Camp Savio: ‘To show kids that they’re loved’

“I guess I could have had a better childhood, but we had many family problems,” said Gonzalez, 15.

Fortunately, their parents responded to a suggestion that they sign their sons up for the annual summer Camp Savio at their parish, Bellflower’s St. Dominic Savio. Not only were both boys’ lives impacted in a positive way, helping them stay out of trouble, their relationship with their parents and with the rest of their family members improved.

This year Gonzalez (a Bellflower High School junior) and Lewis (a UCLA psychology student), together with 10 other teenagers, have returned to Camp Savio as head counselors. They lead a group of 194 junior counselors (the most since the camp started in 1952) who this year responded to invitations from peers to participate in the 30-day camp.

Under the motto “Savio Legends! The Neverending Journey,” the counselors lead about 300 children from kindergarten through eighth grade in Camp Savio activities: reading books, praying during mid-morning and mid-afternoon sessions or during the Friday mid-morning Mass, learning arts and crafts, swimming, playing kick ball, and going to the beach or other field trips.

Counselors — former campers, ages 15-20 — are in charge of one to two younger children with whom they play but also help if any problem surfaces.

“Counselors are here to show them they’re loved,” 19-year-old Lewis said. “To show them life lessons through our actions.”

Now an outgoing teenager, Lewis says he was a very quiet boy with no friends until he gained self-confidence at the camp when, little by little, he was given responsibilities. He and Gonzalez can relate to some of the young campers whose own negative home environments have made them shy, angry or simply uncomfortable when meeting new people, and thus have difficulty interacting well with other children.

But Camp Savio can, and has, made a difference for many. Just ask Amy Paredes, a Downey High School incoming freshman, who was a reluctant first-day camper and nearly convinced her mom, who had persuaded her only child to come in the first place, that camp was not the place for her.

“I felt uncomfortable with so many people,” 13-year-old Amy told The Tidings. “I didn’t know anybody and didn’t know what to do.”

As she and her mother were heading out of the Youth Center (adjacent to the parochial school and church where the camp rallies take place), they were approached by Juan Carlos Montenegro, director of the parish’s youth ministry who has overseen the camp since 2002.
“Who is the mother here?” joked Montenegro.

Amy’s mom understood the hint and left, much to her daughter’s dismay. But minutes later Amy was introduced to some counselors. It made a difference; a week later the girl was having fun at the beach and, due to her patience and listening skills, she was included in the counseling team, supporting the kindergartners and first graders.

“I just think God chose me to be here to take advantage of what nobody else at my school has,” Amy said. “Many people at my [public] school are rude and rough with each other, and they gossip. Here at Camp Savio I am learning to change my personality.”

She said her parents have seen the changes in barely a week. “I talked back to my parents before, and now I don’t,” she confided.

A few camp participants have had difficulties in school, like being caught cheating on tests, yet at Camp Savio they are able to focus on helping other, younger children.

“Most kids have a certain degree of drama,” Montenegro said, “but it’s difficult for them to talk, to express what they feel. So we just offer a healthy environment where they learn to communicate their feelings with others. Here, the rules are faith-based. They learn who Jesus is for them and who are they for Jesus.”

To show the benefits of the camp, counselors on June 27 hosted for the first time an open house for the parents, which drew more families.

The head counselors have been preparing the event since January and started training the 194 junior counselors in April. They meet early each morning to pray and plan, and meet every Friday night to review the week. They also attend talks designed to improve their relationship with children and to increase their spirituality.

Possible vocations are also addressed. One counselor will soon leave on a mission to Laredo, Texas, while others have expressed their interest to go on missions to Mexico or Haiti where the Salesian community has missionary work with less fortunate children.

The camp offers “relational tools” that are not offered to children in a scholastic environment, according to Montenegro, including communication skills, helping them find their own identity and showing them how to give and care for others.

Cost of the camp is $105 per week, including lunch and transportation to the beach and field trips. This year 57 scholarships (full payment that totals more than $10,000) were granted to low-income families. More than 150 families — Catholic and non-Catholic — are participating hailing from surrounding cities and as far as Irvine.

“This is so beautiful!” exclaimed Martha Jorgensen, mother of three campers and one counselor. “They receive such good counseling and learn a lot about God, which in turn helps them to respect family members.”

She has also noticed the siblings have improved their relationship with one another. “I don’t mind coming from Huntington Beach to bring them to a safe environment where they are taught great things that will help them in life,” Jorgensen added.

Campers are still welcome to join Camp Savio, which continues to July 30. For information call the Youth Ministry at St. Dominic Savio Church, (562) 920-7796, extension 213, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .