Youth in the Waterloo Region will be discovering community through peace during the week of August 8-12. The sixth annual Peace Camp is a day camp run at Conrad Grebel University College. Youth aged 11-14 will experience a week packed with exciting activities, crafts, games, and field trips, all with a social justice spin that encourages youth to inspire lives, strengthen ties, and make peace happen in Waterloo Region.
This summer’s Peace Camp theme is “Peace in Action” and focuses on empowering youth by teaching them that no matter who you are or what you like to do, you can be a peacebuilder. Campers will become more aware of how their skills and passions can create peace in their own lives, and in the global and local community. Peace Camp will be a week full of activities lead by the dynamic Peace Camp staff. Guest speakers from peace-building organizations across the Kitchener Waterloo region will share their wisdom and experiences, emphasising how to use everyone’s skills and interests to create peace. Campers will gain an understanding of ways they can be involved in social justice and peacebuilding, while having fun and making lasting friendships.
2016 Peace Camp leaders, Rebekah DeJong and Kaitlyn Skelly, are upper-year students in the Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) department at the University of Waterloo. While Rebekah plans and directs the camp programming taking place in August, Kaitlyn will take peace curriculum on the road in May and June, doing workshops in elementary schools across the region. On her role as Director of Peace Camp, Rebekah commented that, “Being a PACS student has made me curious about why peace curriculum was not a part of my education sooner. When I look back at my own childhood, I have fond memories of camp. I’m thrilled that camp and peace education are coming together and I am excited to be a part of the process.”
One camper from last year stated that Peace Camp was meaningful because “it helped me learn how to help the community.” Another camper reflected on her Peace Camp experience, saying “there are a lot of things that need attention...now I know how to help.” When asked what they liked most about Peace Camp, campers consistently mentioned that they enjoyed meeting new people, interacting with camp leaders, playing fun games, learning from interesting guest speakers, and going on fieldtrips! According to one camper: “The crafts and fieldtrips were so fun and the leaders were really nice. I wouldn’t add anything to Peace Camp - it was awesome!!”
A program of the MSCU Centre for Peace Advancement at Grebel, Peace Camp is made possible through funding from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation.
Running from Monday, August 8 to Friday, August 12, 2016 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Peace Camp is committed to providing a low-cost program to make sure all interested youth can participate. The total cost per camper is $190, including lunch. Peace Camp is a peace education organization - an initiative of the Mennonite Savings and Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement, a hub of peace research and practice in Waterloo at Conrad Grebel University College.
Join us at Peace Camp where we will learn how to use our skills and interests to make the world a more peaceful and better place.
To register a youth for camp contact:
Rebekah DeJong, Peace Camp Day-camp Director
140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ont. N2L 3G6
519-885-0220 x24205
daycamp.peacecamp@uwaterloo.ca
To arrange a workshop in your school or classroom, contact:
Kaitlyn Skelly, Peace Camp Workshop Director
140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, Ont. N2L 3G6
519-885-0220 x24205
peacecamp.outreach@uwaterloo.ca
Peace Camp at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo.
Inspiring Lives. Strengthening Ties. Making Peace Happen in Waterloo Region.
www.grebel.ca/peacecamp | Twitter: @PeaceCampGrebel