Camps and Retreats

The Diocese of Knoxville Youth Ministry Office offers Reach Summer God Camp for rising 7th and 8th graders and Discover Summer God Camp for rising 5th-6th graders at Adventure Ocoee in Ocoee, TN. Campers stay in air-conditioned bunk houses. God Camp activities include lake day inflatables, a water park (with wave pool, lazy river, and giant water slide), high ropes course, adventure race, outdoor sports, bonfires with s’mores, prayer services, skits, crafts, the celebration of Mass, team building activities, group games, and time to simply enjoy camp. Some more camp highlights include four square, basketball, volleyball, capture the flag, and some surprise activities planned by the leaders!

You do not want your kids to miss the fun of making new friendships, growing in their relationship with God and just being able to be who God created them to be! 

God Camp: Reach for 7th-8th graders

God Camp: Discover for 5th-6th graders

God Camp Team Application
 

God Camp Testimonials

"My experience at God Camp as a counselor was amazing! I loved how I was able to connect with the kids in such little time and get to teach them how to find their own path and walk with God along that path. It was amazing to see them open up and make new friends and to see how much they had grown at the end of the camp. No matter how hot it was or how tired they were, they were always engaged and ready to soak up all the lessons we were giving them. And all of these things just made the experience so special and amazing to me."
-Alex Espinoza, a senior from St. Therese, Cleveland

"I would say that being a counselor at God camp not only gives you the responsibility of guiding those that are given under your protection but also ensuring that the kids have a good time to connect with how they feel towards God and not just them, but also myself. This experience opened my eyes more to God than they were before."
-Alejandro Stambury, a sophomore from St. Mary, Athens

"God Camp was great because it gave us the opportunity to make new friends, learn about new things, and grow together in our faith. I enjoyed getting to be a counselor for the first time and will definitely be doing it again next summer!"
-Selena Mullinax, a freshman from the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga

"I absolutely loved God Camp! Not only because of the fun experience but also because of the environment! All the kind people who love God enough to go to camp! I would 100% do it again."
-Kaitlyn Critchfield, a freshman from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga

Our Mission: To awaken, empower, and equip youth to live the adventure within the Catholic Church encountering Jesus through faith, community , and leadership.

All incoming 9^th-12^th graders are welcome. Meet Catholics your own age from all over the diocese, listen to inspiring speakers, learn about the new evangelization, celebrate liturgy, challenge yourself in a variety of ways, enjoy the sand volleyball or basketball courts or GaGa Pit. Pray the Outdoor Stations of the Cross or maybe just take some time to relax around the Campfire. Most of all take time to review and renew your faith life.

SEARCH for Christian Maturity is a retreat program that tries to help high school juniors and seniors see how they can be faith leaders in their schools and parishes. This is done by having the participants come to know God, themselves, and others in a more loving, personal way. SEARCH is not a means purposely set up to correct one’s character, morals, emotions or troubled school or family life. It is a method of providing people with a way of encountering themselves, others and God in a way which is unique and powerful. SEARCH helps people to see the need to bring their spiritual life into more conscious contact with their day-to-day living. The essential component of SEARCH is its youth-to-youth approach, referred to as peer ministry. This component cannot be stressed enough; other programs can be valuable, but no one can talk with and relate to another better than a peer. So, SEARCH is basically a weekend experience in Christian living. It is designed to help people see their value as human beings and members of a loving community. This happens as the team and the Searchers share their thoughts, feelings and ideas. Participants are then challenged to take their growth and ideas back to their families, schools and parish communities. Central Elements There are six elements that we hope each SEARCH weekend will highlight and that each participant will take away from the retreat. These central elements are: Trust- Sharing-Community-Prayer-Growth-Fun

SEARCH aim is to help Catholic high school juniors and seniors take a fresh look at their own faith journey, reflecting on their place within their families, schools, parishes and community as a disciple of Christ. This is accomplished through activities and experiences that lead participants to a renewed understanding of Christ at work in their lives. SEARCH is facilitated by teens for teens with the guidance of adult SEARCH Coordinators. The main focus of the retreat is three fold: Motivating the youth to seek a personal relationship with Christ. Getting young people involved with their respective parishes. Promoting leadership.

Alive in You

Get ready for the most exciting Catholic Youth event that you and your group have ever experienced! Alive in You is part conference, part service camp and 100% Catholic. Experience the love of Christ through the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Mass, service, high-energy praise and worship, prayer, talented speakers, team building, games, activities, and small faith groups. Gather your friends, pack your bags, and join young people from around the country on this incredible journey of faith. Open your heart and let the fire of the Holy Spirit become Alive in You.

Catholic Heart

Catholic Heart work camps provides opportunities for parish youth groups to restore homes, feed the hungry, lift the spirits of children, bring joy to the elderly and disabled, and offer assistance to social agencies.

Lifeteen Covecrest Camp

An adventure that you will never forget. It’s an experience that will help teens deepen their prayer life, take ownership of their faith, grow in community with their parish friends and break down anything holding them back.

Missionary Disciples Institute (MDI)

A week-long experience at Marian University in Indianapolis. For rising sophomores to seniors who are passionate about thier faith, seeking to strengthen their relationship with God, eager to improve their community, ready to lead their peers in ministry, and open to becoming a stronger missionary disciple. Each teen creates a mission plan to bring back to their church community!

Notre Dame Vision

A 5-day experience on the Notre Dame Campus designed to help participants discover and renew God’s call in their lives.

One Bread One Cup Summer Youth Conference

One Bread, One Cup is a five-day liturgical leadership conference focusing on the Word, Sacrament and Mission of the Roman Catholic Church for high school youth and campus and youth ministers. Conferences include community building, leadership development, catechesis, liturgical and spiritual formation, and theological reflection.

National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) 

In a distinctly Catholic setting, the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) invites participants to encounter Christ, experience Church, and be empowered for discipleship. 

Steubenville Youth Conferences

Powerful conferences in multiple locations across the country to encounter Jesus more deeply.