It was mid-July and the classrooms of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria were full. About 30 people were assigned to each classroom, to sleep on the hard tile floors at night while spending their days doing manual labor.

Teenagers from across the country arrived at Ireton on Sunday to spend the week in the D.C. area volunteering to help repair and rebuild homes and shelters, cleaning and landscaping, and spending time with members of the local community.

Through HEART Workcamp, these teens chose to spend one week of their summer vacation as missionaries — working to improve the lives of others while living out their faith.

One of the work sites was St. Martin de Porres Senior Center in Alexandria. Run by diocesan Catholic Charities, the senior center needed landscaping, along with some repairs inside the building.

"It’s so much fun seeing how excited kids can get about doing yard work they would probably moan about if their parents asked them to do it," said Lindsey Lamers from Darboy, Wisc.

Her favorite part of the trip was getting to know people from all over the country.

During breaks in the work, the youths chose to play bingo with the seniors, and on the last day of their stay they offered manicures.

"We figure it’s just as important to hang out and give them a good time," said Stephanie Layser from Downingtown, Pa.

Layser and her new friend Megan Gibson from Palmyra, Mo., especially enjoyed getting to know a senior they called "Leroy the Entertainer."

"He thought he was the funniest thing in the world," Layser said. The youths enjoyed Leroy’s jokes and talking to him about seeing the face of Christ in people.

"The kids have been wonderful," said Carol Augustine, program director of the senior center. "The seniors really enjoy the interaction."

HEART Workcamp began in 1993 in Florida under the direction of Steve and Lisa Walker. It now includes more than 8,000 campers each summer who work in 33 cities across the country.