Category Archives: Leadership Training

Adult Retreats, Leadership Training, Q-Town & Music

For The Very First Time

LIT’s Invading Qwanoes This Weekend!

Summer '11 CIT's with leader Andrew MacDonald (top right wearing hat)

Qwanoes is alive with activity as we are getting closer and closer to summer! This weekend, we’re holding our first-ever LIT Pre-Summer Training Weekend led by Andrew MacDonald, Qwanoes’ CIT, LIT & Kaléo Program Leader. All incoming LIT’s for summer 2012 have been invited to come for a weekend of reconnecting with each other, diving into God’s Word, stretching their leadership abilities, and preparing for the summer ahead. Saturday will even include venturing out to the Horne Lake caves at Qualicum Beach to do some caving together!

Also on Saturday, Qwanoes will be running a Music Team Workshop led by Russ Smith, our Music and Media Coordinator. In addition to all the training happening, a camp board meeting and summer work weekend will be going on. This all means that summer is coming quickly at this point!

Young Adults Invited!

Wish you could still be a camper at Qwanoes but you’re over 18? Are you wanting to connect with other young adults and with God? In just one week, from May 11 to 13, Qwanoes and Ethos are partnering together to offer a retreat specifically for young adults! If you’re wondering what Ethos is, it is a ministry to the young adults of Metro Vancouver that meets every Sunday night at Coquitlam Alliance Church.

It doesn’t matter where you’re from… all young adults are invited to take part in this retreat! The theme is “Under The Sun” and our speaker is Chris Throness, the pastor of Ethos Young Adults, who has been involved in speaking to students and young adults all over Western Canada, United States, and in Israel.

For more details, to register, and to take a look at past young adult retreats at Qwanoes, please see Young Adult Retreat. We look forward to welcoming you to Qwanoes!

~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes’ Associate Program Director

 

 

Adult Retreats, Leadership Training

Congratulations To Our Students!

Kaléo Program Grad

There’s a lot of excitement mixed with sadness at Qwanoes today as the Kaléo program for 2011/12 is coming to a close! Today is the last full day of the program and the graduation ceremony and banquet is happening tomorrow. It is a beautiful blue-sky day outside as parents and friends of the students are arriving. Take a quick peek into the last week of the program in the latest post – “Scaling the heights of truth” – on the Kaléo 2012 program blog. At Qwanoes, we’re very proud of our students and are very excited to see what’s ahead for each one! Time to celebrate!

Pausing for a group photo on a rock climbing adventure!

Women’s Retreat

Coming up in just two weeks is our Spring Women’s Retreat! Many are already signed up, but there’s still room for more. Women are invited to escape to the great outdoors and connect with God and others.

Krista Penner

Features include music and our guest speaker Krista Penner, Saturday morning workshops, excellent meals including a banquet, great free time options, activity options including the Challenge Course, an on-site hot tub, and even a special Chemainus Theatre option. Click here for full details on this weekend and to register.

In the words of someone coming to the retreat: “I am so excited to attend my second ladies retreat at the end of April! The 2011 Spring Retreat was soooo much fun!”

Challenge Course Workshop

The same weekend as the Women’s Retreat, we are going to be running our Challenge Course Workshop  – part of our pre-summer training series – for anyone at least age 17 (by the end of the year) that would love to serve in this dynamic high-adventure setting.

There's nothing quite like the SkyScraper!

Those attending will learn to lead rock-wall climbing and ropes course activities, while having lots of fun and making new friends.

It is truly rewarding to offer challenges to people of all ages that will build their self-confidence, communication, problem-solving, and team-work abilities. No previous experience is necessary! Please contact the Staffing Team if you’d like to take part.

~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes’ Associate Program Director

 

 

Leadership Training, Summer Camp

Summer Camp In Canada – Part Of Our Country’s DNA

Summer at Qwanoes can be a soapy experience! Especially when on BIG BLUE!

 

 

Summer camp is quickly approaching for thousands of kids across Vancouver Island and the Greater Vancouver area!

Things come and go in our Canadian history and culture, but it seems that summer camp for kids will be with us forever. This summer like many summers before, thousands of children and youth across this country will leave the everyday behind, pack their bags and discover a life-changing adventure at a Christian summer camp! We have the privilege here at Qwanoes to be one of those camps.

Qwanoes provides a great opportunity for kids to take a step back from the pressures of this world, and step into a world of discovery, adventure and pure raw fun! Beyond that campers will experience so much more and leave changed!

From caring counselors and warm campfires to awesome activities and new friendships, summer just isn’t summer without a week at summer camp. In the safe and wonder-filled setting of Qwanoes, kids find acceptance, they grow in confidence, learn new skills, gain an understanding of others, experience teamwork, and enjoy the pure joy of fun in the outdoors with new friends.

