Bishop Soto to celebrate Mass July 15 at Camp Pendola, diocesan youth ministry camp

Bishop Jaime Soto will celebrate Mass for youth campers at Camp Pendola on Sunday, July 15.

Camp Pendola, the official youth ministry summer camp of the Diocese of Sacramento, is continuing to accept registration for the 2012 summer season.

This year, the traditional summer camp program celebrates 53 years of serving children and youth ages six to 17. Participants enjoy a week living in a simple cabin where Catholic values come alive in a positive, natural and fun-filled way.

Located in the Sierra Nevada foothills in the Tahoe National Forest 15 miles north of Nevada City, Camp Pendola is on 40 acres of natural, rustic surroundings. More than 20,000 campers over five decades have created a tradition that for many families continues every year and even passes from one generation to the next, according to Lori Rosene, director of Pendola Center.

Most camp sessions are one week in length. During their time at camp, youths can hike, swim, make arts and crafts and play in the outdoors. Every cabin goes on a one-night “under the stars” overnight where campers cook out and spend the night.

Older youths have a variety of specialty options, ranging from a three-day, two-night canoe trip for seventh graders. Rosene notes that Pendola Center also offers two programs for high school youths that focus on leadership development: one for youths entering their freshman and sophomore years and a three-week counselor-in-training program for those students entering their junior and senior year.

For more information and registration materials or to register online, visit http://www.pendola.org or call Lori Rosene at (916) 733-0141 or e-mail to Lrosene@scd.org. Some scholarships are available and Camp Pendola offers multi-child or multi-week discounts.