Connecting with your spiritual energy: a Nurturing Spirit retreat
February 28 - March 2
You are invited to attend a retreat focused on healing for your soul, heart, spirit, and mind. There is much in the world making us anxious and fearful. As we contemplate how to live meaningfully amidst chaos and uncertainty, taking care of ourselves becomes essential. This retreat will help you find again that grounding in wellness that can guide your life journey in the weeks, months and years to come. Together, we will explore ways to better care for ourselves. Come to Samish Island Retreat Centre to find rest, renewal and healing.
Join us for our annual combined reunion! Enjoyed by members and friends from both British Columbia and the Inland West mission centre, it's a week of worship, fun and good food surrounded by the beauty of Samish Island.
Directors: Alexis Beer (Canada West) Lisa Stecher (Inland West)
More details to come.
Camp Atsaken
August 3 - 7
Theme: Hope...It's the future
Are you heading into grades 7, 8, or 9? Camp Atsaken is the place to be this summer! Join us at Samish Island as we explore "Hope... It's the Future" through engaging theme classes, hands-on activities, and plenty of outdoor fun. Afternoons offer a mix of crafts, games, and campfire time, creating the perfect space to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.
Directors: Jean Cravy 360-969-3188 Jeff Cravy: 360-969-1008 Registration Fee: $375 by July 18 / Contact Director about registration after July 18
Calling all senior high campers—students entering Grade 10 through 2025 graduates! Need a break to recharge and connect? Join us at Camp Kimtah for an unforgettable week at Samish Island as we explore "SEGUE." Curious about what that means? Come and find out! Expect meaningful conversations, outdoor adventures, and plenty of time to build friendships and create lasting memories. We can’t wait to share another amazing camp experience with you!
Directors: Dane Mahi, 541-974-2836 Dorothy Wilgus, 253-753-3901
Registration Fee: $375 by July 18 / Contact Director about registration after July 18
Campers entering Grades 3–6, get ready for a fun-filled adventure at Camp Mungai on beautiful Samish Island! This year’s theme is “What’s Up?” There’s so much happening around us every day, but sometimes we’re too busy looking down at our screens to notice. Over these few special days, we’ll practice looking up—paying attention to the world around us, noticing each other, and discovering the amazing gifts within ourselves. Camp Mungai is packed with fun and friendship! Mornings bring engaging classes, while afternoons are filled with games, crafts, canoeing, and a beach day. Evenings mean campfires, songs, and time to share stories. Everyone is welcome, and we can’t wait to share this experience with you!
Directors: Sue Wheeler – 206-947-0068 Jen Fischer – 925-918-1659
Registration Fee: $305 by July 25 / Contact the directors for registration after this date
Youth in Grades 9–12 are invited to join us February 14–16 for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and connection—and a chance to learn more about SPEC 2025! Whether you’ve been to Spectacular, want to go, or are just looking for a great time with friends, this retreat is for you.
For those attending in person, the cost is $100, and you can register at Eventbrite. A Zoom option will be available for those who can’t attend in person. Please contact Gwyn Beer ([email protected]) if you would like to attend online. Details about the directors, and Zoom link will be shared soon. Let’s get ready to reconnect, have fun, and build excitement for Spectacular 2025!
February 7-9 - Samish Island Wake-up Weekend
Help us wake up Samish Island Campground & Retreat Centre after its winter hibernation! You’re invited to join us on February 7–9, 2025, to spend a day, a night, or two at our beloved Samish Island—at no cost—and assist staff in preparing the grounds for our 2025 camping season, which starts the following weekend.
We welcome all volunteers! To help us plan meals, please call or email any of us to let us know your plans. Thank you!
Join us for a pilgrimage into Silence, as you discover Silence as a companioning presence within, guiding you in your life and spiritual journey. This is an opportunity for those who might be new to a silent retreat, as well as those who want to deepen their experience. Together, we will hold a spacious silence for each other in a safe and supportive community.
Cultivate the capacity to “be still and know” as you perceive the whispers of Spirit that arise when we take time to listen deeply to our bodies, our minds, our hearts, our souls. Receive gentle guidance for this inner journey through practices of presence: meditation, journaling, relaxation, nature, art, music, poetry, or whatever creative practices call to you in the depths of Silence. Follow the rhythm of nature, and your own soul.
As we emerge from the embrace of Silence together, you may discover the echoes of Silence accompanying you on your journey home and beyond. This Silence within becomes a touchstone we can return to anytime, even amidst the busyness of our lives.
Theme: Clarity Guest minister: Parker Johnson Director: Dan Esch [email protected] or 306-540-2359 Join us September 13 - 15, 2024, at Hills of Peace Campground for a weekend filled with nature, friendship, good food, and clarity.
About the Theme We are living in a time of chaotic information overload that is wreaking havoc on our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It’s tearing us apart, and it’s testing our relationships, faith, and affiliations in new, difficult ways. Our theme was chosen with intention in order to provide attendees with much-needed respite, focus, and an opportunity to recenter.
What to Expect Clarity - despite its definition - is subjective, unique to each person. What one of us finds clear and concise might confuse someone else. The purpose of this theme will be for attendees to achieve clarity both together and individually. We’ll take time in community to take stock of our lives, the church, and our world. Then, we’ll turn our attention toward the future and organize our thoughts in ways that might help us to articulate our role(s) as well as healthy boundaries in building a better tomorrow.
Guest Ministry Parker Johnson (he/him) is a content creator and business owner based in Calgary, Alberta. In 2021, he founded Cottonwood Creative, a cross-border marketing and communications agency with offices in Alberta and Oklahoma. Parker brings with him more than a decade of communications, business development, creative, and management experience for top companies across a variety of sectors, including nonprofits, construction, academia, and healthcare. Parker is a lifelong member of Community of Christ and was born and raised in Oklahoma before moving to Alberta in 2016. Parker, his husband Preston, and their two dogs call Calgary home. Parker holds the Office of Elder.
May 30-June 2 - What is Enough? Making Space for What Matters Samish Island Campground and Retreat Center 11633 Scott Road, Bow, WA
Some of us worry if we’ll have “enough” money for retirement. Some wonder if our neighbors have enough food. Others wonder if they’re doing enough to help our troubled world. What is enough, anyway? Join us as together we look at “enoughness” in terms of material goods, our spiritual selves, through a wider social justice lens and the climate and environment—and more. We invite you to journey with us as we learn how to live more simply so that others may simply live.
May 31 to June 2 - Camp Opening Weekend Hills of Peace Campground Hwy 600, Capt Ayre Lake, AB
Come to the opening weekend of the Hills of Peace, Friday May 31, 2024 to Sunday June 2, 2024. Enjoy the time, the walking trails, see the lake from the beach (there won’t be a lifeguard, so no swimming), visit with people, and look for birds and their nests. We also take some time to clean: the cabins, the bathrooms, and shower rooms. Dorms, chapels, and classrooms (Craft Shack). You might see some flies or a mouse but that is ok right?! You might want to cut the grass or plant some flowers. Eileen Johnstone has a three page list of the work that needs to be completed. Other people also have a list of things that need to be done.
Don’t forget the dining room and the kitchen! The dishes need cleaning before the food can be prepared. The meals are Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning. We have 2 Chefs Dave Symington and Chris Ungstad preparing the food. You will have to guess what will be served. Between the work there might be some games or playing in the sand box. You can select your own cabin or dorm to sleep in for the weekend. Bring your own bedding.
June 7-9 - Young Adult Retreat Samish Island Campground and Retreat Center 11633 Scott Road, Bow, WA
Young adults, ages 18 (HS Grad) through 35, are invited to spend a weekend enjoying the beauty of Samish Island and building our community. We will explore, imagine, and dream what “discipleship” can look like in the 21st century!
June 30-July 5 - Kids Camp Hills of Peace Campground Hwy 600, Capt Ayre Lake, AB
You're invited to join us for an amazing adventure where new friends will be made, new skills will be discovered, and connect with the voice inside you! Hills of Peace Kid's Camp provides children of all backgrounds an opportunity to celebrate who they are, and experience the outdoors as they build strong friendships, learn what it means to be a part of a community, and have fun learning about God's love for them. Campers will learn teamwork, responsibility, and resilience, helping them become confident, well-rounded individuals. While at camp, campers will enjoy activities such as:
Camp-wide Games
Campfire
Arts & Crafts
Theme Class
Recreation & Dance
Cooking Class
Movie Night
and More!
Our camping team aims to make sure each camper has an exciting and memorable time by providing the best possible experience for each child who comes to camp. We are committed to ensuring a fun and safe camp week; emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. The well-being of all campers is our top priority. Rest assured that our camps are equipped with trained staff and safety protocols to ensure a secure and healthy learning environment.
Early bird registration ends June 1! Register your camper now.
