2026 Diocesan WorkCamp

WorkCamp 2026 is scheduled for June 20 – 26, 2026 in Shenandoah County, VA. 

Applications for Summer 2026 are open for adult volunteers, but closed for teen participants. Reach out to wc@nativityburke.org to inquire about late registrations. 

Missed the Interest Meeting? Download the handout here.

The Diocese of Arlington invites all current high schoolers in grades 9–12 to join us this summer at WorkCamp! 

1. 1. Make sure you’re registered for the 2025 – 2026 year of Youth Ministry at Nativity. All teens must be registered for Life Teen before applying to attend WorkCamp. You can fill out our free, online form here.
   2. Next, fill out our Nativity WorkCamp Application by January 20, 2026.  (For late registrations, please contact wc@nativityburke.org). Please carefully review the WorkCamp formation schedule before registering.  Attendance is required at all meetings, and a $50 nonrefundable fee per teen participant will be charged upon registration, with an additional $25 fee for late registrations. Teens will need a parent to fill out the form with them. After applying, all teens are welcome to begin formation in January on a probationary status. Final spots will be confirmed in March.
   3. The final step is registering your child on the Diocesan WorkCamp portal. Our team will reach out to you with instructions on how to register.

*Participation in this program is dependent on the number of volunteers our parish can recruit.*

Please do not let costs deter you from participating in this transformative experience! By bringing our friends, family, and Nativity parishioners into the WorkCamp mission, we partner with our community to raise the funds to cover a majority of the registration costs for each participant. In recent years, we have fundraised enough to cover the full $600 fee for each teen. If, however, we do not meet our fundraising goal, final payments will be due April 1, 2026. Regardless, the cost for our adult volunteers will be fully covered by our group fundraising efforts.

All meetings are required.

*Interest Meeting* (Not mandatory but encouraged): Sunday, November 16 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Formation: Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. (The Well)
Service: Sunday, February 08, 2026 | 7:00 – 12:00 p.m. (Offsite with No Hands But Yours Homeless Ministry, includes Sunday Mass)
Donation & Blessing Weekend: February 21 – 22, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass required; sign up for 3 additional Masses throughout the weekend
Formation: Sunday, March 08, 2026 | 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Soup Supper: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Tool Day:  Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (includes Sunday Mass)
Fellowship: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Potluck Dinner and Adoration
Final Meeting: June 7, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. (Mass) – 1:30 p.m. One parent must attend
WorkCamp: Saturday, June 20 – Friday, June 26, 2026
Witness Weekend: June 27–28, 2026 – Each teen will share a brief testimony at one of the Masses that weekend.

Additional Requirement: Attend one Life Teen | Sundays, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – see full schedule here

This week-long Diocesan service program relies on parishes making a community effort. There are many ways you can join us on this experience—take a look below to see how you can help!

