 The Hills of Peace Campground Board of Directors is excited to share that the new website is now live at www.hillsofpeace.ca! This refreshed site highlights the natural beauty and unique spirit of our campground while making it easier than ever to learn about the space, connect with the board, and share Hills of Peace with others. The new website includes:
In addition to the website, you’ll notice a refreshed logo and brand for Hills of Peace. This rebrand reflects the culture, landscape, and sense of welcome that so many of us experience here—rooted in belonging, simplicity, and the sacredness of creation. As we look ahead to retreat seasons, family reunions, youth camps, and rental opportunities, we invite you to explore the new site and share it with your networks. Your support helps us extend hospitality to groups and individuals across the prairies who are seeking a place of quiet, community, and renewal. Thank you for your continued care for Hills of Peace—its ministry, its memory, and its future. Should you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] With gratitude, Hills of Peace Campground Board of Directors  By Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President It was my pleasure and privilege to be at the CWMC Men’s Retreat, Sept. 20–21, to assist in the kitchen. I HEARD about the enjoyable activities of the weekend schedule. What I SAW was a group of men in fellowship and camaraderie, working together both in the kitchen and on the grounds putting some things away for winter, helping each other, and genuinely enjoying good food and spending time together! It was truly a delightful wrap-up to the season’s camping program at Hills of Peace! Long may it continue. I would like to share camp director Dan Esch’s reflections: “Fifteen men gathered on Friday night, September 19th, at Hills of Peace Campground for the 17th version of Men’s Retreat. There have been various formats throughout the years, led by guest ministers from all over North America. There is a pretty constant format. We always have an ice breaker—multiple choice answers to trivia questions, minister preferences, whatever pops into our quizmaster Jae Senga’s head—and the tricky part is that we have to give our answers using Xbox controllers. It gives us a chance to find out some fun facts (few Canadians have a TV in their bathroom) and learn a little bit about our guest minister (Chris Phelps would love to have a superpower). Then it was time for our first of many great snacks and call it a night. On Saturday Chris hosted four sessions centered on Turning Hope Into Action, asking us to focus on the story behind the story; in between we took down the tent and hauled the dock onto the beach. We kept our strength up with more pie than we needed at supper and waddled off to our final session where Chris had us choose hymns to sing and tell why they were important to us. Our campfire was led by Doug MacArthur, assisted by Chris. Doug has a skill for blending silly songs with spiritual and Saturday night was no exception. It was pretty cool to hear some songs so deep. Of course, there was a reference to THE campfire (you had to be there) and then we headed back to the kitchen for more snacks. Sunday morning the tradition is to have communion. Ryan Levitt led the service and Chris provided the message. After that we had to move some equipment and then we headed for home. Special thanks to the 15 men who gathered and our cooks Susan Levitt, Isabelle Williams, and Becky Middleton. Men’s Retreat is a mix of spiritual, social, and secular. It is a chance for young and the not-as-young to meet, share, worship, and do the things to close up the camp. You get to share in a road trip and will be blessed that you came.” So next year when you see the announcement, say YES to the invitation!  Please Note - We regret to announce that the retreat has been cancelled. We hope to reschedule for some time in the new year.
There’s still time to register for the upcoming Nurturing Silence Retreat at Samish Island, October 17–19. This two-day retreat offers space to step away from the noise of daily life and settle into stillness through guided mindfulness practices. Our guest instructor, Susan Watkins, will lead us in mindfulness practices that include yoga, sound bathing, and labyrinth meditation, creating opportunities to rest and reconnect in a peaceful setting. Cost: $225 CAD/person ($170 for students and under 25). Fees Include Friday dinner, Saturday meals, Sunday breakfast, coffee/tea bar and light snacks; programming, final camp clean, and cabin accommodation with shared bath. Please note: if registration exceeds 20 people, overflow lodging will be in restored rustic cabins with a shared bath house. What to bring: personal items including towels and bedding, a yoga mat (mats will also be provided), indoor slippers or shoes, warm and waterproof outerwear, flashlight, journal, warm blanket, etc. Registration closes Thursday, October 3 at midnight. Don’t miss this chance to connect, renew, and restore. For more information: Leah Christensen at [email protected]  Men’s Retreat is just a few days away, and we need to confirm numbers so Susan can prepare meals for the weekend. She knows exactly how much food is “enough” — and we definitely don’t want to run short (or miss out on extra pie!).
