{"id":34376,"date":"2026-10-02T15:34:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T22:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/?p=34376"},"modified":"2026-10-02T19:10:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T02:10:07","slug":"from-campers-to-leaders-the-lasting-impact-of-camp-salesian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/2026\/10\/02\/from-campers-to-leaders-the-lasting-impact-of-camp-salesian\/","title":{"rendered":"From Campers to Leaders: The Lasting Impact of Camp Salesian"},"content":{"rendered":"

Por JC Montenegro, PhD<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Los Angeles, California)<\/strong> \u2013 For seven weeks this summer, Camp Salesian became a place where children could learn, explore, make friends, and simply be kids\u2014and where young people had the opportunity to grow into leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp Salesian 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From June 15 through July 31, the Centro Juvenil de la Familia Salesiana<\/strong> welcomed 125 children and young people<\/strong> to Camp Salesian. Throughout the summer, campers participated in activities that encouraged creativity, learning, physical activity, friendship, faith, and leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 by the Numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

125<\/strong> \u2014 Registered campers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7<\/strong> \u2014 Weeks of summer programming<\/p>\n\n\n\n

552<\/strong> \u2014 Camper-weeks of participation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

67<\/strong> \u2014 Youth counselors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10<\/strong> \u2014 Staff members<\/p>\n\n\n\n

31%<\/strong> \u2014 Counselors who were former Camp Salesian campers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Summer Full of Opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every day at Camp Salesian offered something new. Campers participated in STEM, arts and crafts, swimming, sports, games, recreation, and liturgy<\/strong>. They also had opportunities to explore places beyond their neighborhood through field trips to Seal Beach, the California Science Center, and Griffith Park<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Campers and counselors enjoy a day at the park.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For our seventh- and eighth-grade campers, the summer included additional weekly experiences designed specifically for their age group, including movies, a sailing day, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Six Flags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These experiences are more than activities on a summer schedule. They give young people opportunities to try something new, build confidence, develop friendships, and discover interests they may not otherwise have had the chance to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many of our campers, Camp Salesian is also a place where they feel known, welcomed, and part of a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Keeping Camp Accessible to Families<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This year brought new challenges. Reductions in some grant funding meant that SFYC<\/strong> needed to rethink how Camp Salesian was financed while continuing to make the program accessible to local families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We introduced a three-tier pricing structure, with weekly rates of $90, $65, and $45<\/strong>, and continued to provide additional financial assistance to families who needed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 50% of participating families received financial assistance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This approach allowed families to contribute according to their circumstances while helping SFYC recover more of the cost of providing the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pricing structure will be reviewed as we prepare for Camp Salesian 2027 so that we can continue balancing affordability for families with the long-term financial sustainability of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More Than a Summer Camp<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important parts of Camp Salesian is the opportunity it provides young people to become leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer, 67 young people volunteered as counselors<\/strong>, working alongside 10 SFYC staff members<\/strong>. Together, 77 staff members and volunteers helped create a safe, welcoming, and positive environment for our campers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of our counselors came from local schools, including Roosevelt High School<\/strong> y Bravo High School<\/strong>. College students also played an important role, representing approximately 32.5% of our counselors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But one number tells an especially meaningful story: 31% of our counselors were former Camp Salesian campers.<\/strong> Young people who once came to Camp Salesian as children are now returning to serve, mentor, and encourage the next generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the things that makes Camp Salesian special. A child arrives at camp as a participant. As that young person grows, they have the opportunity to return as a volunteer and eventually become a counselor. They learn responsibility by caring for younger children, develop leadership skills, and discover that they have something valuable to give to their community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It becomes a cycle of participation, service, and leadership<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Investing in Young People<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Camp Salesian is part of a larger journey. We want children to have a safe and positive place to spend their summer today, but we also want to help them become confident, responsible, and caring young adults tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through Camp Salesian, young people have opportunities to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n