By Gretchen Crowe
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 7/8/04)

They weren’t at the beach. They weren’t working their summer jobs. They weren’t visiting family and friends. Last week they were in Montross, Va., and they were at WorkCamp.

Nearly 250 high school students took a week out of their summer vacation to travel to the Northern Neck of Virginia to paint walls, shingle roofs and build ramps in an effort to make 53 homes in the area "warmer, safer and drier."

According to its mission statement, "WorkCamp is an intentional Christian Community that provides an experience of direct service to young people within the boundaries of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington." Each year WorkCamp invites members of the diocese to work together for a week of social action, spirituality and social activities. This year, WorkCamp was themed "In the Footsteps of Champions." While the youths worked, they were encouraged to learn about, and follow the examples of, the champions of Catholicism: the saints.

Diane Blair, a parishioner from Good Shepherd Church in Alexandria, was serving her fifth year as an adult at WorkCamp. "It’s such a wonderful opportunity for the kids and the adults," she said. "It’s one of the biggest expressions of social justice in the diocese."

Though publicized as a service opportunity for teenagers, WorkCamp, in order to run smoothly, relied on the volunteer hours of over 200 young adults and adults. While the youths were out working, the young adults transformed the "home base" at Montross Middle School from fractions to faith. Adults in the projects office organized meals, site changes, transportation and any to everything else. At the nightly programs, the young adults gave inspirational talks, performed skits and introduced speakers.

During the days, the youths were separated into crews of five or six, with one adult group leader and one contractor. To encourage new friendships, the crews combined youths from different parishes. Crew 34 unanimously agreed that their favorite part of the week was meeting new people. "We were instantly able to build a bond of trust," said Albert Baier, from St. Raymond of Penafort Church in Fairfax Station.

"It was like we’ve just known each other for a while — like we’re old friends," added James Jukes, a member of St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax.

Trust and good friendships were important as the group replaced and tiled a kitchen floor, re-enforced cabinets, retiled a bathroom shower, replaced storm doors and painted a master bedroom — all in four days.

Brian Comer, proud member of Crew 6 from Holy Spirit Church in Annandale, also enjoyed the social aspect of the week. "The community around us is so accepting," he said. "That’s really rare in high school."

WorkCamp was not just a one-week affair. Preparation and organization for the program began months before. After initial meetings among the parishes and the Office of Youth Ministry, the teens had the opportunity to sign up in November and December. Once signed up, they spent the next six months developing and implementing fund-raising projects and preparing for the week. Twenty parishes throughout the diocese participated in this year’s WorkCamp, now in its 15th year.

Each evening, back at "home base," different programs were arranged for the youths. These included speakers, musical entertainment and reconciliation. Christian entertainers Sarah Hart and Bob Rice gave talks and performed for the teens. WorkCamp Café was also introduced as a part of this year’s evening programs. At the café, the teens played board games, drank coffee and relaxed after a long day of hard work. At the end of every day, the youths separated into their parish groups for discussion and time to connect with their own parishes before they headed back to their separate sites the next day.

Dan Stalcup, a Crew 11 member from St. Theresa Church in Ashburn, said he enjoyed the evening programs. "The talks gave me a deeper understanding of what we are supposed to do to be better Catholics," he said. "It made me aspire to be a better person."

Back on site, two crews tackled a larger project together. They repaired a leaky roof, painted and caulked ceilings, replaced the kitchen countertops and sinks, and built a new deck and steps.

James VanBriesen, from St. William of York Church in Stafford, said the projects were worth the work.

"At the end of the week, you look back at all the work you’ve done and say wow — we did this," he said.

Kevin Bohli, director of the office of youth ministry for the diocese, said WorkCamp was created to give the youths an "experience of Church.

"They’re spending a week in prayer, community and service," he said. "By living the week the way Christ intended, they experience real conversion."

Next summer, WorkCamp will be held in Madison. For information contact Bohli at 703/841-2559.