Life Teen - Leading teens closer to Christ

By Sharmane Adams  |  The Catholic Compass  |  September/October 2022

This summer, teens and chaperones from St. Ann Parish in Gulf Breeze experienced an incredible week growing in their faith while participating in fun activities with friends, including whitewater rafting, messy games, obstacle courses, prayer, adoration and Mass. For more than ten years, parishes, schools and groups from around the country have traveled to the north Georgia mountains, where they have encountered Christ at Life Teen’s Covecrest Camp.
 

Four young ladies share their Covecrest experience

Going into camp, I had a mind-set of going for the people and whitewater rafting.  I didn't realize my faith and connection to God would grow in just that one week. Every session we had, whether it was just sitting and listening, singing or just silence, impacted me in one of the best ways. Going to Covecrest changed my mindset from just being a Catholic — because my family is — to realizing I'm Catholic because it's who I truly am. Going to this camp was an experience I'm grateful for having. 
- Natalie Gall, sophomore at Gulf Breeze High School

Life Teen has made a huge impact on my childhood. I have been attending their camps since the sixth grade. I have just graduated high school, and I couldn’t be happier with all the joyful summers the camps have brought me. Covecrest helped build the foundation of my prayer life throughout high school. Not only did it strengthen my faith, but it also strengthened my relationship with friends and my youth group. The camps helped foster a very good friend’s conversion to Catholicism, and it was cool to see how God was working in her life. Additionally, the missionaries at Covecrest have been such great role models in my life. The way they live for Christ while being filled with so much joy is inspiring. Covecrest makes such an enormous impact on our youth during a time when our youth need it most. 
- Ann Hitpas, freshman at the University of Florida

Life Teen summer camps have made an inexpressible impact on my life. I began attending camp in sixth grade, and I soon found a home away from home every summer that showed me what it truly means to live an abundant life in a relationship with Christ. Throughout my years as a camper, I began to take the responsibility of the faith 
into my own hands and grew deeper in my Catholic faith. As a college student, 
I decided to give back to the place that formed my faith, so I volunteered as a 
summer missionary at Covecrest. During this time, I was able to encounter 
the joy of watching others fall in love with the Lord while also doing so myself 
more deeply. I learned what authentic freedom, joy and community look like 
and how to share this with others. Life Teen does a great job of teaching the 
beauty of the Catholic faith, giving practicals on how to live it out in our world 
today, and encouraging a rhythm of prayer that changed my life and the lives of 
so many friends and family members. I am filled with so much gratitude for Life 
Teen camps.  
- Mary Kate Hitpas, alumna and former Life Teen Summer Missionary, junior at the University of Florida

Covecrest was a great week to get to know other teens in my parish while growing in my faith. The missionaries that led us throughout the week 
really showed us what it is to follow Christ. Adoration was a highlight, and muddy games were so much fun! 
– Sarah Kemp, junior at Gulf Breeze High School