Monday night’s session starts off with fun Minute to Win It Games and then introduces the teens to Life Teen’s annual theme of “Always Forward”. We introduce them to their summer missionaries, who will be journeying with their parish all week, have dinner, and get right into the fun. Monday starts with the teens finally stepping foot onto the grounds of Hidden Lake.

Whether it’s your first time at camp or this is already your home-away-from-home, you are welcomed, loved, and accepted on this camp journey: always forward. And like the birds traveling in a flock, we are not intended to make this journey alone. We have Christ by our side, prayers of angels and saints, and friends to accompany us on the way. When the road is rocky, remember that we do not travel alone. We do not need to guess the path because the Holy Spirit leads us. As Christians, we are called to our ultimate destination of heaven. You may wonder what we are moving toward. If you’re ready, commit in your heart to move always forward through this week of camp. Is your heart open? If you’re still checking everything out, that’s okay, but I encourage you to jump right into the fun and excitement of camp because the week will go by fast. He will guide you, calm your fears, open opportunities for new relationships, and deepen old relationships – if you’re open. God has called you, and He will not leave you alone. God has called you to this week of summer camp. For years, He guided them by a large cloud in the daytime and a pillar of fire by night. God had called them and rescued them from the hands of the Egyptians, but God did not leave them wandering in the wilderness alone. They wanted to be free, but the journey was not easy. In the Old Testament of the Bible, we read the account of the long journey of the Israelites. We will do this through activities and prayer experiences centered on the theme. Together we will explore “Always Forward,” the theme of summer camp. We are invited to imitate the relentless, forward-facing migration of birds. Birds travel together in flocks and navigate through shifting winds and variable weather patterns their forward motion seems unstoppable in the face of difficulties. Birds have a God-given intuition that allows them to persist through challenging journeys to an intended destination.

Migration is part of birds’ survival, allowing them to move to different climates seasonally and return to the same location year after year, generation after generation. Birds are remarkable in their ability to migrate. You will likely see (and hear) many types of birds this week as you walk around camp. Here’s the introduction the campers will hear on the first night:

The goal at summer camp will be to have teens, core members, and youth ministers commit to moving forward with the Catholic Church toward complete union with the Father, guided by the Holy Spirit, and understand that Jesus accompanies us on the journey. Great Question! Each year Life Teen staff spend time in prayer discerning what the theme will be and how it will come alive at each of our events.

Hidden lake katy