Category Archives: Family Programs

Activities, Adult Retreats, Camp Staff, Family Programs, Leadership Training

Best Time Ever

Our Spring Family Retreat is on Right Here, Right Now! And in less than one hour, our brand-new Sky Station will be opening to guests at Qwanoes for the very first time! No matter where you are on this May long weekend, we hope you’re enjoying it.

Sid Koop speaking at our Young Adults Retreat

A Great Place To Come Together 

Last weekend, we had young adults from a number of different places in Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island come together for an amazing weekend away. Our speaker for the Young Adults Retreat was Sid Koop of Truth Matters Ministries who has been speaking to youth and young adults for more than a decade across Canada including at Qwanoes. We look forward to welcoming Sid back to speak at Staff Training in June and at our Jr. High #1 camp from June 29 to July 5!

Counselor Training Seminar participants in Qwanoes' Staff Lounge

Also last weekend we had our CIT Challenge Course Instructor Training Workshop, LIT (Leader-In-Training) Training Weekend, and Counselor Training Seminar. The place was filled with high school students and young adults preparing to serve in key roles on our summer staff team and gaining valuable leadership training and experience. Click here for more information about all our  leadership training programs and opportunities.

Coming Up…

• May 24-26: Staff Leadership Orientation. On this weekend, those serving in staff leadership roles at Qwanoes this summer will come together for a vital time of team-building and to be better-equipped  for all that is coming in the exciting weeks ahead. We’ll be looking at the vision and goals of Qwanoes and keys to success as leaders. Plus we’ll be seeking to lay the foundations for kids to experience life like no other this summer!

CIT's trying to fit around one table last weekend!

• May 31-June 2: Family Work Weekend. This is a perfect opportunity for your family to serve together and experience Qwanoes all in one weekend – and there is no cost! Details & to register.

• May 31-June 2: Waterski/Wakeboard Instructor Training Workshop. This workshop is designed to help you develop skills that will enable you to coach waterskiing and wakeboarding—including lots of practical experience. More info here. Call or email us to register – space is limited (priority to summer staff applicants age 17 & up).

Quotes Of The Week

“CIT is the best experience of my life!”  ~ CIT, summer 2012

“Had the best time ever at camp qwanoes i wish i could have stayed there forever.” ~ camper, summer 2012

“I just spoke with my son…who had just left Camp today and told me it was one of the best weeks of his life!” ~ father of camper, summer 2012

Summer is coming! Hope to see you here!

There’s STILL SPACE AVAILABLE in all camps. Register now!

 

~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes’ Associate Program Director

 

 

Activities, Adult Retreats, Camp Staff, Events, Family Programs, Leadership Training, Social Media, Summer Camp

Having The Time Of My Life

Enjoying time together at the SkyScraper at the Women's Retreat this past weekend!

So much is happening once again at Qwanoes this weekend!

A whole bunch of high school students and young adults are heading this way as our Young Adults’ Retreat begins this evening, as well as the CIT Challenge Course Instructor Training Workshop and the LIT Pre-Summer Training Weekend.

The Countdown In On 

The countdown to summer 2013 is on and today is 50 more days until Jr. High #1 begins!

Qwanoes campers cheering for Canada during the London Olympics last summer. We look forward to bringing out our flags once again for Canada Day!

Registrations for summer continue to pour in – maybe the super-sunny, warm weather we enjoyed this whole past week is making everyone realize how close summer really is. The good news is that there’s STILL SPACE AVAILABLE in all camps so now would be a great time to register!

Speaking of Jr. High #1, did you know that this week of camp from June 29 to July 5 for 12-14 year-old’s is summer’s best value at Qwanoes? Jr. High #1 features the lowest prices of any of our Jr. High camps, even though it has everything offered at all the other camps – plus there will be a giant Canada Day party with fireworks!

Here’s a tiny glimpse of what it was like to be at our Canada Day celebration in 2012…

 

Coming Up… 

Training to be instructors last weekend at the Challenge Course Workshop.

