Men’s Retreat On Now
Our annual Men’s Retreat is on at Qwanoes right now! It started on Friday night when about 100 men descended on the camp. Mark Buchanan, author and pastor at New Life church in Duncan is the main speaker. The theme for the weekend is “One Thing.” It has been a powerful time together discovering what our “one thing” is and how it should be impacting our lives. The worship band from The Meeting Place church in Nanaimo has joined us for the weekend, and they are doing a fantastic job leading everyone in song.
I just got back from walking around the camp, checking out what everyone is up to. It is an incredible day here, with the sun shining so bright, and clear blue skies up above. There are guys enjoying the hot tub, cooking S’mores at the fireside overlooking the ocean, playing floor hockey, and of course hanging from ropes and swings in the Challenge Course!
I asked a few of the men what their favourite things are about being at Qwanoes for the Men’s Retreat, and this is what one gentleman had to say: “I love the fellowship and just being with my friends having fun at camp. It is so great to just get away and think about the things that truly matter in life.”
The retreat still has lots left with another great session together tonight, followed by a movie and games night including popcorn, chicken wings, and nachos!
Latest Kaléo Program Happenings
Our students are between classes right now, having had their Foundation of Church Ministry course a week ago and with Gospels coming up next week. Just a couple of days ago they all went on a caving adventure together where they truly discovered how dark darkness can really be! Check out the Kaléo program blog for the latest journeys of our Qwanoes students.
Birthday Surprises!
Anna and Byron, two of our Qwanoes staff members, have been up and down the Island lately and all over Greater Vancouver! Why, you ask? Well it has been all about visiting campers and summer staff, and celebrating some past campers’ birthdays with a surprise party – that’s right, Qwanoes style!
We’ve shown up at a couple of schools that our campers attend (with permission of course) having some games planned, Live It Up balloons, and a giant birthday cake along with us. We’ve made sure to gather a bunch of people who sing happy birthday while tossing the lucky camper up in the air, just like what happens at Qwanoes… and it has been one great birthday surprise! We miss our campers so much when they aren’t at camp, so we love to think up all sorts of reasons to visit them and let them know we’re thinking of them!
Qwanoes in Brazil
Our Qwanoes staff family can be found all over the world, and one country in particular we have a lot of staff that join us for a season is Brazil! Right now we have two Qwanoes staff members, Kevin and Mel Way and their little daughter Rose, reconnecting with alumni staff and meeting new ones who will be on our summer staff team in 2013. Mel, Kevin, and Rose are experiencing all sorts of adventures and even visiting summer camps in Brazil, seeing how they do camp down there!
Merry Christmas from Qwanoes!
Christmas is getting closer and that means the announcement of the summer 2013 theme is right around the corner! Be sure you are following us on Twitter and Facebook to be the first ones to hear what it is! Russ (“The Squirrel”) was in the studio all last week coming up with the new theme song!
~ Written by Jay Kennedy, Qwanoes’ Assistant Director
