Denver Catholic

12 MAY 2021 | DENVER CATHOLIC AN N U N CIATIO N H E I G HTS To Lodge in the Wilderness: Summer 2021 at Annunciation Heights O that I had wings like a dove! I would f ly away and be at rest; yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness." ARE CAMP FEES A CONCERN FOR YOUR FAMILY? DO NOT LET MONEY BECOME PROHIBITIVE! We have scholarships available. See annunciationheights.org/summer-camp for details. BY LUKE HLAVIN Assistant Program Director, wAnnunciation Heights Youth and Family Camp W hat eloquent words to express the desire of a heart seeking rest! Centuries ago, the psalmist put his pen to paper in the verses from Psalm 55, and today, more than ever, those words resound in our own experience. How many of us, after the year we had in 2020, long for refreshment and rest? And how many of us long to find it in the beauty of a place set apart, in the beauty of the "wilderness?" Annunciation Heights Catholic Youth and Family Camp exists precisely to be that place to "wander afar and be at rest." This summer, we are excited once again to pro- vide a Catholic home in the mountains for all who wander, a place of relaxation and rest in the awe-inspiring land- scape of the Colorado Rockies! With six weeks of youth camp and three family camps, Annunciation Heights is providing a variety of experiences to serve the Catholic family – both through family pro- grams themselves and through youth camps that return children to their families set on fire for the Lord by their time spent at camp. Camp is a transformative experience for staff as well as campers and families. And this year, over 40 summer staffers will be joining us, each eager to share the joy and adventure of a life lived for Christ. "Freedom" is our theme for Summer 2021. Following the story of Joseph in Genesis (no, not Jesus' father, an ear- lier Joseph with an amazing story!) as well as journeying through the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary to the vic- tory of the Resurrection, campers and families will not only experience the freedom of time away from the busyness of lives back home; they will also be immersed in the freedom of our Catholic faith, freedom won for us by Christ's death and resurrection. Daily Mass, adoration, and confession will be places of that encounter, further strengthening rela- tionships both with God and one another. Annunciation Heights anxiously awaits the return of campers this summer. Since our last summer of youth programming in 2019 (Summer 2020 was exclusively family programs), much has changed here at camp. The high ropes challenge course has new elements (including a giant swing), the chapel has been renovated, and the courtyard at the center of camp has received a facelift. Furthermore, our missionaries and staff have prepared for months to ensure that each camper has a powerful and positive experience, with talks, skits, and games ready to create laughter and memories! As summer draws ever closer, and the desire to "fly away" to the mountains grows with the warming weather, consider Annunciation Heights for your family's or your child's mountain getaway, and experience the freedom that camp can offer! May God give each of us the summer of refreshment we desire and need! See you at the Heights! - PS 55: 6-7

• Cover