This weekend is about more than numbers, though. It’s about deciding whether you need this time away — a chance to be outdoors in the fall, to reconnect with others from across the mission centre, and to make memories that only happen when you say yes to the invitation. The retreat will feature classes led by Chris Phelps, an icebreaker, campfire, and communion service. Beyond the activities, it’s an opportunity to connect, reflect, and recharge. You can still register. We are looking forward to seeing you this weekend! Retreat details Dates: September 19–21 (Friday 7:30pm MT to Sunday noon) Location: Hills of Peace Campground Cost: $170 (advance credit card registration available)  By Parker Johnson - Retreat Co-Director Our theme this year at the Hills of Peace Young Adult Retreat was “Here and Now.” We spent the weekend discussing how we can better align our values with our actions in a noisy world demanding our attention and time. It was a very restorative time together in community. Many of our young adults were/are very involved in youth camps and retreats all throughout their life, but none of us had ever been to the campgrounds and had full independence over our time. We had set mealtimes and morning sessions for discussion, spiritual practices, and more. We also had two campfires with music, singing, and a communion service the final night. Aside from this, attendees had free time to swim at the lake, canoe, stand-up paddle board, read, rest, play games, go for a walk, and more. We are looking forward to putting this on again next year.  You are invited to a two-day meditation retreat at the peaceful Samish Island Community of Christ Campground and Retreat Centre, October 17-19.
This predominantly silent retreat offers an opportunity to step away from the noise of everyday life and settle into stillness. Through silence and guided mindfulness practices, you’ll be supported in slowing down, listening inward, and reconnecting with your inner clarity and calm. Mindfulness offerings include:
Whether you're new to meditation or returning to deepen your practice, this retreat provides a nurturing space to connect, renew, and restore. Cost: $225 CAD/person $170 CAD/person for students and under 25 years Includes Friday dinner; Saturday meals; Sunday breakfast; coffee/tea bar and light snacks; programming; final camp clean; and cabin accommodation with shared bath. Please note: If registration exceeds 20 people, overflow lodging will be in restored rustic cabins with shared bath house. Registration deadline: Oct 3 For more information: Leah Christensen [email protected]  The Annual All-Members Meeting of the Hills of Peace Campground Association will be held on Monday, September 15, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. MT/ 6 p.m - 7 p.m PT/ 8 p.m - 9 p.m CT. It will be a “Zoom” based meeting.
All members of congregations in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as “non-resident” and “general” members of Community of Christ, are eligible to attend and have voice and vote. Members from other jurisdictions are also welcome to attend. The agenda will include review of minutes of the 2024 meeting, review of 2024 Financial Statements and 2025 budget, and election of new Board Members as well as other business. Meeting documents will be forwarded to all Pastors of congregations in Alberta and Saskatchewan before this weekend. We will also make them available here (see below). Please plan to attend to be updated on everything affecting the Hills of Peace Campground and to have your voice heard on items subject to discussion and/or vote. Hope Into Action–Where do we go from here? HOP Men’s Retreat: Sep 19-21 - Registration now available9/3/2025  Join us for our annual Men’s Retreat at Hills of Peace, a weekend of good food, fellowship, and meaningful conversations. Our guest minister, Chris Phelps, will guide sessions on the theme Hope Into Action – Where do we go from here? as we reflect on the recent World Conference and consider how to put resolutions into practice in our own lives.
