Camp lets young Catholics experience their faith in the Adirondacks

Camp Breakaway, an experience offered to both high school and middle school students, is back this summer from June 28 to July 2 at Pyramid Life Center.

Beth Thayer will oversee all camp activities as the new director, taking over for Brian Evers, who is the new director of Pyramid Life Center. Although this is Thayer’s first year as the director, this will be her 59th year attending what used to be called “The Marian Lodge” when she was a child.

This summer’s theme will be based off the biblical story “On the Road of Emmaus” with a 2020 spin. In the story, Jesus appears to Cleopas and one other disciple, but “their eyes were holden” so that they could not recognize him. According to Thayer, the new theme will focus primarily on how Catholic youths can see God and focus on faith every day.

The camp runs Sunday through Thursday and often acts as a source to “just be Catholic” for a week, Thayer said.

Oftentimes in our secular society, kids find it difficult to connect with others when it comes to their faith. But at Camp Breakaway, the kids form a family, reconnecting year after year until they graduate high school. Many come back to join the staff as volunteers; last year there were approximately 120 volunteers.

Ann Simonson, who was previously in charge of the middle school group, will be working with high school students this summer. As a faith formation leader and youth minister at her parish, Church of the Holy Spirit in Gloversville, Simonson says “when they get there, it’s like the one time that year where they get to see all of their friends, because they’re not from the same area and the same school.  

“Even kids just coming in, there’s just such a dynamic there from the group and the staff, it doesn’t take long for someone to feel like they’ve been there forever, so it’s really amazing to see.”

Thayer said middle school years are when some drift away from their faith, and the camp fills a void for young people to reconnect. 

“It allows them to more deeply experience their faith and have fun with other Catholics,” Thayer said.

When the camp first started, about 40 students enrolled. Now, four years later, that number has peaked at 150. Youth come from all around the Diocese, with some even coming from out of state every summer. At camp they can socialize, enjoy Mass, and swim, kayak and play games with others during their two hours of free time. And most importantly, they can just be Catholic without any judgments.

The first year, the program ran only three days, but after campers asked to do more activities, Camp Breakaway expanded, becoming a certified New York State camp.

“I think if you asked us five years ago ‘Did you see this coming?’ The answer would be no,” Thayer said.

The first three days, campers will celebrate Mass with priests from all across the Diocese. Two years ago, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger visited to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the campers, which remains a highlight of the camp every year.

“For the adults, the leaders, the volunteer staff, I think it’s amazing that our faith is regenerated and re-energized from what we get from the kids, so it’s a very two-way street,” Thayer said. “It’s very heartwarming to hear kids talk about their faith journey from the last time you saw them.” 

Many times, children come from homes where they aren’t active in their local parishes, for a litany of reasons, Thayer said. At the end of every week, each of the groups has a campfire session, where they can share with others their experience. Thayer recalled a young man speaking during a campfire last year.

The young man stood up and said, “I don’t usually talk to people. All my life I have never experienced acceptance as a middle school boy, or kindness, even members of my own family are mean to me. I have finally found a place where I was loved.’

“That’s the kind of experience these kids give to each other,” Thayer said, “It’s almost like an oasis in the craziness of our world for our kids.” 

For more information about the middle school camp, log on to https://www.rcda.org/YAYA/CBMS2020.

For more information about the high school camp, log on to https://www.rcda.org/YAYA/CBHS2020.