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Schools may be out soon, but the archdiocese has summertime offerings for kids to keep them active and in touch with their faith. These fun and faith-filled options for school-age children to college are supported by the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal. The appeal recognizes the value of year-round youth outreach and is pleased to support the following camps and activities.

Annunciation Heights near Estes Park is a popular option to get youth out with nature and engaged with lots of activities like high ropes, boating, volleyball, archery and more. It’s an opportunity to pack in adventure in the Rocky Mountains and deepen their relationship with Jesus. Camps for girls or boys, grades 4 through 12 and even family camp experiences are scheduled throughout the summer. Spots are still available for both youth and family camps. “Absolutely go, don’t hesitate — it’s good, intentional family time,” said one mom.

More info: annunciationheights.org

Camp Wojtyla (pronounced voy-tee-wa) is a popular camp experience that integrates Catholic teaching with outdoor adventure at altitudes as high at 13,500 feet for middle school and high school age youth. Named for St. Pope John Paull II who loved to minster to young people in the outdoors, camp registration fills up fast using a lottery system. Participants backpack into 1,200 acres of Colorado wilderness on multiple expeditions that offer shooting the rapids or a bow and arrow, and sleep under the stars in Teepees. Each adventure is designed to empower the students to be “persons for others” while transforming their relationship with Christ.

More info: camp-w.com

Totus Tuus (Latin meaning “Totally Yours”) is a parish-based catechetical summer program for children from grade school through high school. It is taught by college students and seminarians from across the country who travel to participating parishes that host daytime and evening programs that include games, Mass and more. See your parish for more information.

Steubenville of the Rockies is a premiere annual summer event hosted by the Archdiocese of Denver June 23-25, 2023, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort. It helps teens encounter the love of Christ with popular Christian speakers, music, and prayer. The series of Steubenville youth conferences are operated out of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio and can be found in cities across the country during the summer. The theme this year is Refuge: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

More info: archden.org/eflm/steubenville

Youth outreach ministries, like these, are supported by the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal and bring Jesus to young people throughout northern Colorado. The appeal is the Archdiocese of Denver’s largest annual fundraiser and donations made to the appeal at archden.org/GiveNow help others become rooted in Christ through these summer opportunities and 40 other ministries.

Originally published in the Denver Catholic.