Is Catholic HEART Workcamp Affiliated with a specific Diocese?

No, we are not officially overseen by a Diocese. In our experience, a Diocese does not want the liability or legal responsibility involved in a Workcamp but is willing to support CHWC’s effort to offer a quality service event for teenagers. We do however have local youth ministers, local parishes, and local priests involved in most, if not all our Workcamps. In addition we partner with various priests across the country to act as a Camp Chaplin at some of our camps. We also bring in local priests to aid us in the saying of daily mass and for a Reconciliation service during the week. Catholic HEART Workcamp continues to faithfully and enthusiastically serve the Roman Catholic Church in obedience to the Magisterium and strict faithfulness to the Church teachings.

Steve and Lisa have their Masters degree in Religious Education, from Duquesne University and were youth ministers in the Catholic Church for over 15 years before starting Catholic HEART Workcamp.  The original idea developed after their youth group participated in a Protestant service camp 13 years ago.  Since the camp was missing a Catholic social justice piece, we began developing a camp to meet the needs of our Catholic young people.  Little did we know, the camps would grow to include an office staff of seven and involve over 9,000 campers. 

The HEART of CHWC is to gather and celebrate our Catholic faith.  Workcamp participants are inspired to grow deeper in their walk with Christ.  Through service, prayer, and the sacraments, camper participants are renewed in their love for our Catholic faith and are motivated to return to their home communities to serve on a local level. CHWC…..

  • Inspires participants to live out and answer their baptismal call to serve
  • Respects the dignity of the human person
  • Cares for the poor and elderly
  • Loves one’s neighbor
  • Responds to the Gospel

Catholic HEART Workcamp is diligent in providing a safe environment for every camper. Teenagers, young adults, adult leaders and their families can be assured that CHWC is concerned with every camper’s well-being and protection. 

Catholic HEART Workcamp requires all camp summer staff members to provide personal information, references and a recommendation from their Parish Priest/Youth Minister prior to employment.  We also require all summer staff and adults participating as campers, in accordance with the U.S. Catholic Bishops Charter for the protection of children and young people, to conform to a national background check.  In addition, we mandate a signed and notarized Verification Agreement Form from the Parish Youth Minister/contact person stating that a background check has been completed.  CHWC requires anyone over the age of eighteen be in compliance with their Diocesan policy for interacting with children and teenagers.  We strongly encourage adults complete a training course on Protecting God's Children for Adults if it is offered in their Diocese and be familiar with resources regarding safe environment, abuse of minors, sexual misconduct and sexual harassment.  In addition any young adult between the ages of 18-20 are placed on their own work team, with an adult (21 and over) as their group leader and are not mixed with any teens under the age of 18 at the worksites.

Sexual misconduct has been a problem that has gained increased attention in the church and society.  As an organization, CHWC has developed procedures and polices to deal with sexual misconduct. Harassment of any type is not tolerated.  Any offenses by camper toward another camper (whether adult or teen) is taken seriously. All complaints of harassment, harm or law breaking are investigated.  Anyone involved with incidents of abuse or harassment will be handled with due regard for confidentiality and privacy, especially with regard to the victim.  When a complaint or allegation is brought to the attention of the camp director/manager/staff member, a process to deal with the situation immediately goes into place.

In order to prepare the teen and adult campers for a Catholic HEART Workcamp week, we provide a “pre-trip booklet” to be reviewed by each adult leader, teen camper and their Parents. This booklet covers our safety requirements, dress code, medical/hospital procedures, worksite requirements, issues related to meals, worksite/facility behavior and expectations, tool/personal supply list, code of conduct, disciplinary action, policy on sexual harassment, nurse and trouble shooter guidelines and overall Workcamp expectations.  We also communicate in our information packet that work teams consist of campers from other youth groups.   This is one of the beautiful aspects of the HEART Workcamp experience.  New relationships and friendships are formed with other people throughout the country.  The option is available to request a work team consisting only of a specific youth group by parish youth ministers. To ensure the safety of all campers, designated separate shower times are assigned for youth and adult (18 and older).

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