“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

Ah, the adolescent days of summer, when figuring out what to do with the long hours of seemingly endless sunshine was almost work. Almost.

Local youths from Dale City have found one answer: Summer Friendship, a drop-in program at Holy Family Church.

Available to rising sixth-graders through graduated 12th-graders and comprised of a hodgepodge of activities, Summer Friendship is staving off the summer “what do you want to dos?” with tubing, bowling, a lock-in, a Nationals game, a visit to the National Zoo, laser tag, “toilet paper dodge ball” and a trip to Williamsburg’s Water Country, USA.

“We’re alleviating summer boredom in a good way,” said Shannon Kingett, a parishioner of Holy Family and one of four program directors. “The way we market it is we get kids off the street in a comfortable environment where they feel safe and they feel welcome.”

The program for youths is practically run by youths itself. Kingett and Garrick Suemith, also a parishioner of Holy Family Parish, are 20 years old. Nicole Barrea, a parishioner of St. Mark Church in Vienna, and Matt Baier, a parishioner of St. Raymond of Peñafort Church in Springfield, are 21. Supervised by Toni Papp, parish youth minister, all four young adults are spending their breaks from college making youths feel welcome at Holy Family.

“We’re helping foster this amazing community among the youth at this parish,” Barrea said. “We have a great sense of community, and it’s great that (they) are getting to know each other in a positive environment.”

An average of 60 junior high students meet daily from 2 to 5 p.m. and an average of 30 high-schoolers come together from 7 to 10 p.m. A mix of regulars and newbies, the program is open to all — and it’s never too late to join. The groups stay on church grounds three days a week and travel Wednesdays and Fridays. Some field trips, like Water Country, are for fun. Some, like the outing earlier this month to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, are for educational and spiritual growth. And some, like a recent afternoon doing clean-up work at a local park, are for service.

“I love working with the kids and seeing their summers be full of life rather than TV and video games,” Kingett said. “And it’s fun. It’s not sitting behind a desk pushing papers.”

Suemith is the only director who participated in the program as a student. He attended for three summers during high school.

“I went into college already having a great network of friends because of this program,” he said.

Suemith said he hopes he’s someone the youths can look up to, a sentiment that was echoed by the other directors.

“We’re all role models, we’re all acting as a witness in truth to these kids,” Barrea said. “I know when I was in high school and junior high I looked up to the college kids. It’s really cool to be that cool Catholic college student to these kids.”

Speaking of role models, Keith Cummings, a seminarian at Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Mass., who is in residence for the summer at Holy Family, has made spending time with the youths a priority.

Because of the time demands of parish priests, Cummings said he has found a niche where he, who isn’t yet able to do a lot of sacramental duties at this early stage of his formation, can fill a need.

“I can be present for the young people and make it clear that we take them very seriously,” he said.

Though the program is not limited to Catholics, some elements might differ from a secular program. A recent scavenger hunt brought the youths to the Blessed Sacrament chapel, which prompted follow-up discussion on how Jesus in the Eucharist is the “real treasure.” And rules about modest dress and respect for others are emphasized.

The key is for the youths to figure out that they can be modest and respectful and still have a good time, Cummings said. “Being a good Christian person and having fun are not in conflict, but actually can enhance the overall fun for everyone.”

Maybe no one knows that better than the four directors, who are living examples of that blend of fun and faith.

“It’s a great place to work because I know the people I am working with share my values,” Kingett said. “It forces you to live your life to a certain standard.”

Summer Friendship activities continue through Aug. 15, when it wraps up with a picnic at Veterans Park.