Highlights of the weekend include engaging sessions, closing camp activities, the fun and food after Saturday’s campfire, and (of course) the much-anticipated pie. Worship on Sunday morning will close our time together. The retreat is open to all ages high school and up. Cost: $170. Questions? Contact Dan at 306-540-2359 or [email protected]  By Becky Middleton, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President From all accounts, Youth Camp at Hills of Peace was a great week filled with fun, fellowship, and bonding together. All were welcomed and included as part of the whole. Campers enjoyed a variety of interest classes, including drama, home electrical basics, outdoor cooking, and tie-dye crafting, as well as in-depth discussions on a range of topics. Friendly camp cup competitions added to the spirit of fun and connection. There were many incredible highlights along with spiritually enriching moments. A special highlight was the baptism and confirmation of Jada Middleton on Tuesday morning—a sacred and simple service at the lake, followed by confirmation in the large chapel. The week included both new campers and those who return every year to this sacred, beloved space. This was equally reflected in the talented and dedicated staff. The camp theme was Lead. We are witnessing the growth of capable young leaders—not only for the future, but for right now. To reiterate the themes of our summer camps: CHOOSE HOPE in ACTION and LEAD!  By Marian Thompson, Family Camp Director Family Camp at Hills of Peace was held August 2–7, 2025, with 59 campers in attendance for the long weekend. After the weekend there were some people leaving and some joining, so we averaged 45–50 for the remainder of the week. This is an increase from the last three years. We were privileged to have Apostle Shannon McAdam as guest minister along with Vonda DenBoer and Kristin Parmera from World Accord. An impromptu silent auction raised $4,328 for World Accord. The main thing I would like to highlight this year came from trying something new. After the COVID years, Hills of Peace had trouble getting enough children to run a Junior Camp, even though we had staff in place. We decided to choose hope by running a camp within a camp. We were able to lower the age by one year because at night the children returned to their parents to sleep. This had the added benefits of not needing counsellors and drawing the parents of the children to stay for the week along with their children. The parents had long stretches of the day to participate in the Family Camp program. Junior Camp director Gwyn Beer, along with a variety of helpers, provided a special program for all the junior campers. There were nine children between ages 7 and 11, with two only able to stay for the weekend and two joining at the end of the weekend. The campers joined with the Family Camp until after breakfast, morning camp chores, and part of an intergenerational morning activity. They then had their own activities until joining the Family Camp for swimming time in the afternoon. Part of the Junior Camp program involved learning how to be campfire leaders. The children built the campfires (some were very creative due to rain), helped lead the adults in songs, and participated in skits. Junior Camp was a big success as part of Family Camp! Much positive feedback was given by all for this new model. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to get together with old friends and make some new ones. We felt blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit as we built community through worship, work, and play.  From Shannon McAdam
Becky and Shannon both got to spend a lovely week with our CWM family at Hills of Peace in Alberta. There were many memorable classes, worships, and campfires. Even the chipmunks enjoyed hanging out at the chapel! We hope you are finding time this summer to connect with those dear to you and choose hope!  The world feels heavy right now, doesn’t it? Every headline screams at us. Social media tells us how to feel about everything—who to love, who to hate, what side to pick. It’s loud. It’s exhausting. And honestly, sometimes it feels like everything is broken.
So what do we do with that? How do we hold on to what matters when the ground keeps shifting? That’s what this weekend is about. Here and Now. It’s about stepping away from the noise for a couple of days and asking real questions together: • Do my values line up with my actions? • Am I living in a way that feels true and authentic? • How do we show up for each other in ways that actually help? You don’t need to have answers. You don’t need to have your life together. You just need to show up and be willing to connect with others asking the same types of questions. We’ll share meals, conversations, and space to breathe. We’ll laugh. Maybe cry a little. Our guest minister, Rev. Dr. Linda Stanbridge from Michigan, will join us with stories and wisdom for these messy, beautiful, uncertain times. If you’ve been longing for something real—connection that doesn’t require perfection - this is for you. Come. Just as you are. This year’s theme: Here and Now Ages: 18 - 45 Contact: Andy MacArthur [email protected]  Youth Camp is just around the corner — August 9–15 (can you believe it?!)