• May 17-20: Spring Family Retreat. Families are invited to go on a memorable weekend adventure together this May long weekend! You will experience a well-rounded program with something for everyone in your family. A special feature is that we’re going to be opening our brand-new Sky Station to our guests for the very first time! We’ll even be having our first Billy Blue’s Western Carnival featuring “Challenge the Duck Hunt,” “Them’s A Snake In My Boot,” and much more. We really look forward to having Paul Johnson, the Lead Pastor at South Delta Baptist Church, as our speaker for the weekend. We’d love to have you and your family join us. Details and to register.

Thanks to the youth group from Ladner Baptist that helped with pre-summer work projects last weekend!

• May 24-26: Staff Leadership Orientation. On this weekend, those serving in staff leadership roles at Qwanoes this summer will come together for a vital time of team-building and to be better-equipped  for all that is coming in the exciting weeks ahead. We’ll be looking at the vision and goals of Qwanoes and keys to success as leaders. Plus we’ll be seeking to lay the foundations for kids to experience life like no other this summer!

Quotes Of The Week

“Loved experiencing my first Canada day with incredible people at Camp Qwanoes…” ~ International Jr. High #1 staff member on Facebook, July 2012

“…back from the best week of my life at Camp Qwanoes.” ~ Jr. High #1 camper on Twitter, July 2012

“…got home from camp @Qwanoes last night. had an amazing time. i recommend it to everyone.” ~ Jr. High #1 camper on Twitter, July 2012

“Having the greatest time of my life at Camp Qwanoes!!!” ~ Jr. High #1 staff member on Facebook, July 2012

‘Like’ Qwanoes on Facebook or  ‘Follow’ us on Twitter!

~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes’ Associate Program Director

 

 

Activities, Adult Retreats, Camp Staff, Events, Family Programs, Leadership Training, Social Media, Summer Camp

Qwanoes Spirit Alive & Well

Lots of excitement is in the air this weekend at Qwanoes as our Spring Women’s Retreat is happening, a church youth group  from Ladner Baptist is helping with pre-summer work projects, summer staff are being trained to be instructors in the challenge course, our Qwanoes Board is meeting, and Qwanoes is part of the Relevant Faith conference being put on by Apologetics Canada and Campbell River Baptist Church!

Qwanoes shirts from the early 90's through to our 2013 "Right Here, Right Now" shirts appeared on the Canada-wide "Wear Your Camp T-Shirt Day"

“Wear Your Camp T-Shirt Day”

This past Wednesday was the second annual Canada-wide “Wear Your Camp T-Shirt Day.” Advance Crew has just started here at Qwanoes and we had fun taking photos at camp – plus seeing all the photos you and others posted on Facebook and Twitter from as far away as Brazil and New Zealand. It was great to see Qwanoes shirts appear from the early 90’s through to our 2013 “Right Here, Right Now” shirts.

Thanks to everyone that joined with us and other Canadian camps in showing the world how much we love camp! To see catch a glimpse of those that took part, click here.

Showing some Qwanoes spirit in New Zealand on "Wear Your Camp T-Shirt Day!"

Advance Crew Is Here

Earlier this week, all of us on the year-round staff team were very excited to welcome our first members of our 2013 Advance Crew. Once Advance Crew begins, we know that summer is going to arrive very quickly! During Advance Crew each year, the foundations for summer are laid as this vital group of leaders is involved in all aspects of getting ready for the summer and working with pre-summer guest groups.

Spotlight On Youth Camp

Youth Camp, for ages 15-18, is happening this year from August 25 to September 1. For many years now, it has been the perfect way to end your summer in style! Here’s a small sampling what was heard on Twitter at the end of Youth Camp last summer:

The Ultimate Qwanoes Week!

“Back from camp. Was the most amazing week of my life #Qwanoes #awesome”

“Had the most life changing amazing week at @Qwanoes this week and I can’t wait to come back for more!”

