1. Do we have to be Catholic or belong to Life Teen to use the camp?
No, we welcome any group to use our facilities when they are available.
2. What do we need to bring?
For weekend retreats, you will need a sleeping bag or bedding, a towel, personal care items, and a flashlight. Be sure to bring good walking shoes, as our terrain is rocky and mountainous. Sunscreen is recommended at this high elevation. If you are cooking your own meals, please see the kitchen question below for additional items to bring. For Life Teen Summer Camp, please see the Summer Camp home page.
3. Are there bathrooms in the cabins?
No, each lodge and set of 8 cabins has its own heated bath house with showers and toilets. Each bath house has a boy’s side, and a girl’s side. On the South side, there is a bathroom inside the lodge. On the North side, the bath house is separate from the lodge.
4. Are there special accommodations for clergy, cooks, and adult leaders?
The Blessed Mother Theresa Clergy House is available for clergy who wish to be present for their group. It is a nicely furnished, fully equipped house. The Cooks and Staff Studio is under renovation and will soon be available for your cooks or adult staff, when not in use by our own camp cooks. It has 4 twin beds, a small refrigerator, microwave, and coffee pot (bring your own coffee). It also has a small bathroom with a shower. Inquire about availability.
5. What’s the weather like?
Camp Tepeyac is located at an elevation of 6700 feet in Arizona’s central mountains. Mountain breezes keep summertime temperatures from reaching the high levels of Phoenix. Daytime temperatures seldom exceed 90 degrees, and nights are cool. July is monsoon season, with cool afternoon thundershowers. Winter days are usually sunny but cool, with highs in the 50s or 60s, and lows in the 20s or 30s. A storm from November thru March can bring snow. You can check Prescott’s current weather and the 10-Day Forecast. Keep in mind that Camp Tepeyac is 1500 feet higher than Prescott, and a few degrees cooler.
6. Can we have a campfire or barbeque?
Campfires and barbecues are allowed, conditions permitting, but the conditions can change quickly. Always check with the Camp Directors if you wish to have a campfire or use the grill. Guidelines are posted in each lodge. Fires must never be left unattended.
7. Is there a curfew, or a time when we need to be quiet?
Camp Tepeyac does not currently have a noise curfew. Retreat styles vary greatly, and sound does travel easily from one side of camp to the other. When sharing the camp with another group, we ask that you please be respectful and mindful of not interfering with their retreat experience.
8. What equipment is in the kitchen?
Both kitchens have the following:
- 30 cup coffee pot
- 100 cup coffee pot
- commercial refrigerator
- large freezer
- microwave
- gas ovens and convection ovens
- gas burners and gas griddle
- commercial dishwasher and detergent
- commercial pots and pans
- mixing bowls
- hand mixer
- cooking utensils
- plates, glasses, and eating utensils
There is also a large charcoal grill outside each kitchen. The North Lodge kitchen has a chest freezer, and the South Lodge kitchen has an upright. The North kitchen has 8 burners on its stove, and the South side has 6. The North side has 2 convection ovens, and the South has 1. The North side also has a commercial mixer, but the South side does not.
When doing you own cooking, in addition to your food, spices, condiments, coffee, and ice, please bring:
- 33-gallon trash bags
- liquid dish soap
- dish towels
- napkins
- paper towels
- foil
- plastic wrap
- disposable food handler gloves
If you are going to use the barbecue, bring charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid. You may want to bring paper plates, plastic cups, and containers for transporting your leftover food home.