prayer, the Mass, and a devotion to Mary and the other saints that served God before us.”

Meet Laura Nelson, summer staff at Covecrest at 2010. “Why should a college student apply to be on summer missionary at camp? A college student should apply because in your college years it is so easy to fall away from the Church and get caught up in the lifestyle people expect college students to live. But being on summer staff it gives you a chance to reconnect with God in a whole new and amazing way! You can start to look at your life from this new light and bring it back with you to school. You’d be surprised how many people are at your schools that are looking for someone like them who is on fire for their faith as you are.”