• • Adult Crew Leader: People who are excited about working with teens and who are not afraid of hard work. These Adult Crew Leaders are not simply chaperoning, but rather directly responsible for the safety and well-being of their teens at WorkCamp. They are with the teens constantly, working with them all day on the job site, eating meals with them, praying with them, and leading them in team-building activities. You must be available for the full week and be over the age of 25.
  • Contractors: These volunteers are not always “contractors” in the professional sense. They’re responsible for leading the work on the project rather than looking after the teens. Some background in basic construction or remodeling skills is necessary for this role. While contractors are not directly responsible for the teens, they spend a great deal of time with the teens, so their ability to teach and be patient is important. You must be available the full week (Monday-Thursday minimum) and be over the age of 21.
  • Homebase: For adults at least 2 years out of high school who like to work on the behind the scenes tasks. These volunteers will assist with setup & strike at the beginning and end of the week. They typically help with the logistics of WorkCamp: organizing morning Mass, setting up nightly Program, video team, visit project sites, run errands, brew tons of coffee, organize ice coolers, post-dinner games, praying with teens, sorting crew lunches, and more. Spend one day with us or all week – you choose based on your availability. Volunteers who can stay all week are preferred.
  • Nurses: Be on site the week of WorkCamp as a nurse (must provide proof of certification) or assist in the clinic (no certification needed). Spend one day with us or all week – you choose based on your availability.
  • Tool Coordinator: Organize the parish tool collection in the weeks leading up to WorkCamp, label tools, and transport them to/from WorkCamp.
  • WorkCamp Security: Join us at WorkCamp one afternoon/evening to supervise the teens while our adults take showers. You have the option of staying with our group for that evening’s Program. We are typically assigned the Tuesday during the week of WorkCamp, and you would need to be available for your shift from 2:15 – 7:30 p.m. Our security crew will carpool from Nativity around 12:00 p.m. on the day we are assigned.
  • Lunches: Make PB&J and cheese sandwiches at Nativity the week of WorkCamp, typically that Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Many hands make light work. This is a great way for families to get involved!
  • Graduate WorkCamp: For those who graduated high school in 2024, we have the “Graduate WorkCamp Program.” Those interested may complete the application here. The Diocese will select approximately 12 applicants to participate. It is important that those applying carefully read the eligibility requirements described in the online application.

Volunteers can fill out the Nativity application as well. On the form, you will have the option to select which volunteer roles interest you. If you are unsure, let us know and we can put you in contact with past volunteers to provide more perspective on what each role entails.

I’m a rising 8th grader. Can I participate in WorkCamp? Unfortunately no, WorkCamp is only for current 9th-12th graders.

Can I arrive late or leave early from WorkCamp? No, you must be available for the full camp. No exceptions are made for late arrivals or early departures.

What are the costs associated with WorkCamp? The Diocese charges $600 per participant (youth & adult crew leader). Adding in van costs, tool day supplies, food, etc., total costs typically reach about $800 per participant. We will fundraise through a variety of ways to bring that cost down. First, teens must apply to attend WorkCamp with Nativity. This includes a $50 nonrefundable deposit which will be put toward the full registration fee. Our goal is to raise the remaining $550 per teen and any additional costs so parents do not have any other out of pocket costs. As a courtesy, Nativity will cover the costs of all adult volunteers. Final payments will vary based on the success of our fundraising efforts. If we do not reach our goal, the remaining balance (after applying fundraising) will be due April 1. Most years, we reach our fundraising goals and parents only have to pay the $50 deposit.

What other costs should I budget for? All WorkCampers (teens and adult crew leaders) need work boots, a personal tool kit, a cot, and a sleeping bag. These fees are not included in the Diocesan registration fee, so parents should plan accordingly.

What does a typical day look like at WorkCamp? On Saturday, parishes travel to Homebase and the teens meet their crews. Sunday is a team-building day. Monday through Thursday, crews are on their work sites from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. When crews arrive back to Homebase, everyone showers, eats dinner, and has some free time for games and fellowship. Each evening, we have Program (games, inspirational speakers, music, etc.), followed by parish discussions. Plus, we begin each day with daily Mass. Friday is a celebration with all the residents we served, and we will arrive back at Nativity around 4:00 p.m.

Will I be paired with my friends on the worksite? No, each crew is made up of 5-6 teens who are each from different parishes. This gives teens the opportunity to start fresh and make new friends. You will have time to connect with your Nativity friends when you’re at Homebase (meals, Program, parish discussions, etc.)

Can I bring my phone with me? In accord with Diocesan policy, teens are not permitted to have their phones or any technology with them for the duration of WorkCamp. This includes smart watches, headphones, gaming devices, laptops, etc. Parents, we ask that you help us enforce this policy by having your child leave all devices at home. Bringing any form of technology to camp is grounds for being sent home early. While not having a phone may cause some initial stress to teens or parents, we have found that our WorkCampers appreciate a break from their phones and that it allows them to invest more deeply in the experience. If your child requires a medical exception to this policy, please communicate this in advance.