A large group of young people from St. John Armenian Church participated in Western Diocese Hye Camp this summer, enjoying time together, strengthening friendships, and growing in their Christian faith. Several campers took advantage of scholarships available through the parish, helping make this experience accessible to more of St. John’s youth.
For the St. John group, camp offered a chance to deepen the bonds they share at church while building friendships with young Armenians from other communities. Prayer, learning, singing, and shared activities brought faith into the rhythm of daily life. The Week 2 theme, “Anchored in Christ,” encouraged campers to turn to Christ with thanksgiving, seek Him in prayer, and trust Him through life’s uncertainties.
The young people represented their parish well. Following camp, Fr. Mesrop Ash described St. John’s campers as exemplary, noting that some older campers were already eager to return as counselors. Their interest in taking on that responsibility was an encouraging sign of the connections they had formed and their desire to give back to the camp community.
St. John also contributed to Hye Camp’s ministry at the diocesan level. As the camp’s spiritual director, Fr. Mesrop played a vital role in shepherding the program and overseeing its religious curriculum. He worked with the camp committee, directing teams, and clergy to prepare the curriculum for all four weeks and train the clergy responsible for putting it into practice.
He was supported during Week 2 by Dn. Mikayel, who served as an assistant chaplain. Dn. Mikayel helped with classes, spent time in the cabins as a big brother, and offered a steady, helpful presence that earned him a “most dependable” camp award.
Through its campers, scholarship support, and spiritual leadership, St. John helped make Hye Camp a meaningful part of its young people’s summer. The friendships and spiritual growth they experienced offer a foundation for their continued involvement in parish life.