Camp Summit 2021: More than Conquerors (Romans 8:31-39)

Dana Petricka, director of youth ministry and faith formation | dpetricka@dowr.org

Camp Summit is a middle-school adventure camp that takes place every summer at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro. During “normal” years, Camp Summit is a weeklong camp that empowers high school and adult leaders to witness the love of Christ to middle schoolers through powerful testimonies, talks, small group discussion, outdoor activities, Mass, eucharistic adoration, confession and much more.

This year we were grateful to be able to have Camp Summit again after not holding the camp during 2020. However, Camp Summit looked much different this year as a day camp. Our theme of "More Than Conquerors" (Romans 8:31-39) was very appropriate as the campers worked on conquering different challenges throughout the day, such as high ropes, rock climbing, and group challenges. Our day camp ended with time in prayer with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist to break open the Scripture theme in adoration, confession, and praise and worship.

The young Church is alive and well in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester! Some beautiful memories from camp this year include a young middle school girl who went to confession for the first time in many years and a young man whose favorite part of camp was eucharistic adoration. I always think middle and high schoolers who attend Camp Summit are there because of the perks: high ropes, rock climbing, hanging out with friends, etc. However, time and time again they never cease to amaze me by saying that prayer and being with Jesus in the sacraments is their favorite part of Camp Summit.

This is also refreshing to know, considering every parish in our diocese has that to offer the young Church: prayer and the sacraments. We don’t have to wait for Camp Summit, a retreat, or a conference to encounter the Lord. Please pray that all of our parishes become schools of prayer for all members and find ways to engage the young and old in the channels of grace, which are the sacraments, so readily available to us.