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Higher Ground Retreat dates:
HG Week 1 - May 25 - May 30, 2025
HG Week 2 - June 1 - June 6, 2025
HG Extreme Faith - July 6-10, 2025
Higher Ground weeks include a day of training the day prior to the start of each retreat for staff.
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Each year, it takes approximately 50-80 volunteers to staff the different weeks of Higher Ground Retreats™. Because of the dedication of these volunteers, Higher Ground Retreats have existed for over 55 years.
Leader Role
The youth we work with are encouraged in their faith by connecting with others who also believe. They desire healthy relationships with adults who are leading them closer to Jesus and who desire to walk alongside them in that process. This type of presence-centered relational ministry requires time spent together. Youth events are an opportunity for young people and adult leaders to have a shared encounter with Jesus. In volunteering as a leader for a Diocesan youth event, you understand that it is this type of relational ministry that you are being called to with the young people attending the event.
As a leader I....- Am a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church.
- Have a personal relationship with Jesus, with the desire to share how my relationship with Him has impacted my life.
- Adhere to and am able to articulate the central teachings of the Catholic Church.
- Demonstrate reasonable mental and emotional stability.
- (Preferred) Am currently living within the Diocese of Grand Island and am involved in my parish.
- Participate in or actively support youth ministry/religious education within my parish.
- Am physically able to be involved in both rigorous and sedentary activities.
- Demonstrate appropriate boundaries in my relationships.
- Am fully compliant with Diocesan policies including safe environment/child protection requirements. NOTE: Safe environment training must be completed every 5 years to be an eligible leader for the youth programs.
Leaders must be at least two years out of high school to apply for Higher Ground and 17 years old to apply for Higher Ground Extreme Faith.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE A GOOD YOUTH LEADER? LET US KNOW WHO AND WE WILL CONTACT THEM.NEW LEADERS
Youth leaders that have never been part of Higher Ground Retreats and are interested in being part of this team are asked to complete the Leader Application below. Due to the nature of this type of ministry, it is important that the leaders chosen understand their role and responsibility as missionary disciples.
Need for camp leaders is based on a leader-sudent ratio and demographics. The Diocese Director for the Office of Youth Ministry will contact new leader applicants to discuss the responsibility of missionary disciple and to spend some time getting to know you before the final decision on camp leaders is made.
Higher Ground is our retreat for high school students and Higher Ground Extreme Faith (HGXF) is for middle school students. Leaders must be at least two years out of high school to apply for Higher Ground and 17 years old to apply for Higher Ground Extreme Faith.We 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. Please complete the following student leader application. RETURNING LEADERS
The need for camp leaders is based on a leader-sudent ratio and demographics. The Director for the Office of Youth Ministry will contact you with the final decision of camp leaders.
RETURNING HG Leader Registration Returning HGXF leader Registration