Denver Catholic

4 JUNE 9-22, 2018 | DENVER CATHOLIC N estled in the Rocky Mountains and resting in the shadow of Long 's Peak, a new adventure for Catholic youth and families awaits. Annunciation Heights is a new Cath- olic youth and family camp located just south of Estes Park in the Archdiocese of Denver. Acquired late last year, the four-lodge, 188-bed camp will serve as home for new summer youth and family camps, spring and fall outdoor lab pro- grams, and year-round youth, college and parish ministry retreats. The hope for Annunciation Heights is to provide a place for visitors to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and gather in a beautiful setting only Colorado can o§ er, be served by a great sta§ and ulti- mately, grow closer to Christ. "At the very core of everything, we're trying to provide a beautiful, adventur- ous, and sacred setting for youth and young adults, parish groups and fami- lies to be brought into a deeper friend- ship with Jesus," said Kyle Mills, Exec- utive Director of Annunciation Heights. "Our camp o§ ers all the adventurous elements kids will love: a zip line, a lake with fi shing, paddle boarding, and canoeing, a low and high ropes course and a climbing wall, just to name a few. But most of all, I believe our camp will make a di§ erence in the lives of young people because we intend to shower them with the love of Christ." The name of the camp was chosen deliberately based on when the camp was discovered — during the archdioce- san consecration to Jesus through Mary. Mary's example of openness and respon- siveness to God's plan for her life is what Mills hopes the camp can emulate. "What the name does is it begins tell- ing the story of Christ and the story of every believer," Mills explained. "If you think about it, the Divine Messenger comes to a teenage girl, at a particu- lar place in Israel, at a particular point in history and says, 'The Lord is with you.'€Presenting the sublime reality that the Lord is truly with each of us will be a special point of emphasis at Annun- ciation Heights. "The mystery [of the Annunciation] helps introduce what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, exemplifi ed most of all by the Blessed Mother who demon- strates by her faith and docility how to respond to the Holy Spirit speaking into our lives: 'Let it be done according to your word.' Mary's simple trust and total surrender served as the launching point for the entire gospel and sets the example for us as well." SAME LEGACY, NEW TRADITIONS Annunciation Heights is conve- niently located two miles down the road from Camp St, Malo, the old archdioce- san youth camp founded by Monsignor Joseph Bosetti in 1916 and famously vis- ited by St. John Paul II in 1993. The camp was r a v a g e d by a fi re in 2011, and while there were plans to rebuild the retreat center, a 2013 mud- slide foiled them.€ H o w - ever, the iconic Chapel on the Rock still stands and remains as beau- tiful as ever, and Annunciation Heights will be utilizing the space in its opera- tions. Mills expressed how providen- tial it was that Annunciation Heights is located so close to Camp St. Malo. "As we begin to develop a new summer youth camp in 2019, we do not need to reinvent the wheel, but can draw upon the legacy of two great men who walked here before us and laid for us a solid foundation on which to build." Monsignor Bosetti and St. John Paul II were both faithful and holy men who were committed to the youth of their day, were both avid outdoorsmen and knew the enormous impact that bring- ing youth and families to God's creation has. Mills is hopeful that Annunciation Heights can carry on the legacy they started and become a source of new traditions. "Based on their legacy, we want Annunciation Heights to create new youth and family camping traditions for the Archdiocese of Denver," Mills said. Annunciation Heights is making it a point to build not only a dynamic summer youth camping program, but also family camps. "As Catholic parents, my wife, Amberly, and I see how much good it does for us and our kids when we are given an opportu- nity to pray and play with other Catholic families. Jesus him- self often withdrew from the frenetic pace of his public ministry to the wil- derness. That's what we hope Annuncia- tion Heights will be — a place where youth and families can withdraw from the normal routine of things and go to the wilderness to be refreshed by the Lord with other like- minded friends and families." Annunciation Heights is opening its fi rst two family camps this July and will follow next year with new summer youth camps for boys and girls. 'AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY' Annunciation Heights has been in operation since mid-March, and has already hosted several groups. In August, the camp is also beginning a missionary program for young adults to come for a year-long mission to lead and serve at the camp. The missionary program will be the "heart and soul" of what the camp is all about, Mills said. The missionaries will receive a robust faith formation and will simul- taneously serve€ guests in a tangible way. Annunciation Heights is€currently seeking applicants for the missionary program. "We'll be given an opportunity to go deeper with these individuals," Mills said.€ "They, in many ways,€ will be the frontline people our guests will encounter." "There is nothing more power- ful than living and serving in a close Christian community," he continued. "We want the culture of the camp to be anchored in prayer, to really demon- strate authentic Christian life and hospitality." To aid in this endeavor, the archdio- cese is sending a full-time priest, Father Salvador Sanchez, to live and serve as the camp's chaplain. "We are so blessed to have Father Salvador. We will then be able to center the life of the camp around the daily Eucharist," Mills said. Cover Story BY AARON LAMBERT aaron.lambert@archden.org @AaronLmbrt New camp seeks to create new traditions for youth and families elements kids will love: a zip line, a lake with fi shing, paddle boarding, and canoeing, a low and high ropes course and a climbing wall, just to name a few. But most of all, I believe our camp will make a di§ erence in the lives of young people because we intend to shower The name of the camp was chosen deliberately based on when the camp was discovered — during the archdioce- san consecration to Jesus through Mary. Mary's example of openness and respon- siveness to God's plan for her life is what Mills hopes the camp can emulate. camp was r a v a g e d by a fi re in 2011, and while there were plans to rebuild the retreat center, a 2013 mud- slide foiled them.€ H o w - ever, the iconic Chapel on the with other Catholic families. Jesus him- self often withdrew from the frenetic pace of his public ministry to the wil- derness. That's what we hope Annuncia- tion Heights will be ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS Book now: annunciationheights.org 970-586-5689 i PHOTO BY JASON WEINRICH

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