Camps in Archdiocese of Baltimore offer summer of enrichment

This summer, the camp scene in the Archdiocese of Baltimore included three offerings that expanded the horizons and spiritual reach for area students and special-needs adults.

More than 75 teens and young adults participated in the annual Quo Vadis Camp, a vocation awareness event, held July 8-11 at St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park. It was the biggest turnout in the 12-year history of the camp.

The four-day camp, hosted by seminarians of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, was open to any young man of high school age (eighth grade graduates through recent high school grads).

HIgh school-age men attended Quo Vadis camp at St. Mary’s Seminary in July. (Courtesy Office of Vocations)

The camp aimed to encourage young men to “persevere in prayer, service and holiness so that they can grow in human and Christian maturity and explore the vocation to which God is calling them.”

The camp included prayer, discussion, worship, recreation, music and unity with interaction with priests and seminarians. It offered four days of peace and relaxation away from the stressors of school and busyness of family life, giving each young man the freedom to learn and discover where God is working in his life.

Connor Schmidt, a seminarian at Mount St. St Mary’s in Emmitsburg, said the Quo Vadis Camp offers an important experience.

“Quo Vadis is so important because it’s a discipleship camp,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt said the camp helps young men “hear the voice of the Lord” and steer them toward a vocation whether it’s the priesthood, marriage or single life. He said the camp helps high school students grow closer in their relationship with God and each other.

Seminarians, under the direction of Father Matt Himes, associate director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, met monthly since last August to plan the camp.

Most young men hear about Quo Vadis through word of mouth, from past participants who have not only enjoyed the camp but also have gotten some sort of spiritual benefit from it.

All of the games, activities and talks were about discipleship, to grow a closer relationship with God as well as a closer relationship with community.

Two other camps in the Archdiocese of Baltimore concentrated on enrichment for those with special needs or those experiencing poverty and homelessness.

Kate Kleintank, adult faith formation coordinator for the Church of the Resurrection-St. Paul in Ellicott City, recently added the role of director for Camp GLOW (God Loves Our World), the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s summer enrichment program for adults with special needs.

Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., distributes Communion during Mass at Camp GLOW hosted Aug. 14, 2024, at the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

It was Kleintank’s first year leading some 200 campers and volunteers who participated in three Camp GLOW sessions, including camps at St. Ursula in Parkville and St. Andrew by the Bay in Annapolis. A weeklong residential camp hosting 54 campers was held for the first time since the pandemic at the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks.

GLOW activities included swimming, arts and crafts, games, a talent show and watching movies.

“I see it (being camp director) as an extension of my adult faith formation role,” said Kleintank, who has an adult sister in her 30s with special needs who made her first Communion at Camp GLOW several years ago. “It’s hard work and exhausting but you make someone feel like they matter. You can see Christ in every person you meet.”

Troy Baisey, 30, of Frederick, who has been attending Camp GLOW since 2014, said one his favorite things is helping with Mass during camp. “It’s one of my fun things,” Baisey said, adding that it helps him get closer to the Lord. “I like church number one … but I like making new friends, going swimming and playing bingo.”

Ryan Butts, a 2024 graduate of Calvert Hall College High School, was a first-time companion volunteer at Camp GLOW. Like his fellow companions, Butts was responsible for an average of five special-need adults during the weeklong resident camp.

“They’re pretty much on vacation,” said Butts, who plans to major in English at Loyola University Maryland in September. “You definitely work hard, but all that hard work makes it a good experience for these people. You see them smile. It’s so nice to give them a nice week.”

Butts said that he and fellow companion volunteers discussed how lucky they are being able to help and that he wants to assist others in the future.

Young men participated in spiritual enrichment excercises at Quo Vadis Camp. (Courtesy Office of Vocations)

At Patterson Park in East Baltimore July 2-27, more than 200 youngsters participated in the annual Camp St. Vincent, sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore.

Campers, impacted by poverty or homelessness, ranged in age from 5 to 14 and came from Baltimore City and Baltimore County for a free eight-week summer session.

Breakfast and lunch were provided. Activities such as art, dance, swimming at the Patterson Park Pool and field trips were a part of the program.

Participants also completed a pre-camp assessment so plans were developed to reduce summer learning loss in subjects such as math.

Peyton Taylor, a rising junior at Mercy High School in Baltimore, worked her second year as a camp volunteer.

“I like helping kids. … I’ve definitely learned how to be more patient,” she said, as some of the children she’s worked with lack the understanding of basic multiplication tables.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL), is an opportunity for Camp St. Vincent participants to meet with counselors and attend sessions that teach coping skills they can apply to their unique circumstances.

Kevin Parks, Mitzy Deras and Gerry Jackson contributed to this article.

To view more photos of Quo Vadis Camp, click through the slideshow below: