A NEW OPTION FOR OUR FAMILY PROGRAMS
For summer 2011, we decided to change our Summer Family Camp into a Summer Family Retreat. And we moved it to the second half of June, the weekend after our Open House. The result? One very special weekend! (Plus we were able to accommodate 400 extra Junior High campers in the summer...read more below).
Why The Change?
It sure was a difficult decision, one that was agonized and prayed over for a long time. The primary reason was to create more space for kids at camp in the summer. This change was to allow us to accommodate about 400 more kids by creating space in the summer to add a fifth Junior High camp.
Here's Some Background
In summer 2009, because the summer was one week longer than normal due to the school calendar, we offered 10 weeks of camps and each one was packed. Unfortunately, in 2010 we were back to the normal 9 weeks of camps...meaning we had less capacity for kids. In the past two decades when this happened before, we were always able to add more cabins...but now we are up against a large hurdle that prevents this. Our kitchen and dining space is too small.
This is the next key project at Qwanoes, and we are preparing to launch a Phase Three campaign very soon. Until then, we are at our maximum capacity.
This meant that in summer 2010 we had to turn away about 700 campers. This meant that about 1 of every 6 kids who wanted to come werre turned away. This breaks all of our hearts. While we work on building a new kitchen and dining building, the only way to create more capacity for kids is changing our Summer Family Camp into a Summer Family Retreat and moving it to June. This allows us to create 400 more spots for kids right away this summer.
We Love Families!
Families, please know that there are MANY opportunities for you at Qwanoes! You can choose from our Spring Family Retreat, Family Work Weekend, Open House and now our new Summer Family Retreat. These are all special opportunities to grow closer as a family, create some amazing memories, and grow in your relationship with God.
Looking Ahead
In response to continuous years of growth, Qwanoes is in the initial stages of a new four-year capital campaign to raise funds for a variety of much-needed Phase Three development projects, including a new kitchen and several new cabin village washrooms.
Families, we hope to welcome you to one of our four events for families this year. We also think you'll love the our new Summer Family Retreat (plus the JumpStart Option where you can arrive one day early).
For kids...know that we are very excited to offer a fifth Junior High camp...we do not like leaving people on a waiting list...we want you to be here!
Our Vision
The vision of Qwanoes is to help kids discover, live and share life like no other. It started in 1966 and 45 years later this vision is stronger than ever.
If you share our heart for kids, we invite you to be a part of the team...whether through helping on staff (example: come for a week this summer!), helping kids come (example: contribute to our Campership Fund), joining our prayer team, helping prepare the camp (example: Summer Work Day or Family Work Weekend), or by providing financial support to upgrade and expand our facilities.
The opportunities for expanding the ministry and helping change lives are exceptional, and our desire is to respond to that which God has placed within reach. This significant move will be accomplished as individuals, families, churches and businesses join together to provide the financial resources to allow for facility upgrades and ministry expansion.
A Few Comments From Past Campers
"I came here because of the skiing and wakeboarding and stuff…but I discovered so much more. I found hope! I discovered a vision for my life. It's been amazing."
"One of my girls did not know what a Bible was. She had never seen one or been told about it. After she got it – she kept reading it. She started in Matthew. I got to tell her about her Bible…it as the first time she had ever heard."
"I had no idea that Jesus loved me this much."
"I had the biggest break-through of my life – I came to know God here this week. I didn't know I could know Him before this. This changed my life to come here to camp!"
We Welcome Your Feedback
As always, we invite and welcome your feedback. Please contact our Executive Director, Scott Bayley, our Assistant Director, Jay Kennedy, or our Director of Public Relations, Ken Bayley.