WATERLOO, ON—Conrad Grebel University College’s third annual Peace Camp is a memorable and meaningful summer camp option for youth aged 11-14. This week long day camp, starting on July 29th, is action-packed with exciting new activities, crafts, games, and field trips that will encourage youth to inspire lives, strengthen ties, and make peace happen all over the Waterloo region.
Last year a camper came away from Peace Camp saying: “I’ve learned so much that I’d like to remember my whole life. I’ve made so many great friends and counsellors I’ll never forget. I’ve learned that sometimes being sad because of a story makes you remember it even more. This camp really made me care about things and made me try harder to make the world better. I really want to come to this camp again because here, every game or story, or person you meet, means something. In this camp I’ve learned to stand up for what I believe in and NEVER give up no matter what!”
Equipped with a 5-year grant from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation and on-going sponsorship from the Mennonite Savings and Credit Union and Josslin Insurance, Peace Camp is embarking on a voyage of learning and discovery where youth will collaborate with people in different neighbourhoods to help ordinary citizens do extraordinary deeds.
Peace Camp partners with the peacebuilding organizations of Interfaith Grand River and House of Friendship, as well as organizations committed to reversing the effects of violence - Working Against Youth Violence Everywhere committee (WAYVE) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Peace Camp is fortunate to be able to draw on the experience and expertise of these organizations to include people from all walks of life in peacemaking in Peace Camp’s programming.
Peace Camp Coordinator, Sarah Klassen, noted that “this summer’s theme ‘Local Actions With Global Impact’ will allow youth to participate in and experiment with arts, crafts, games, and sports that will not only teach co-operation and respect for others in the local community, but in the global community as well.” Youth will learn about actions that can be taken at home that can have a peaceful impact around the world.
Registration is now open! Peace Camp will be run from Monday, July 29th to August 2nd, 2013 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and lunch is included. Peace Camp is committed to providing a low-cost program to make sure all interested youth can participate. The total cost per camper is $175.00.
Register at www.grebel.ca/peacecamp
Twitter: @PeaceCampGrebel
Facebook: facebook.com/ConradGrebelPeaceCamp
Peace Camp at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo.
Inspiring lives. Strengthening Ties. Making Peace Happen in the Waterloo Region
Contact:
Sarah Klassen- Peace Camp Coordinator
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, Ont. N2L 3G6
519-885-0220 x24291
www.grebel.ca/peacecamp
peacecamp@uwaterloo.ca
Making Friends and Making a Difference at Peace Camp!
By Sarah Klassen, Peace Camp Coordinator
For youth looking to make a difference, make new friends, and have fun at summer camp, Peace Camp is the place to be! Now heading into its third summer, Peace Camp is a unique camp where youth ages 11-14 get to experience the same types of fun games, activities, sports, and crafts as any other summer camp, but with a social justice and peace focus.
Peace Camp uses exciting crafts, educational activities, entertaining guest speakers, and engaging field trips to empower youth to inspire lives, strengthen ties, and work for peace in the Waterloo region and beyond.
This year’s theme is “Local Actions with Global Impact.” We will be discussing and exploring actions that can be made locally that can have a peaceful impact not only in the local community, but also in the global community. We will be looking at environmental actions, getting involved in development work, and how buying local or fair trade can work for peace.
What do youth like about Peace Camp?
Peace Camp is a fun, exciting camp filled with entertaining activities. Peace Camp campers build new, lasting friendships while learning about peacebuilding. Past campers have especially enjoyed building robots out of recyclables and making a slip-and-slide out of trash bags.
Last year, Peace Camp embarked on field trips to the Sunnydale Community Centre in Waterloo and the Working Centre in Kitchener. Campers were given tours of the centres and then were given a chance to get involved! Campers were grateful for the warm welcome they received at these centres, and the chance to learn how simple tasks can mean a whole lot.
What do youth get out of Peace Camp?
Even though campers learn at Peace Camp, it is nothing like summer school! Campers make lasting friendships with like-minded peers and learn how to work for peace. Past campers have gone on to volunteer, get involved in the community, start clubs, and take on leadership roles. One camper in particular has gone on to spend his Christmas and summer breaks volunteering!
What brings youth back to Peace Camp?
What campers are looking forward to at this year’s camp are the friends they have and will make, the stories that they will hear and share, and the experiences Peace Camp provides. Past campers look forward to hearing new stories from guest speakers, meeting new people, exploring new parts of the community through field trips, and, most of all, having fun!
Peace Camp is run by Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario in partnership with Intrerfaith Grand River, House of Friendship, Working Against Youth Violence Everywhere committee (WAVYE) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), with sponsorship from the Mennonite Savings and Credit Union and Josslin Insurance, and funding from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation.
For more information, or to register by June 28th, contact Sarah Klassen, Peace Camp Coordinator, by email: peacecamp@uwaterloo.ca or by phone at (519) 885-0220 x24291.
You can also visit our website at grebel.ca/peacecamp
Follow us on twitter: @PeaceCampGrebel
Like us on facebook: facebook.com/ConradGrebelPeaceCamp