The words of this year’s theme, “Behold the Mystery,” can be seen around every corner and heard from every mouth here at Life Teen. As I thought and prayed about it, I remembered learning that the word mystery comes from the Latin “mysterion.” It means something that is revealed while at the same time concealed.
This definition fits well with the virtue of modesty.
Teens started the last full day of camp with praise and worship led by Chris Taucar and a walking rosary in their small groups. Kickball warmed the teens up for the afternoon which brought messy games consisting of paint, oatmeal and flour, water, and sleeping bags. A soap soaked slip and slide attempted to clean everyone off but was not successful. The whole messy group jumped in the lake and showered afterwards. Once they were all clean, the night session began beholding the mystery of prayer starting with Mass and followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The sacraments were celebrated by parish priest from St. Agnes, Fr. Tom Albrechg. Host Joe Chernowski led the teens deep into the session inspiring them to go to Jesus for everything.
The fourth day of “Behold the Mystery” Summer Camp mainly consisted of tubing down Farmington River in Connecticut. Teens and chaperones enjoyed relaxing on the river before going back to camp and jumping into the session on the mystery of God’s mercy especially in Reconciliation. Joe Chernowski hosted and Chris Taucar led music.
The third day of “Behold the Mystery” Life Teen Summer Camp began with fun as guys went to the pool first and girls bonded during low ropes. After lunch, the guys did low ropes and the girls relaxed in the pool. The group was reunited with a rosary and Mass celebrated by a parish priest and con-celebrated by Fr. Matt Williams. Host Joe Chernowski introduced the teens to the mystery of God’s invitation to prayer with the help of Mary and the saints. To end the night, summer staff prayed over campers, chaperones and youth ministers asking for the intercession of Mary and the saints.
Teens started the second day of camp with scripture reflections and small groups introducing them to each other and to the “Behold the Mystery” theme. They were sent out on Mission Adventure, where teens and chaperones had to complete different tasks to get clues and solve the mystery of what each “Agent of Change” did with what holy item at what holy place. After lunch, teens bonded over a game of flag tag and their choice of hiking, basketball, Frisbee golf, Ga ga, or rosary making. Since the teens protected their chaperones Monday night through the obstacle course, the chaperones got a chance to serve their teens by washing the feet of each teen during the night session. Once the group commemorated Christ’s washing of His disciples feet, it reenacted the Last Supper with Mass celebrated by Fr. Matt Williams followed by Adoration. Host Joe Chernowksi and musician Chris Taucar led the teens deeper into their faith.
The first day of Life Teen week at New England started off on the right foot as groups came in and bonded right away over an Israeli game called “Ga ga” which means “to hit” in Hebrew. The teens had a lot of time to play games before session started with Mass celebrated by Fr. Matt Williams and con-celebrated by a parish priest. After dinner, host Joe Chernowski introduced the teens to the theme “Behold the Mystery” and sent them out on their first mission: the night obstacle course.
Day five of “Behold the Mystery” summer camp began and ended in similar manner: with prayer, scripture and Jesus. In the morning, middle schoolers prayed a rosary before they played kickball and messy games. The large group of campers was split into two groups for both kickball and the rotating stations of messy games which included paint dodgeball, Drip. Drip. Drop., an oatmeal and flour mess, slip and slide, a wet sleeping bag relay race and a paint twister game. Afterwards, the campers jumped in the lake to rinse off before showering. Once they were clean, Mass was celebrated by Father Tom Washburn, OFM with music led by John Hopke. The night session was centered on prayer and Jesus as summer staffers prayed over chaperones and chaperones prayed over teens which led into Adoration. Host Kevin Hickey did his best in leading the middle schoolers into faith and fun.
Before middle schoolers loaded buses for tubing on day 4 of “Behold the Mystery” summer camp, they started the day with a small scripture reflection. Campers, chaperones, summer staffers, host Kevin Hickey and musician John Hopke enjoyed the day of tubing sandwiched between sessions of prayer. The night enlightened the mystery of God’s mercy in Reconciliation celebrated by Fr. Tom Washburn, OFM.
“Behold the Mystery” summer camp continued on day 3 with team building during low ropes. Campers also got a chance to cool down in the pool after lunch. Mass marked the beginning of the night session where the middle schoolers entered into the mystery of God’s invitation through prayer, the Blessed Mother and the saints. Host Kevin Hickey not only knew how to have fun with the campers but also how to lead them into prayer. John Hopke set the mood with his music and Father Tom Washburn, OFM gave his blessings.
Day two of Behold the Mystery summer camps was full of outside activities. In the morning, middle schoolers participated in a giant game of clue with a face lift. The new game was Mission Adventure and groups of middle schoolers had to complete different challenges to get the clues and try to solve the mystery. The afternoon brought free time where the kids could go hiking, make rosaries, play card games, soccer or Frisbee golf. After getting the middle schoolers got their energy out, they settled down for the night session centered on the mystery of the Eucharist with Mass and Adoration made possible by Fr. Tom Washburn. The middle schoolers enjoyed the company of host Kevin Hickey and musician John Hopke.
