Saturday Special: Camp for Campers

Dear Dubious Parent,

Some of my best summer memories are from Camp Re-NEW-All (spoiler: I run it now, so clearly, I loved it). I learned so much from attending Camp, and in my years on staff, I have enjoyed watching kids grow and learn in just those four and a half days! It's an experience every child should try, because the worst thing that can happen is they don't come back next year, and the best is that they never want to leave.

Here are some Camp-Director approved reasons why children should try camp... (note, this is church-camp specific, but could totally apply to other sleep-away summer camps like Girl Scout camp or others)

Down by Roaring River

1.) All the new stuff they'll get to try! Living for a few days away from home exposes kids to all kinds of new environments and ideas! Is your child an only child? They'll learn how to share living space with people. Has your child ever swam in a river? They'll to do that too! Have they ever had lemon bars or our special camp-style s'mores? They're going to absolutely love them. New games, new faces, new information-it's an awesome opportunity for your children to try all kinds of new things in a safe, supportive environment!

Staff members at Adoration

2.) Role models. Most summer camps are ran by adults but primarily staffed by high school and college aged young adults. They're comparable to pro-babysitters who are going to help your children have more fun than they've ever had in their lives. The staff is from all over the area, with all kinds of talents. We have team-building the day before your child arrives, and are so prepared to help your child have a blast all week! The staff is there for your children! Camp isn't about the staff, it's about the campers and all they want to is hang out with, bond, teach, help, and get to know your children. This means that your child is going to be surrounded by attentive, Jesus-loving, fun, energetic teens who want to share their love of Christ with all of the campers.

Mass

3.) Jesus will be there. Well, not literally, but sort of! We have religious formation (reform) classes every day, giving campers a chance to learn about an area of their faith in depth. How many forms of prayer are there? What is a saint? How do I find my vocation? These are all questions that have been answered in years past, and this year we are answering questions about the Mass. When your camper comes home telling you all about transubstantiation and when it happens in the Mass, you're going to be blown away. Not only that, but your camper will get a chance to read at Mass, serve, lead praise and worship, participate in the sacrament of Penance and spend time with Christ during Adoration. And the staff will be there every step of the way to help them know how and what to do during all of this, so there's no need to worry if your camper hasn't been to confession in a while or never been to Adoration. We're here to help bring them closer to Christ every day!

All dressed up for the Main Event

4.) Did I mention fun? Does your son or daughter like sports? Or maybe learning about nature? Do they enjoy crafts, such as making tie-dye shirts or mosaic crosses? Can they play an instrument or do they enjoy singing? Or do they just enjoy being a part of a group of kids and having a good day? Camp is so much fun, and so busy! Nightly activities like the Main Event or Skit Night will have your camper excited all day long to participate! They'll lose their voice on Camp Fire Night, singing along to all of the camp songs their peers are leading, and you bet they'll want to know what exactly the Dutch Auction is from the moment it's announced.

5.) Life-Long Friends. Two of my best friends attended camp with me as staff and campers. One of my best friends met her husband at camp in the 8th grade. My younger sister has attended camp with her best friends, and developed mature, faith-focused friendships through her time at camp. There are campers who only attend a particular session so that they can see their camp family every year, which includes campers from West Plains to New Madrid to Joplin. Not to mention Springfield, Pierce City, Cassville, and all of the parishes in between. Your camper is going to make friends with people from all over the area, who all have approximately the same faith experience as they do! Catholicism!

Dancing at Music

6.) Traditions. The summer camp tradition is a strong one. Camp Re-NEW-All has been around for forty-two years! My parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins attended camp. There are staffers who watch over their younger siblings, like the Saikos. The oldest, Allison, is all about what her siblings and her campers need; she's the big sister that all the campers need. There are also staffers who are siblings and love to attend the same sessions, and even work the same positions, like the Denney sisters! Sophia and Alexa lead music and work with campers not only at Camp Re-NEW-All but also at a local day camp too. Their experiences, joy, and passion for working with kids are just one example of the kind of love and tradition the staff and campers bring each year. Camp wouldn't be what it is without families who make it a priority each summer.