The countdown is on, and we can’t wait to kick off an amazing week of fun, friendship, and reflection at Youth Camp 2025. This year’s theme is LEAD — we’ll be exploring what it means to lead our lives with joy, hope, love, and peace. From powerful sessions to epic games, campfires to chill hangouts, it’s going to be a week you’ll never forget. And don’t miss our iconic Banquet Night, themed "Star-y Night" — come dressed as your favourite lead character and get ready to shine! Spots are filling fast, so grab your crew and register now! Let the countdown to the best week of the summer begin!  Postcard from Shannon McAdam
A wonderful time was had at Samish Island Campground last week for the Canada West and Inland West combined reunion! We had two baptisms - one at the beginning of the week and one at the end. As someone mentioned in our closing service, having baptisms at camp helps remind us all of our commitments to being disciples. May this photo from Monday’s baptismal service inspire your commitment to discipleship as well.  Postcard from Shannon McAdam
Last week I got to be part of the staff at our annual youth sports and arts camp that brings young people together from across the church. My highlight was seeing 15 youth from Canada fully engaged in the event! They were worship leaders, kind sportspeople, avid learners, and were part of making an inclusive camp. Hope in action!  By Becky Middleton. The weekend of June 20–22 was a wonderful time of retreat, meditation, sharing, and inspiration for all who attended the Summer Solstice Women’s Retreat at Hills of Peace! The weather determined we adjust the planned schedule—just a bit. We didn’t see the sunset over the lake on Friday, but we did watch dusk fall as we sang on the beach. We also didn’t see the sunrise at 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, but the sky lightened with the dawn and our spirits soared with the birdsong. As we enjoyed a day of much-needed steady rainfall, some connected with the earth using umbrellas and rubber boots to explore the grounds in contemplation, while others enjoyed the connection from the warm, dry chapel windows. The rainy weather revealed nature in a different way, with different highlights, expanding our insight into seeing God at work in our lives. We relaxed in deep meditation after lunch, then entered a time of creativity in preparation for our delicious Midsummer Night’s Dream supper, lovingly prepared by our kitchen staff. Our evening of sharing was made extra special by the descending darkness as the power went out—and didn’t return until morning! Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, wrapping up our time together as we shared hope, love, and concerns for one another. The weekend was a complete success, and there is already excitement about next year’s theme and date. Stay tuned—and keep your calendar ready!  Summer is in full swing and our Canada West camps are ready to welcome you! There’s still time to register for these amazing programs:
Hills of Peace (Alberta) Family Camp August 2–7 Junior Camp (ages 7–11) August 2–7 Family Camp and Junior Camp will be at the same time to help ease the transition for our younger campers. Please note: Junior Camp participants must have an adult (over 21) attending Family Camp. Everyone registers through the Family Camp form. Youth Camp (ages 12–18) | August 9–15 Samish Island (Washington) Samish Reunion July 19–26 Camp Atsaken (Grades 7–9) August 3–7 Camp Kimtah (Grades 10–2025 Grads) August 3–7 Camp Mungai (Grades 3–6) August 10–14  Join us September 19th to 21st at Hills of Peace for the Men’s Retreat. Chris Phelps will be our guest minister and this theme will be: Hope Into Action - Where do we go from here?
One of the questions we will be thinking about on that weekend are: How does World Church passing new resolutions impact you, and how will you turn those new ideas into action in your own life? Intrigued? Then why not save the date and plan to spend a couple days at Hills Of Peace. The cost will be $170. I will save a piece of pie with your name on it. Hope to see you there, Dan Esch  There’s still time to register for this year’s Samish Island Reunion! Come spend a week in community at the beautiful and serene Samish Island Campground. You can expect to laugh and sing, build connections with old and new friends, engage in meaningful conversations, enjoy family-friendly activities, eat delicious food, and explore nature. Come together to share faith, joy, music, peace—and Choose Hope.
When: July 19–26, 2025 Where: Samish Island Campground, Washington Directors: Alexis Beer (Canada West), Sandy Decker & John Van Der Walker (Inland West) Guest Minister: Seventy Kahealani Dan Faatuarai Drollet Originally from French Polynesia, Kahealani serves as the World Service Corps Mission Coordinator for France and Belgium. He is also a Co-Mission Centre President for Western Europe. Questions? Contact Alexis at [email protected] Please note: Cost information is available on the registration form. Subsidies are available for all children and youth attending camp. Please register before July 10 to ensure the kitchen is adequately prepared for the number of campers.  Join us at Hills of Peace from August 2–7, 2025 for an unforgettable week of community, fun, and spiritual growth! Family Camp and Junior Camp will run in tandem this year to help make the transition easier for our young campers.
Both camps will run their own programming with everyone coming together for the evenings and nights. Please keep in mind that in order for a child to attend Junior Camp, they must have an adult in attendance at Family Camp. So we require everyone to be registered using the Family Camp form. |
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