By Christina Penaloza
Camp Veritas is a week-long sleep away camp for Catholic middle school and high school students. They have several camps over the summer and for the past two years St. Sebastian’s Youth Ministry has gone to the August camp located on the camp grounds of Camp Lakota in Wurtsboro, N.Y.
The more than 500 teens at camp are separated by age and gender for daily sports activities as well as sleeping arrangements. Camp sports and activities include: soccer; tennis; volleyball; kickball; hockey; capture the flag; dodgeball; pool swimming; lake swimming; water sports; go carts; rock climbing; low ropes and so much more!
In addition to the amazing activities the campers have daily rosary, daily Mass, daily hour with adoration and benediction and multiple opportunities for confession throughout the week.
Related: Youth Views – How Was Your Time at Camp Veritas?
There are also nightly witness talks by religious brothers and sisters and lay persons. In addition, the older campers (high school juniors and seniors) get workshops during the day called WOGs (Women of God) and MOGs (Men of God) where they delve deeper into male and female topics and issues.
The best part about this week of fun, prayer and fellowship is that they are no cell phones or technology! The students get to reconnect with themselves and God in an electronic free environment! So Amazing!
Camp next year will be even better as we hope to bring even more students with us on this amazing, life-changing journey!
Registration opens in January and camp tends to sell out, so register early!
Penaloza is the director of youth and young adult ministry at St. Sebastian Church, Woodside.