“DEFINITELY one of the best weeks of my life at @Qwanoes. Can’t wait for next summer!”

Find out more about Youth Camp.

Coming Up…

• May 10-12: CIT Challenge Course Instructor Training Workshop. This workshop is designed for those coming to our CIT (counselor-in-training) program this summer who would like to learn to serve in a dynamic high-adventure setting. More info about this exciting opportunity for CIT’s is on the CIT Pre-Summer page on our website.

Try out the brand-new Sky Station at the Spring Family Retreat!

• May 17-20: Spring Family Retreat. Families are invited to go on a memorable weekend adventure together this May long weekend! You will experience a well-rounded program with something for everyone in your family. We’ll even be having our first Billy Blue’s Western Carnival featuring “Challenge the Duck Hunt,” “Them’s A Snake In My Boot,” and much more. We really look forward to having Paul Johnson, the Lead Pastor at South Delta Baptist Church, as our speaker for the weekend. And you’re hearing it here first… we’ll be opening our brand-new Sky Station to our guests for the very first time at the Spring Family Retreat! We’d love to have you and your family join us. Details and to register.

Even "Future Staff" were showing some Qwanoes spirit on "Wear Your Camp T-Shirt Day!"

~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes’ Associate Program Director

 

 

Events, Family Programs

Opportunities For Families In May & June

Escape to the great outdoors… connect with God, your family, and others! Make memories that will last. There are many exciting ways for families to be involved at Camp Qwanoes during May and June.

Spring Family Retreat Is Here!

Starting later today as this May long weekend begins, families are going on an adventure together at our Spring Family Retreat! As I write, I can hear Russ and our band, Quixotic, practicing our new summer theme song, Live It Up, and our events team is outside in front of Club Coco getting ready for all the fun (and crazy) family times.

Special (& crazy) family times

The final touches are being put on the children’s and youth programs and the activities (including some Qwanoes Beach activities!) are ready to go. We look forward to holding our very first Surf-O-Rama carnival of many to come this summer! Now we  just need our Family Retreat guests!

Family Work Weekend… Go On A Family Missions Trip!

Two weeks later on June 1-3 is Qwanoes’ Family Work Weekend. This is a great opportunity to serve together and experience Qwanoes all in one weekend – and there is no cost! This special weekend includes all ages working together on Saturday to help prepare the camp for the summer season, our special “Day of Prayer” program, a family fun event and fireside Saturday evening, and a Q-Town Sunday morning.

Be part of preparing the camp for an exciting summer season of ministry! Your efforts will help create the best possible environment for high-impact ministry to take place. See Family Work Weekend for more info and to register.

All ages welcome!

Everyone’s Invited To Our Open House!

On Saturday, June 9… grab your suntan lotion, pack your swim suit, load up your family and friends, and prepare for a special day of adventure at our annual Open House! There’s something for everyone… Qwanoes Beach activities (including the Aqua-Park and Waterskiing/Wakeboarding), the Challenge Course, our world-class concrete skate park and other land activities, children’s activities, and many more options for all ages.

Meals are provided! Enjoy lunch and a barbeque dinner, both at no cost. The day will conclude with music, singing, testimonies, and thanksgiving at a special pre-summer Q-Town. We’d love to welcome you!

Don’t Miss Our 2nd-Ever Summer Family Retreat!

Our first Summer Family Retreat last June was a huge success and we are very excited to be offering families this opportunity once again. From June 15-17 (with a Jumpstart Option on June 14), families are invited to spend an early summer getaway together at Qwanoes!

Qwanoes Beach open at Summer Family Retreat

This special weekend features the program, food (and no clean up!), speaker for the adults, and great extras like complimentary evening babysitting that families love – AND it also features a full range of activities at Qwanoes Beach! We look forward to celebrating the start of summer with all of you! For details and to register, click here.

~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes’ Associate Program Director