Thank you to all our past and new campers for making Qwanoes so special. We can’t wait to see you this summer! Or for some lucky campers – in just one week as the Spring Juniors retreat is quickly approaching. It’s not too late to register and come by yourself or bring a friend!

Kaléo Program

Students hanging out at Mystic Beach on the camping/backpacking trip!

The students just returned from a 3-day backpacking/camping trip at Mystic Beach on the Juan De Fuca Trailhead right here on Vancouver Island. Lots of stories of cooking meals on the beach, doing team building initiatives, and sharing around the campfire. Sounded like an awesome trip from all the stories I heard!

It’s hard to believe that it’s only three weeks away until graduation. It seems like just yesterday when our students arrived at camp, and were wide-eyed and ready for an 8-month long adventure. While we are going to miss our students, we are excited about the growth that has taken place and the strong foundation that has been laid for wherever next is for them. Now, saying that… it’s not over yet! There is still lots more time left. The students will be taking a

There are many adventures in the Kaléo program and this is just one of the beautiful locations!

course next week titled “Christian Worldview” and helping run the Juniors Retreat. Following that they will be going real rock climbing, and doing a day of kayaking and a closing trip at a forest retreat! Imagine living at Qwanoes in an 8-month leadership program designed for college students! To learn more about the Kaléo program please visit us online.

~ Written by Jay Kennedy, Qwanoes’ Assistant Director

 

 

 

Events, Leadership Training, Summer Camp

On The Road Again!

Jay & Andrew with the wakeboard winner on the big stage at Youth Quake!

It’s a busy time right now as many Qwanoes staff are out and about spreading the news about the opportunities at Qwanoes this summer!

Youth Quake 2012

Last week, Jay Kennedy (Assistant Director) and Andrew Macdonald (Kaléo & CIT/LIT Program Leader) were at Youth Quake at Briercrest College & Seminary in Saskatchewan. Qwanoes teamed up with HO Sports Canada and Rocky Mountain Bicycles once again to give away a wakeboard and mountain bike at this huge Prairie youth event.

Missions Fest Alberta

This weekend, Ken Bayley (Director of Public Relations) and Matt Flemming (Recreation Coordinator) are in Edmonton representing Qwanoes at Missions Fest Alberta. This is always a great time of meeting new people and renewing friendships!

Quixotic leading Q-Town songs at Duncan Christian School!

Duncan Christian School

Yesterday, a team from Qwanoes was at Duncan Christian School talking to elementary-age kids about camp. Our band Quixotic led the students in singing some Q-Town songs and the Live It Up Summer 2012 Full-Length Slideshow was shown. Every year at this time, Qwanoes makes lots of visits to schools, youth groups, and churches to give as many people as possible the chance to hear about camp!

Vancouver & Mexico Ministry Trips

Meanwhile, two teams of Qwanoes students in our Kaléo Program and several staff members are in still Vancouver and Mexico on ministry trips right now. These trips will be wrapping up this next week and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Qwanoes and hearing all about what happened!

Excitement Is Building!

Excitement is building at camp as we are just about 18 weeks away from the first camp of the summer, Jr. High #1! Summer registrations are continuing to come in as we prepare to welcome thousands of kids to camp in the summer ahead! We look forward to meeting each and every one. Meanwhile, the summer staff team is coming together and we continue to look for people who are excited about loving kids to life this summer… helping them discover, live and share life like no other!

Who do you know that should be a camper or a staff member at Qwanoes this summer? Join with us in getting the word out!

~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes Associate Program Director

Leadership Training

Making An Impact In Vancouver & Mexico

Did you know that two teams of Qwanoes students in our Kaléo program and several staff members are in Vancouver and Mexico on ministry trips right now? Along with academics, leadership training, community, and outdoor adventures, an essential component of the Kaléo Program is ministry – learning and doing!

Our student teams have gone to East Vancouver and Mexico to come alongside existing Christian cross-cultural ministries in order to support and encourage them in their work. Students are using their new skills, gifts and abilities that they have been trained in to impact kids, youth and adults. 

Northern Light Ministries, Mexico

The Mexico group has gone to work with Northern Light Ministries in Papalote, Baja California near San Quintin. This mission has a focus on training up indigenous people so they would go back to their people group to disciple others and reach people for Christ.

New Beginnings & Potter’s Place, Vancouver

The Vancouver group has gone to work with New Beginnings Fellowship Baptist Church and Potter’s Place Mission both of which serve the community of East Vancouver. New Beginnings Church seeks to reach into broken families with God’s love and to reach those who are hurt and broken. The mission of Potter’s Place is to “visibly, tangibly and measurable transform the Down town Eastside (East Hastings Street) through the power of God.” 