Kids Camp Directors: Amanda Senga, Deborah Mason, Marsha Kliotis For inquiries please send us an email at [email protected]
July 20-27 - BC/Canada West Mission Reunion
Theme: Heal the Earth: A Restoration Imperative
The Inland West Mission Centre, and British Columbia congregations, have many families that enjoy this week at camp. Activities include: games, crafts, music, worship services, relaxing, classes, guest speakers/ministers, horseshoes, volleyball, canoeing, baseball, evening campfires. Camp Directors: Chris Phelps (Canada West Mission Centre) and Lisa Stecher (Inland West Mission Centre)
Guest Ministry: Robin Linkhart and Ron Harmon Robin K. Linkhart is a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, the lead missionary quorum of Community of Christ. She is assigned to the North Central USA Mission Field. She also oversees Seeker ministries. Ronald D. Harmon Jr., serves as the presiding bishop. His previous assignments include president of the Council of Twelve Apostles, Congregational Leadership Development, and Spectacular.
August 3-8 - Family Camp 3:00 pm Saturday, August 3– 12:00 pm Thursday, August 8, 2024
All things are sacred. Come join us as we explore the theme "Heal the Earth". We will visit, worship, have fun with friends and family, make crafts, play games and enjoy delicious meals all in a beautiful natural setting. See you there!
Camp Director: Marian Thompson Guest Ministers: Matt and Margo Frizzell Inquiries:[email protected] REGISTER NOW! About Our Guest Ministers Matthew & Margo Frizzell live in Chicago. They have three daughters: Katy (23 y/o), Kenzlee (21 y/o), and Kyla (19 y/o). Their household is completed with two large family dogs, Gus and June. Avid campers, they love the North, the outdoors, and early morning campfires. They also love to read, teach, and dream together of a more just and peaceful world. Matt currently serves the church as Director of Human Resource Ministries, and member of World Church Leadership Council. He's also served as Dean of the Community of Christ Seminary, Graceland University Campus Minister, Chicago Mission Center President, pastor, and youth minister. Matt continues to teach with the seminary. Margo is a school librarian for Chicago Public Schools. She’s been an educator for 25 years. Most of her career is teaching kindergarten through grade 8 in underserved schools. Margo also taught on the Education faculty for Graceland for five years.
August 4-8 - Camp Atsaken (Grades 7-9)
Theme: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
Are you going into grades 7, 8, or 9? If so, Camp Atsaken is the place for you this summer! We will explore our "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations" theme in a variety of ways, from our theme class and other classes in the morning to the different choices of activities in the afternoon. Crafts, outdoor fun, games, and campfires await you at Atsaken. Spend your week getting reacquainted with old friends and make some new friends!
Theme: Come to the Wall Attention high school campers! Looking for something to fill your cup this summer? Camp Kimtah awaits! We would love for you to join us August 4th - 8th as we explore our theme "Come to the Well". YOU are invited... YOU are welcome... to come and fill your cup. Well you accept? We can't wait to walk this path with you! Directors: Dane Mahi (541) 974-2836 Dorothy Wilgus Contact: [email protected]
It's time to get back to Youth Camp! You (and all your friends) are invited to Hills of Peace Youth Camp 2024, where we will be having a blast with old friends, making new ones, and creating memories while we learn to live #Unfiltered. Youth Camp is a place where campers learn who they are, where they fit in the world, and how to nurture themselves. Youth camp is a Welcoming and Affirming event where campers of all backgrounds and identities will feel the spirit of community. As we explore our theme: #Unfiltered, campers will learn the importance of authenticity, transparency, vulnerability, and bringing your real self to the world. God welcomes and loves us all, no matter what is behind the filter.
As always, we have the good old camp traditions like Camp-wide Games & Recreation Campfire Elective Classes Small Groups Swimming and Floaties Nailed It HOP Edition and More! Who knows what else we have up our sleeves this year?! You'll just have to join us and find out!
If you have any questions please contact our Camp Director Caitlin Ball. Director: Caitlin Ball [email protected] Assistant Directors: Andy MacArthur Brianna McKenna REGISTER HERE
August 11-15 - Camp Mungai (Grades 3-6)
Theme: Jesus, I know him! We're excited to help our campers recognize Jesus in everything and everyone around them. Join us as we explore nature, make new friends, enjoy crafts, play games, laugh, dance, sing, and acknowledge the many gifts that God has given us. Director Team Lead: Sue Wheeler (206) 947-0068 Contact: [email protected]
