Are you interested in a camp for high schoolers which would give you the chance to take classes from a track you picked; go to Mass, Adoration, and night prayer; and participate in several great activities like a hike, a barn dance, and more?

BCYC Immersion is a six-day camp which happens every summer at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. I went to Benedictine in the summer before my junior year, and here are answers to some questions about the camp!

What stood out to you about this camp before you went? What were you looking for that made you choose this camp? Benedictine is a college I am considering, and one of my friends was going. I thought it would also be good to get experience for a major I was thinking about, and it sounded like a lot of fun!

How many weeks do they offer and how long is BCYC Immersion? If there are multiple weeks, are there different focuses each week? Benedictine offers three different camps: BCYC Leadership, BCYC Immersion, and BCYC Encounter. I went to BCYC Immersion, and there are three weeks offered. Each week offers different tracks, and some tracks are offered two or three times. The camp is six days, and if you haven’t been to a camp before, it’s a good length for a first camp!

What does a typical day look like? You may do morning prayer, a 1-3 hour class about the track you picked and/or Bible study with your small group, Mass, and lunch. Depending on the day, you may have another class or Bible Study, guided prayer (Lectio Divina, Rosary, etc.), dinner, an activity that night (Small Group Olympics, Capture the Flag, etc.), and night prayer.

What did you like most about the camp? I really liked how they had prayer throughout the day. It was nice to see that you are able to! Even if you can’t do morning prayer, Mass, guided prayer, and night prayer every day during the school year, it was nice to see that you can fit at least a couple of them in. We would always go back to God throughout the day; we would have a class and then go to Mass, or we would have Adoration and then a bonfire.

Can you pick your own roommate? You can! They will assign you a roommate if you don’t know anyone.

How did BCYC Immersion give you a glimpse of college life? It gave me a glimpse of college life in several ways. First, walking to the different buildings and being in the dorms helped me get a feel for how it would be like if I went there. Second, you are able to pick a track you might major in, and see if you want to do it as a career. Third, you get a feel for the balance of school, prayer, etc. You are going to have more school if you are in college, but Immersion is a more peaceful and less busy experience!

How did the camp help you grow spiritually? The theme of our Bible Studies was “Fiat,” Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation. The Bible Studies focused on Mary, and accepting God’s will is something that stuck with me at the camp and after. In addition, praying throughout the day at Immersion helped me incorporate prayer into my days this year.

Was there a part of the camp that was especially beneficial to you? I loved the Adoration and talks by the missionaries! Academically, it helped a lot to be able to take classes about the major I’m interested in.

Do you recommend it? I definitely recommend it! I had a fun time, and I made several good friends.

Do you have any advice for students going? First, pick a track you want to major in, or pick a track you like. It is hard to get experience in high school, and even if you are hoping to major in liberal arts, you can pick a track which has something you might want to do after your liberal arts degree. Second, take notes in class. I wish I had been better at this! Third, don’t stay in a corner! It took me a few days to meet the friends I have now stayed in touch with, and I’m so thankful I met them.

It’s only 6 days, so have fun, talk to people, and pray about your college decision. I hope you have a good time!

If you are interested in BCYC Immersion or Benedictine’s other camps, BCYC Encounter and BCYC Leadership, you can go to Benedictine College’s Website.

Please comment if you have been to BCYC Immersion, would like to go, or have questions!