High School Leadership Camp

June 13-16 - Camp Perkins

High School Leadership Camp provides a unique opportunity for youth ministers and for high school students who have a desire to see the great commission fulfilled in the parish and at their schools. Its our hope that you will leave High School Leadership Camp equipped to lead your student leaders in this endeavor and that your student leaders will leave with the skill set to begin this important work.

This year's camp theme is "Set the World on Fire" which is a quote from St. Ignatius of Loyola. When St. Ignatius gathered his first few companions he was driven by a vision to bring the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. One of his companions, St. Francis Xavier, became known as the second greatest evangelist of all time, next to St. Paul, and was solely responsible for Christ to the east.

At Camp we will work on developing 3 habits in our lives (FOCUS' model)

1. The habit of Divine Intimacy - personal prayer and embracing a sacramental lifestyle

2. The habit of Authentic Friendships - seeking what is best for the other, which includes seeing the value in sharing Christ with your friends

3. The habit of Spiritual Multiplication - having a desire to mentor/disciple friends who express a desire to embrace these 3 habits in their life

After camp

We will meet monthly, as leaders, vi a ZOOM to make sure we are on track, overcoming any obstacles that hindering our progress and learn from each other.

How do you register for camp?

Registration for camp is very simple. We have about 150 spots for High School Leadership Camp. Simply email me the number of spots you would like to have for camp and I will reserve those spots for you. Then by May 1st I would like to begin to collect the names of the students from you along with their t-shirt sizes and any dietary needs they may have. Mid May your parish will be billed for the number of spots your reserve.

It is very important that you select the right students to come to this camp. You are looking to bring students that you believe have the ability lead other students. You are not looking to bring 30 students. If you are first timer to camp you are looking to bring a handful of students. If you are a second or third year attendee of camp your numbers may be double that as you continue to form your existing leaders and introduce your next wave of leaders.

So, again to register for this camp simply email me the number of spots you would like to reserve asap. Don't forget to include the adequate number of chaperones you will need.

What is the cost?

The cost is $125 per person.

When is Camp?

June 13-16th, 2018

Where is Camp?

Camp Perkins. Smiley Creek, ID area

Are scholarships available?

The Office of Youth/Young Adult will try and help in any we can. Especially with travel costs for those coming from further distances

Permission slips and medical release forms

Please have your students fill out the diocesan permission forms and medical release and turn them into you. Then make 2 copies of these froms. One set you will keep with you and the other set will be turned in to us when you arrive at camp. There is no need to send any of these forms prior to the event. Students who do not have these forms will not be allowed to stay at camp. If you need the permission forms and medical release forms you can find them on the diocesan event page https://www.catholicidaho.org/182 and you will also need to have your students and leaders fill out a waiver from Camp Perkins (found below on the pdf)

Why be involved with High School Leadership Camp

A training event for our post confirmation teens will take place at Camp Perkins (Sawtooth Mountains) June 14-17, 2017. The goal behind this project is to achieve a higher percentage of parish involvement from our post confirmation teens. Current studies show a significant drop of teen involvement at the parish after confirmation. Currently in Idaho, our best estimates are between 10-15% of our teens stay involved at their parish after they are confirmed. This project will not only help create resourceful leaders within your youth ministry program but it will teach them the skills to become disciple makers within and beyond your youth program.

Here are some examples of what this looks like and why we are launching this project:

Large parish:

100 teens are confirmed in their sophomore year of high school each year.

This means that you currently have 200 juniors and seniors that have been confirmed.

If 20-30 juniors and seniors remain active in the program only 10-15% remain active.

What happened to the other 170-180 teens?

Medium parish:

50 teens are confirmed in their sophomore year of high school each year.

This means that you currently have 100 juniors and seniors that have been confirmed

If 10-15 juniors and seniors remain active in the program only 10-15% remain active.

What happened to the other 90-85 teens?

Smaller parish:

20 teens confirmed in their sophomore year of high school each year.

This means that you currently have 40 juniors and seniors that have been confirmed.

If 4-6 juniors and seniors remain active in the program only 10-15% remain active.

What happened to the other 34-36 teens?

You may find that your parish does better or worse. Regardless, it begs the question, where are the rest of the confirmed teens? Why aren’t the rest involved anymore? Is our program only geared to confirmation prep?

One solution that is gaining traction here in Idaho and in some innovative spots nationwide is to engage our post confirmation teens in a more meaningful way. The leadership project is a great first step in this challenge. The benefit to being involved is first and foremost to you as the youth ministry leader and your youth. By being part of this project you will receive first hand training on implementing the project with your parish teens. In addition to this any adult leader who attends this event will also be equipped to help implement the project.

Teaching teens how to mentor and disciple other teens in the faith is no small task and will requires a strategic approach. Please consider bringing 10th and 11th graders you have identified as leaders to the High School Leadership Camp this summer.

If you are a parent and you want your teen to participate in camp:

Talk to your youth minister and see if your parish is bringing a group. Your teen will have to register and come with a parish.
Your payment for camp will be paid to the parish you are coming with per their arrangement.
Each parish will provide travel arrangements for their group and each will have different travel schedules. Camp itself starts on June 13th with a 5:00pm dinner and ends after noon lunch on Saturday June 16th.
Camp takes place at Camp Perkins near Smiley Creek, ID see map
In the event you need to contact us call Camp Perkins Office 208-788-0897 from 8am - 5pm. There is no cell coverage at Camp Perkins. If you need to contact us outside office hours please call this google number and leave a message 208-391-3914. We'll return your call asap.
There will be a camp store open each day for snacks and drinks for purchase.
Please read the "What to Bring" list carefully.

What to bring to camp:

Sleeping Bag
Pillow
Towel
Soap
Shampoo
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Deodorant
Chapstick
Clothes for hot and cold conditions
Shoes
Sandals
Swimsuit
Hat (block sun)
Sunglasses
Water Bottle
Bible
Journal (a small notebook from dollar store will do)
Pen
Flashlight
Insect Repellant
Sunscreen

If you have any questions regarding this project and you are a youth minister please contact us 208-350-7546 or ckreslins@rcdb.org cwheaton@rcdb.org

If you are a parent or teen with questions regarding this project contact your parish youth minister.

I look forward to collaborating with your parish!

Chris Kreslins

Director of Youth/Young Adult Evangelization

Diocese of Boise

The Great Commission

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." - Matthew 28:19