New England opened its dusty doors to middle school campers for day one of “Behold the Mystery” Summer Camp. Kevin Hickey, expert on Edge ministry, hosted the session and joined the campers in their activities such as minute-to-win-it games, praise and worship and the night obstacle course. John Hopke led the middle schoolers in praise and worship and dance parties, and along with Fr. Tom Washburn, OFM from Boston, helped throw water balloons at kids during the obstacle course.
The last full day of camp began with a skit, and Scripture. The middle of the day consisted of getting hot, sweaty, messy and muddy with flag tag, messy games, and the infamous mud pit. After getting cleaned up, the group attended Mass celebrated by guest priest Fr. Chris Dunlap. Walking out of the chapel, middle schoolers and chaperones were given their “Behold the Mystery” T-shirts and took their group photo. The night ended as all nights and weeks should end with prayer, praise and worship and Adoration.
“Behold the Mystery” Summer Camp began bright and early Thursday morning when middle schoolers and their chaperones boarded school buses destined for a Missouri State Park where they would be tubing for 4 hours! Host Brian Kelsch and musician Mike Waldon joined the group. After returning to camp in the late afternoon, the kids had free time until they jumped into a session centered on God’s mercy and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There were a total of 6 priests present to hear confessions including Father Tom Pastorius and 5 other priests from surrounding areas.
It’s day 3 of EDGE Camp at Tepeyac! Today the teens kick it in to high gear both physically and spiritually. They endure a great paintball match and high ropes challenges— testing their nerves, strength, agility, and character. They also enter into a solid Catholic Bible Study, an awe-inspiring sunset Mass, and family dinner.
Photos are from Camp Tepeyac Summer Camp 2010, Week 10, for middle school (EDGE) youth. The camp theme is “Behold the Mystery.” Camp host is Beth Davis and the musician is Matt Franklin.
The majority of the third day of “Behold the Mystery” Summer Camp was spent playing paintball, riding mountain boards, and completing low ropes elements. After surviving the heat, the middle schoolers spent the rest of the night inside with Mass and sessions about the mystery of Mary and the saints. Host Brian Kelsch and musician Mike Waldon participated in activities with the kids, while Father Tom Pastorius walked around and viewed from afar.
Tuesday began with a mission for the middle school agents of change. After getting journals and reflecting on some scripture, they were called to a Mission Adventure to complete different challenges and get the clues to solve the game. (Mission Adventure is the Catholic version of Clue!) In the afternoon, the kids enjoyed organized free time where they could slip and slide, play basketball, soccer or ultimate Frisbee, or stay inside and play in the game room. After a crazy afternoon, the night came and brought a time to receive God’s love by way of the chaperones washing their kids’ feet, followed by Mass and Adoration. Fr. Thomas Pastorius celebrated, Mike Waldon played music and host Brian Kelsch led the middle schoolers deeper into their faith and preparing them to “Behold the Mystery”.
Day 1 of EDGE Camp at Tepeyac! The teens arrive and have a sweet cookout and carnival before the opening session and a crazy, dirty, muddy night time adventure!
Photos are from Camp Tepeyac Summer Camp 2010, Week 10, for middle school (EDGE) youth. The camp theme is “Behold the Mystery.” Camp host is Beth Davis and the musician is Matt Franklin.
Middle schoolers and their chaperones arrived at Rockyvine Monday afternoon to begin their week at “Behold the Mystery” Summer Camp. Brian Kelsch from Houston, Texas hosts this week and Mike Waldon from Slidell, LA is leading praise and worship. Father Thomas Pastorius from the St. Louis area volunteered his whole week to lead the kids deeper into their faith. The events of Monday afternoon and evening were more focused on fun than faith, just to get the kids warmed up. Free time, icebreakers, carnival games and the night obstacle course welcomed the middle schoolers to camp.
Despite the rain, Week 6 at camp Covecrest kicked off with Life Teen campers enjoying a cookout and Carnival games. After the evening session, campers, chaperones and summer staff went through the night obstacle course in groups where they protected their chaperones from “snipers.” The week’s theme was “Behold the Mystery;” host is Lisa Epperson and musician is Ike Ndolo. [nggallery id=143]
The last full day of “Behold the Mystery” summer camp began with a session on the mystery of prayer. The teens and chaperones got their camp shirts and took the official camp picture but weren’t in the camp shirts for very long because the afternoon was full of messy games and mud! Host Joe Farris and musician Jackie Francois even took part in some of the activities! The day ended how all days should: with Adoration, a bonfire and s’mores.
