Higher Ground Extreme Faith for Middle School

Higher Ground:
Extreme Faith (HGXF)
Middle School Retreat

Higher Ground Extreme Faith (HGXF) Middle School Retreat is a Catholic youth program for those who have completed sixth, seventh, or eighth grade in the spring of  2025. At HGXF, middle schoolers come together at Camp Maranatha where they get to experience the joy of Christ in an amazing week of faith, fun, and friends. The week consists of camp activities, games, small groups, sacraments, and new friendships. They are inspired to reflect on their initiation into the Church at their baptism and our continued call to actively participate in the church we belong to.

This program is sponsored by the Diocese of Grand Island Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This is a high-energy program with busy days and a lot of engagement.  The week begins Sunday afternoon and ends early afternoon on the following Thursday. Participants are required to stay the entire week with the exception of an emergency.

The 2025 registration cost for HGXF is $400 with an early bird rate of $360 through February 9, 2025, these rates include a $100 non-refundable deposit. A late fee of $440 will be applied to any registration after April 20, 2025. All payments are made to the Diocese of Grand Island and are due by June 1, 2025. 

HGXF is held at Camp Maranatha near Maxwell, NE. Transportation is the responsibility of participants, but if you need help getting to camp, our office is available to help coordinate rides.

When a family plans to attend 3 or more diocesan youth events in the same summer, please contact our office to find out about our family discount ([email protected])  

Refund Policy
 We understand that extenuating circumstances do arise and that your child may not be able to attend the youth event for which they have registered. If your child must cancel their registration, refunds will be offered within the following guidelines. Each event has a $100 non-refundable deposit; this amount cannot be refunded for any reason. All remaining fees will be refunded when cancellation is requested prior to the event registration deadline of June 1, 2025. After the registration deadline, refunds will only be given in cases of family or medical emergencies. No refund will be applied if cancellation is within 15 days of the beginning of the event.

Photo/Video Disclaimer
 Higher Ground Retreats™, the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, and the Diocese of Grand Island reserve the right to use photos and videos of all participants and staff for marketing and publicity purposes.

Communications
 Please note that all communications relating to diocesan youth events are through email. You will receive a confirmation email upon registration, if you do not find it in your inbox immediately, please check your junk file. If the confirmation email is not received, please contact us.

Additional communications relating to this camp will be sent approximately 3 weeks prior to the start of the camp. Please check your email and junk mail regularly for these communications.

Higher Ground Retreats™ are supported by the diocesan annual appeal.

WHAT IS THE YOUNG APOSTLES PRAY TEAM? During the week of  HGXF camp, you serve the HGXF campers and grow in your relationship with Christ through prayer and mission. The goal of this ministry is to provide you with an opportunity to go deeper in your prayer life and to fall deeper in love with our Lord as you serve!  You will have your own director assigned to lead you throughout the week. Your time will include talks on prayer and how to pray, time spent in Adoration, spiritual direction, daily Mass with the rest of camp, a hospitality leadership role, and of course some time for fun outdoor activities.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE TO BE PART OF THIS PRAYER TEAM? We invite mature students currently in grades 9 & 10 to be a part of this ministry. Ideally these students have partipated in or are familiar with the meaning and purpose of the HGXF program.  Because we do not have room to accept everyone, we have created an application process. The application includes a questionnaire with several short answer essay questions, and two references: one from someone who knows you well (who’s not a relative) and one from your parish priest, Director of Religious Education, or Youth Minister.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD DO WELL ON PRAYER TEAM? Complete this referral and we will contact them. 

Prayer Team Referral

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES IF SELECTED? If selected as a member of the Prayer Team, you will be expected to attend training with the ministry staff beginning early afternoon on Sunday before campers arrive.  There is a registration fee of $200, to cover food, housing, t-shirt, and fun activities.

Prayer Team Application

If you are interested or know of someone who would be a good leader, click on the button to learn more.

We also encourage high school students who are 17 years old by June 1 and feel they meet the requirements of a youth leader to apply as a student leader for HGXF.

HGxf Leaders