Work Camp 2019  |  June 22 - 28
Final Registration Deadline: Friday, May 10
Regular Registration Cost: $230
Spots Are Relatively Limited!

What is it?
The Diocesan Work Camp is a week-long camp experience for high schoolers to serve our brothers and sisters in need by making their homes safer, warmer, drier, and greener while also having the opportunity to grow in our Catholic faith.
Work Camp is not just a youth event. It is an opportunity for parishes to make a difference in the lives of those in need right here in our diocese while encouraging youth to answer their baptismal call to serve others.
 
Who is it for?
Work Camp is open to all high school-aged youth (rising 9th graders through graduated 12th graders). The week is going to require that youth give of themselves to serve others and to grow spiritually. It will be a challenging week that will provide many learning opportunities for participants.
 
When & Where?
The Diocesan Work Camp will be held Saturday, June 22 through Friday, June 28, 2019 in the Wise County, VA area. The work projects will take place in the surrounding community. Norton Elementary/Middle School (205 Park Avenue NE; Norton, VA 24273) ) will serve as our home base where participants and adults will sleep, eat, and participate in evening programming.

What is the structure of Work Camp?
Each day of Work Camp will have a full schedule of events. Below you will find a brief overview of the activities for the week.
 
Saturday: Arrival, Check-In, Opening Program
Sunday: Mass, Teambuilding, Work Site Visit
Monday - Wednesday: Daily Mass, Work Day, Evening Program
Thursday: Daily Mass, Work Day, Dinner with Residents, Evening Program
Friday: Daily Mass, Closing Program, Departure
 
Youth will have the opportunity to serve alongside youth from other parishes during the week. We will spend some time getting to know each other and learning how to work as a team. We will also review general safety and instructions and have the opportunity to prepare for the specific site locations. Each day we will celebrate Mass together. At various points throughout the week, there will be the opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation. Evening program will have a wide variety of components and will be geared towards helping participants understand what the Catholic Church teaches about social justice. Each day there will also be the opportunity for each parish to gather to process the experiences of the day.

Due to the structure of the week all participants must be able to attend the whole week of Work Camp. Full participation is expected from check-in time on Saturday until after the closing programming on Friday.

What is the lodging situation?
Participants will be staying at the Norton Elementary/Middle School in air-conditioned classrooms. Participants will need to bring a sleeping bag, camping mat, or a twin-sized air mattress. Showring facilities will be available. All participants are required to stay at the home base location.

What does this registration fee cover?
The majority of the registration fee goes to cover the cost of materials necessary to complete the work projects. The work projects completed during Work Camp are significant home improvement projects (for example wheel chair ramp construction, deck and stair construction, and window replacement) that are designed to make homes warmer, safer, drier, and greener. The registration fee also goes to cover lodging, meals (Saturday dinner – Friday breakfast), and evening programming for all participants.
 
Who will be the host?
Jimmy Mitchell is a speaker and musician who believes that beauty will change the world. He's the founder and chief curator of Love Good, a media discovery platform and crowdfunding initiative that accompanies young people and artists who are transforming culture with beauty. Though based in Nashville, he frequently travels the world with the mission of helping others fall in love with God and realize their capacity for holiness. His original piano compositions can be found on iTunes, Spotify, and various radio formats. His voice and heart can also be heard regularly as the host of The Love Good Podcast.

Learn More About Jimmy Mitchell Here
 
Adult Help Needed!
We are looking for 2-3 adults who can join us this year, either as an adult leader (leading teen work crews and helping/mentoring them throughout the week - most common role), a contractor (coordinator for each work site, has a good understanding of scope of project given to them and the ability to teach and delegate -- click the contractor info form link below for a complete description of the knowledge/abilities needed to be a contractor and what information is prepped for you ahead of time), or home base volunteer (will visit work sites occassionally, but will primarily stay at home base and help with tasks throughout the day at base camp, including making sure work crews have what they need as they get sent off and return each day). In gratitude for their willingness to help with Work Camp and to help St. Michael Youth Ministry, our parish chooses not to charge adults a registration fee up until we have the number of adults needed to adequately take care of the size of the group of teens attending.

If you would would like to help as an adult crew leader, register below following the normal steps. If you are interested in being a contractor or the home base volunteer, please contact Mike directly first before signing up.

How do I sign up?
Per our usual sign up process for events, there are three steps:
1. Sign up using the form below.
2. Submit the registration fee, either in the same step with the form below, or by submiting a check to the YM Office made out to St. Michael.
3. Complete and return the proper Info & Release Form found at the link below:
Youth Info & Release Form - Work Camp
Adult Info & Release Form - Work Camp
Contractor Info & Release Form - Work Camp

Your registration is only considered complete for any given deadline if all three steps have been completed. Once registered, we'll be following up with more info in late May regarding lists for packing & tools to bring and set a date for a pre-camp meeting at St. Michael.
 
Questions?
Contact Mike Horvath, mhorvath@saint-mikes.org, 804.527.1037 x200.