Archdiocesan Leadership Camp deepens faith
By Frank Flegel
GLEN HARBOUR KIDS CAMP, Sask. — A bright and warm summer’s
day and 21 campers at the first Archdiocesan Leadership Camp held here
July 18-22 are running around the camp taking part in one of the many
medieval themed activities.
“There are five stations they have to visit and answer biblical questions
or questions about medieval heroes, the saints, before they can progress
to the next station. Getting them right earns them camp money which they’ll
use in an auction at the end of camp,” said archdiocesan youth
co-ordinator Michelle Braden. It’s just one of the many daily activities.
This the first Archdiocesan Leadership Camp, but Braden held similar camps at this location when she was youth minister at Regina’s St. Peter’s Parish. The difference in this camp, said Braden, is that the youth leaders are noting incidents in which a camper shows some leadership. “They don’t know that they’re being watched. At the end the youth leaders will tell campers what they observed and how leadership was shown by individuals.”
The camp is for teens entering Grades 10-12. It is designed for a week of fun and faith building as well as an educational experience.
Education is one of the main themes in the Pastoral Plan in which Archbishop Daniel Bohan is encouraging all parishes to establish a Youth Ministry.
Carmen LaBelle and Mary Polk are from St. Peter’s Parish and Resurrection Parish, respectively, in Regina. Carmen is a veteran of four years when the camp was St. Peter’s youth, but she still relishes coming every year because it is simply fun. “I come out because it’s like family out here. It’s like a second home.” She said, however, that this, the first leadership camp, is a little different because the discussions are “deeper.” Polk recently joined the Archdiocesan Leadership Team and came to camp to meet new people and deepen her faith. Polk and LaBelle said their favourite moment at this year’s camp was a prayer service at night down at the beach. “All the stars were out and we lit candles and put them out on the lake. It was very beautiful.” The candles were gathered after the service.
Campers stay in rustic cabins but the main building is modern with a kitchen and dining area. Glen Harbour is located on Last Mountain Lake about an hour’s drive from Regina.
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