Denver Catholic

4 MAY 9-15, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC In-Depth Cover T wo years ago, then 11-year-old Ellie Bixenman went to Camp Wojtyla for the fi rst time. Wowed by her enthusiasm about the experience, the next year, two-dozen of her schoolmates at All Souls School in Englewood also attended. "It changed my life," declared Ellie, 13, about her fi rst stay at the mountain camp. "If it wasn't for Camp Wojtyla, I don't think I'd be where I am in my faith life. I'm really close to Jesus now." Camp Wojtyla is a Catholic adventure program that o¤ ers wilderness camps and outdoor expeditions for middle school, high school and college students that challenge them into a joyful and transformative relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church. It's a ministry helped by the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal through a grant from Camp St. Malo, a nonprofi t corporation of the Denver Archdiocese. "At Camp Wojtyla, we teach through the adventure experience," said Annie Powell, who launched the program with her husband Scott Powell in 2006. "Catechesis and self-discovery are not separate from adventure but are an inte- gral part of the outdoor experience at Camp Wojtyla—it's a seamless integra- tion of faith and adventure." Students might learn about trusting God through their time climbing a rock face overlooking Long 's Peak, Powell said, or come to understand the power of the Holy Spirit at the summit of a 13,000- foot mountain. "Since it is all done so tangibly and with lessons so deeply connected to their own meaningful experiences, our campers and sta¤ leave Camp Wojtyla transformed and on fi re for the faith," she said, explaining that accompanying the outdoor activities are daily Mass, con- fession and adoration. "All these things … make the Camp Wojtyla experience unlike anything else." Ellie's mom, Darilyn Bixenman, agreed. "It's all the fun activities you could get at any other camp—and more," she said. "Why wouldn't I do that for my child in terms of giving her an outdoor experi- ence, Catholic formation and fellowship." Named after St. John Paul II, whose given name was Karol Wojtyla, the pro- gram follows the saint's example of ministering to young people in the out- doors. Located on 12,000 acres near the Indian Peaks Wilderness area outside of Jamestown, Colo., Camp Wojtyla is sta¤ ed by well-formed Catholic college students and seminarians who undergo three week's of intensive leadership train- ing in mountaineering and catechesis. Originally part of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), in 2010 Camp Wojtyla became an indepen- dent ministry of the Powell's nonprofi t John Paul II Adventure Institute. "Camp Wojtyla can only exist with the help of families, individuals and founda- tions that partner with us in this mission," Powell said. "Our cost per camper per day is actually $223 so we work really hard to keep those costs down. Campers only pay a fraction of the actual cost to run Camp Wojtyla. Sixty-three percent of our fund- ing comes through donations." Twenty percent of Camp Wojtyla par- ticipants attend on scholarship, added Powell. "The funding we've received from the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal … means a great deal to us," she said. ACA-funded Camp Wojtyla transforms lives BY ROXANNE KING 720-771-3394 editor_king@icloud.com www.twitter.com/RoxanneIKing Youths meet God through rock climbing, in sacraments, on mountaintops Malo stays loyal to history A lthough a 2011 fi re destroyed Camp St. Malo Religious Retreat and Con- ference Center and 2013 mudslides damaged its land, the organization remains faithful to preserving the history of the mountain site, continuing its outdoor legacy and improving the still active Chapel on the Rock. Camp St. Malo, a nonprofi t cor- poration of the Archdiocese of Denver, also intends to build a new retreat and conference center but on a di¤ erent site as it was deter- mined it would be imprudent to rebuild on the 160-acre property near Allenspark, Colo., due to sig- nifi cant remediation costs and the unknown impact of future water and sediment fl ows. "Many lives (were) touched by Camp St. Malo over the last several decades," corporation president Keith Parsons said about the site at the base of Mount Meeker that served as a youth camp from 1934-1985, a retreat center from 1988-2011, and hosted a visit by now-St. John Paul II in 1993. After deciding not to rebuild on the Allenspark land, the Camp St. Malo board looked at other spots for a future retreat center, Parsons said.® They found one less than an hour away from downtown Denver and in January signed a contract to buy it contingent on whether water rights and zoning can be obtained. "At this point, we can report that the site is looking promising and are hopeful that we will be able to close by the summer," Parsons said. "I would ask all (Catholics), especially all those who have been touched by Camp St. Malo, to keep this matter in their prayers," he said. "The wisdom of our future decisions will be enhanced through prayer during this time." DONATIONS www.archden.org/donate Archbishop's Catholic Appeal, P.O. Box 100316, Denver, CO 80250-0316 CAMP WOJTYLA www.camp-w.com apowell@camp-w.com 303-586-1799 i Young people enjoy activities at Camp Wojtyla, located on 12,000 acres near the Indian Peaks Wilderness area outside Jamestown. The camp is one of nearly 40 ministries supported by the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal. PHOTOS BY KEENAN FITZPATRICK/CAMP WOJTYLA

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