Summer Challenge Info Page

Summer Challenge is a week of fun, faith formation and service held in early summer.  This year's Challenge will be held June 5 - 9.  Monday through Thursday (8 a.m. - noon), teams of middle and high school students come together to learn a little about our Catholic faith and a spirituality of service before being sent out around Austin to do some service for others.  The youth will learn about different organizations that help people in our area.  On Friday (9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.), we will celebrate a week of service at hard work at Volente Beach.  

Summer Challenge 2023
June 5 - 9, 2023
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Opening Gathering Sunday Evening)

Click here to register!

Summer Challenge Schedule
Sunday Evening Opening Retreat 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Fee
$75 per students
$50 per student whose parent or guardian serves as a Driver/Chaperone

Please indicate your ability to drive and chaperone on the Registration Form for your child.

First priority for registration will be for children of parents/guardians who volunteer to serve as a driver. 

Next priority will be for children who are participating in Religious Education and/or Youth Ministry at St. Catherine of Siena parish.  Other registered members of St. Catherine of Siena parish may sign up; however, they will be on a waiting list until May 1.  Children from other parishes or non-Catholic families will be placed on a waiting list until late May unless their parents volunteer to serve as a driver.

What Summer Challenge IS

• Challenging--engaging the elderly at a community center, working outdoors clearing brush, riding in a car with people who go to different schools.
• Summer Challenge is for middle and high school students who want to get out, work hard, have fun,and talk about serious topics with their peers.
• Eye opening.  Kids will meet people throughout Austin who will inspire them with the good works they are doing. They will also meet clients served by these organizations, and will be challenged to hear their stories and learn how they can help, to see past the outside to the image of God.
• Formative. Over the years of Summer Challenge available to Middle and High Schoolers, your child will learn and grow how to see and love like Jesus.

What Summer Challenge is NOT

• Easy.  Our groups have fun but it is not easy.  It's Summer Challenge, not Summer Take-it-Easy.
• Day Camp.  This is not a drop-off day camp. Summer Challenge is a week of service--often outdoors.  Expect to get hot and dirty.
• For everyone.  If your daughter or son doesn’t want to come, please take that into consideration.  In small groups, it makes it really tough when one or two students don’t want to participate, follow directions, or be part of their group.  This situation is more stressful for the adult driver/leader and it isn’t fair to the other students in the group.
• A time to just hang out with a group of friends you already know.  Part of the challenge of Summer Challenge is meeting new people.

Hello!  If you would like to sign-up to serve as a Driver/Chaperone for Summer Challenge 2023, please indicate that on your child's Registration Form.  First priority for student registration will be given to those students whose parents sign up to serve as Driver/Chaperones.  If you are NEW to Summer Challenge, please make sure to read above what Summer Challenge IS and IS NOT.  Drivers/Chaperones will need to submit copies of their automobile insurance and drivers' licences as well as adult consent forms to participate.  (That information will be collected later in the spring.)