Living the Spirit of Chivalry at TFP Camp

"Youth was made not for pleasure, but for heroism," a phrase coined by Paul Claudel, captures the spirit of every TFP Call to Chivalry camp.

On July 27, dozens of teenage boys gathered at the St. Louis de Montfort Academy to begin a challenging 10-day camp packed with activities, including talks, skits, rosary processions, field sports, outings, hikes, camping, swimming, sword play, archery, skeet shooting, spear toss, shield ball, capture the flag, and even a treasure hunt and medieval banquet, featuring a visit from King Henry V of Agincourt fame who held his young audience spellbound with a stirring rendition of Shakespeare's St. Crispin's Day Speech.

Respect, discipline, manners, noble conversation and manly piety are virtues fostered during the event, and many of the talks this year focused on the heroes and saints of the British Isles.

A major camp highlight was a two-day hike on the Appalachian Trail near Hamburg, Pennsylvania.

Exploring some caves on the mountain.

The Treasure Hunt is always a favorite, if you can decipher the cryptic clues and find the buried treasure.

This year, the camp traveled to Washington, D.C. One stop was at Arlington National Cemetery and the Ceremony of the Changing of the Guard.

The United States Marine Corps Memorial. Semper Fidelis!

George Washington's Estate and Museum in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

The daily schedule of the summer camp always begins with a rosary, beseeching Our Blessed Mother for her protection and guidance.

Field games are an indispensable part of daily life at TFP camps.

Boys attend talks on various topics, such as the saints and martyrs of the Church, the crusades, history of Western Christian civilization, and how to fight the Cultural Revolution of our times.

Skeet shooting. Ready, aim....

Fire!!

Daily Mass and the Sacraments were offered throughout the camp.

The Miraculous Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima paid a visit to the summer camp.

The evening rosary procession.

Mr. Roark Mitzell gave a spectacular talk on King Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt.

The Grand Finale of the Summer Camp is the Medieval Games and Banquet.

The Obstacle Course.

Jack Vermett

"It was impossible to get bored because there was too much to do," said 13-year-old camp participant Jack Vermett from Illinois. "My favorite part was the visit to the Arlington National Cemetery. I learned manners and I liked the talks and the games too."

Zechariah Long

"I really enjoyed the talk by the decorated U.S. Army Ranger," remarked Zechariah Long, 18, from upstate New York.  "The Ranger saw real combat in Afghanistan, but he told us that moral courage is much greater than physical courage.  He challenged all of us to join the spiritual war and defend the faith."

The timeless virtues of Catholic Chivalry continue to attract young souls and offer an antidote to the moral crisis shaking contemporary society.  At a time when real moral courage is required to remain faithful, TFP camps will continue providing young men with saintly role models to look up to and follow, and with the grace of God, help form a new generation of brave leaders ready to champion the rights of God and defend His law.

For more information on these camps, contact us here.

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