Moments & Memories
Catholic Youth Camp Changes Lives
Since 1947, Catholic Youth Camp has been providing faith-based traditional camp programming for youth 7-17 years old. Campers live in cabins divided by age and gender for week-long camp sessions. In 2025, campers started every day after breakfast with morning prayer – a time to sing praise to God, hear an important lesson grounded in the Catholic faith, engage with an activity based in the Gospel, and pray together to begin their day. Campers then enjoyed activities like paddle boarding, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, arts and crafts, camp fires, water games and group games. In mid afternoon all campers came together to pray the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet before grabbing snacks from the camp store and having some free time where they swung in hammocks, skipped rocks, played gaga ball or just hung out in God’s creation, freely being kids. Campers ended their day with evening prayer, a time for campers hear a testimony from a staff, then share in gratitude for where they had seen God at work, and often this time was closed in singing the camp classic, “Sanctuary.”
God Stories from Camp in 2025
One Child’s Profound Prayer
Sometimes, God uses the smallest voices to remind us why summer at CYC and our mission matters. One evening this summer, a counselor asked a 7-year-old boy how he could pray for him. This was a routine part of CYC’s weekly prayer night when all counselors would take time to pray one on one with their campers.Without hesitation, the boy replied, “I want a better understanding of Mother Mary.” At an age when most kids are unsure how to ask for prayer, this young camper’s heart was reaching for something eternal. How does a child come to ask for such a profound gift? It’s the quiet work of the Holy Spirit—and the sacred space Catholic Youth Camp provides. In the safety of a Christ-centered community, guided by faithful counselors, this boy felt free to seek out a deeper relationship with God and our Blessed Mother.
Shepherded with Grace
An energetic 11-year-old boy arrived this summer for one of three sessions bursting with pre-teen restlessness, his mischief and awkward attempts at humor often crossing the line and even grating on his cabin mates. During this boy’s second week at camp his 70+ year old counselor, seasoned in patience and grace, quietly stepped in—not with harsh correction, but with steady prayer, gentle guidance, and genuine respect for the boy’s heart. By the 3rd week, the investments of the weeks before began to bear fruit: the boy’s rough edges softened, kindness replaced disruption, and he discovered joy in honoring others. By his final week, transformed and thoughtful, he sat with his counselor and, with the innocence and sincerity of childhood, confided that even now he was discerning a call to the priesthood.
God Breathes Life Through Inhalers
Many parents reluctantly drop off their children at camp, especially if it’s the first time a kid is an overnight camper. One sweet set of parents dropped off their 8-year-old daughter for her very first week at Catholic Youth Camp, a place still rebuilding and perhaps, from the outside, appearing fragile—yet pressing forward and faithfully functioning on trust in God’s provision. Within 24 hours the girl struggled with severe breathing trouble from seasonal allergies, smoke, and heavy humidity—so much so that she could no longer speak. As the child had no history of asthma, the camp director and a retired pediatrician called the parents for approval and then took their sweet daughter to the hospital. There she bravely endured IVs and a blood draw with remarkable courage, never shedding a tear. When her father arrived, doctors explained she had likely developed asthma and provided her with an inhaler for the first time. As it was now incredibly late, and driving back to the cities was not an option, dad was invited back to camp to spend the night with his daughter. To everyone’s surprise, the next morning she was radiant—chatty, playful, and eager to stay. Though hesitant, her father stayed for breakfast, witnessed firsthand the care and devotion of the CYC staff team, and left with renewed trust in both the camp and his daughter’s resilience. In ways only God can weave together, what began as a nerve wracking evening became an unexpected gift of reassurance, drawing the family closer to trust—not only in the camp, but in the mysterious, faithful work of God. The girl thrived the rest of the week, inhaler at her side, and at pick up CYC staff was reassured the parents are already looking forward to sending her next summer.
From Guarded to Grateful
While fun is going to happen at camp, faith is truly what really matters. Two best friend campers arrived at Catholic Youth Camp as a quiet little clique, never smiling, keeping to themselves, and barely engaging with others. Their counselor noticed their hesitancy but continued to include them gently in activities, offering encouragement without pressure. One evening during prayer ministry, their counselor sat next to each girl one-on-one, praying earnestly over them and asking God to touch their hearts. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, their guarded expressions softened. By the next day, small smiles began to appear, and by the end of the week, their laughter was joining in songs, games, and conversations with other campers and staff. The counselor knew it was not their efforts alone, but God working deeply in their hearts, planting seeds of joy, openness, and faith that would remain long after camp ended. In that quiet transformation, it became clear that God had used prayer to spark something enduring—a light in their lives that would continue to grow.