Camper group picture

7.) Camp isn't camp without campers. The camp's entire purpose is to provide a getaway, a spiritual retreat, and fun, safe environment for campers. All of the campers. And we need all kinds of campers. Athletic campers. Crafty campers. Funny campers. Brave campers. Campers who are shy. Campers who like to help others. Campers with all kinds of life experiences, like being an only child or the youngest, or the oldest. We have campers allergic to nuts, we have campers allergic to grass. We've had campers with different developmental struggles. My dad went to camp on crutches one year! Camp is a safe place. And all of our campers, with all of their differences are loved and wanted for the days that they are here.

Camp holds a special place in my heart, and will even after I am no longer director or able to attend. I truly believe it is one of the most valuable experiences my parents gave me as a child.

Tota tua,

LeAnn

New Traditions

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

This year's Thanksgiving feels a little odd, I'm not in my old tiny twin bed or at my mom's dining room table. I'm nowhere near my parent's house actually. Josh's family tends to sleepover at his grandparent's house on Thanksgiving night, and so we decided to just stay in Pittsburg while he works and then drive over.

All week, I felt really conflicted about what I should be doing this week. Eventually, we reach an age where our home is not our parent's house, and our family is no longer just the family we were raised with. But when is it appropriate to start a new tradition?

I believe that when you feel safe enough, comfortable enough, loved enough to develop something new with someone(s) you should do it- Josh and I went shopping on Tuesday and had dinner out, calling it our personal Thanksgiving. We picked out gifts for our Secret Santa's and had a great time together. That's our new tradition.

But this newness does not detract from our old commitments, next year, when I'm living in a new place, I'll probably be desperate for a week back home in that safe, warm home. But all the same, your parents will understand. They have to eventually stop serving you Thanksgiving dinner, so that you can serve your own family and friends.

Remember that today, that your traditions were started by someone, and you hold them near and dear to your heart and to your entire life experience. Be thankful for the opportunity to partake in old traditions and begin new ones.

I'm thankful for each and everyone of you, and I hope you have an incredible Thanksgiving day!

Totus tuus,

LeAnn

Pope Francis's Latest

Goodness, I love this man. He is such a kind, humble, loving man of God and of Faith.

In a meeting with 200 bishops at the Vatican today, he discussed many family-related issues facing the Church in our modern age. He did not argue for a change of doctrine or taking leave of core Catholic beliefs, but he did ask for acceptance of gay, single, and unmarried people. He asked for the Church to be loving of those who are divorced, and kind to children who come from unconventional families. Our Holy Father promises that the holy institution of marriage will always remain part of our Catholic faith, but that does not mean we cannot recognize the that there are "positive aspects of civil unions and cohabitation", stepping away from the idea of condemning those who would have formally known as living in sin.

The Church will still not condone gay marriage or union, said one of the bishops present, but it will "respect the dignity of every person", an idea that relies heavily on focusing on the individual, rather than just the sexual orientation.

As young Catholics, we often struggle with our Church's traditions. We are surrounded by a media that has given a face and name to various types of non-traditional families and relationships. We go to school with, live near, and befriend people who are different than us because we recognize that differences are not reason for personal condemnation, and even more importantly, we know that it is not our place to do so.

Please this week, take some time in your daily prayer to pray for more tolerance, more acceptance, and more love for those who need just a little bit more from our Church. Be their Brother or Sister in Christ, not their enemy.

Totus tuus,

LeAnn

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/14/world/europe/vatican-signals-more-tolerance-toward-gays-and-remarriage.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=LedeSum&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 

http://world.time.com/2013/09/19/pope-francis-expresses-tolerance-of-gays-support-for-women/