Here’s what some are the students are saying:

“We are looking forward to our two weeks with an attitude of expectancy. We know that we will be stretched and taught flexibility, for sure… we do know that God is going to do some really cool things in and through us if we are bold and faithful.” ~ Nicole Pauls, Team Vancouver

“After many weeks of prayer, fundraising and excitement I am finally leaving for my missions trip to Mexico tonight. Thank to all those who have prayerfully and financially supported me through this and I NEED everyone’s prayers for the next two weeks!” ~ Matthew Wigmore, Team Mexico 

“Off to Mexico for two weeks with 8 other students for the Missions trip!! I look forward to see what God does in and through our group!” ~ Stacey Renyard, Team Mexico

Please keep the Qwanoes students and leaders in Vancouver and Mexico in your prayers!

Events, Leadership Training

An Epic Battle

An extraordinary event happened last week in Pacific Woods Lodge! Find out more…

Pacific Woods Lodge A Battleground?!

Welcome to Pacific Woods Lodge!

Ever wondered what life is like living at Camp Qwanoes? Sometimes life is quite out of the ordinary! Last week, Pacific Woods Lodge was transformed into a battlefield, using couches as barriers and stairwells as tactical positions. Even the visiting professor from Briercrest College, teaching our students in the Kaléo program, got involved! See what happened in all the crazy photos on A Day In The Life At Camp Qwanoes.

LiftOff, Skiing & Snowboarding!

This past Friday and Saturday, Qwanoes partnered once again with churches on Vancouver Island for LiftOff… an adventure that included music, Qwanoes’ 2012 slideshow, a night game on the streets of Campbell River, skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Washington, and more! We invite you to take a look at the Live It Up 2012 Mini-Slideshow for yourself!

Be Trained As A Leader In Summer’s Most Exciting Place

Are you trying to figure out what to do this summer? Do you love the outdoors and all the high-energy activities that are part of camp? Do you want to learn, interact with others, reach out to kids, and be challenged to grow spiritually and personally?

The Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Program at Qwanoes is a high-quality, entry-level leadership training program that introduces high school students to living and sharing life like no other in Christ. You will develop skills in leadership and ministry that will be valuable for the rest of your life!

In the words of  a CIT graduate: “”I just have to say that CIT was the most amazing and life-changing experience of my entire life.”

Experience solid training, spiritual growth, lifelong friendships and great times! And what better setting to get this training than camp—summer’s most exciting place!

~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes Associate Program Director

Events, Leadership Training, Q-Town & Music, Summer Camp

Qwanoes is covered with snow! But summer sun is coming soon!

Now that's a little different look of the qrok Tower! The Squirrel is hibernating coming up with all new songs!

We woke up Wednesday morning like many of you around Vancouver Island and Greater Vancouver area to a blanket of fresh snow! From our entrance sign all the way to the end of the dock, there was snow everywhere. The year-round staff gathered together in Club Coco for our Wednesday staff meeting and shared stories of how we all got to camp. I live close by, so I put on my snow boarding boots and followed Stevie-G’s trail all the way to Club Coco. Thanks Stevie-G for breaking the path! Check out more Qwanoes winter pictures on our Facebook page.

Snow is here now, but summer sun is coming soon!! We have had many campers reserve their spot for a week at Qwanoes. Every day now registrations are coming in of past campers, and brand-new kids who have never been here before. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Qwanoes this summer!

Here’s an update for you on the new full length CD that the Squirrel is working on. He last reported writing 6 brand-new songs, and there are only 4 to go! I love the new theme song “Live It Up”, but another new favorite one of mine is a new song called “At Last I’m Home.” It is an awesome song and you will be able to listen to the song and watch our new video online real soon! Stand by on FB and Twitter for when it goes live! You’re going to love it! For now take a listen to the new theme song and watch a brand new mini slide show!

Qwanoes students heading up the chair lift at Mt. Washington!

Our students in our Kaléo program can’t wait for the summer too, but they are all loving the snow right now on Mt Washington. They headed up to the mountain bright and early on Monday morning at 5:00 am! You really have to love snowboarding and skiing to do that. They all stayed together in a mountain chalet right at the base of the ski hill. It’s been an awesome time of hanging out together, chapels in the evening, and just enjoying God’s creation. They are coming back to camp tonight, and heading out to the youth groups they help out with. You can go online to learn more about our Kaléo program for college-age students and follow the journey through the program blog. We are now accepting registrations for next year’s program.

We hope to see you at Missions Fest in Vancouver next weekend! We will have our camp booth up in the same spot as last year. Stop on by, we would love to see you!

Summer sun will soon be here at Qwanoes! We can't wait for giant water fights once again!

 

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