Hello Everyone! We have had a very busy couple of weeks in the Kaléo Program. Today is the last day of the season for our students, and as I post this many of them are already on their way home for the Christmas Holidays! Although most of you will finally be hearing the stories from students in person, I thought I would take some time to share with you what we have been doing.
Staff and Students joined together for a banquet
This time each year at Camp Qwanoes, staff and students come together to enjoy a Christmas meal made by our kitchen staff. This was a great way to kick off a week of Christmas celebration! It was also a great chance for staff and students to have a fun meal together before we parted ways for Christmas break.
We held a talent show
Every year the Kaléo Program hosts its annual talent show night for staff and students. Many students signed up for the show this year and we were able to experience a wide variety of unique talents from staff and students. This included singing, skits, magic tricks and even a martial arts performance from student Andrew Jansen. Overall, we were impressed by our students as it was a great way to change gears after a week of class.
Mid-week we put up a Christmas tree!
An annual tradition of the Kaléo program is to cut and decorate a Christmas tree for the lobby of Pacific Woods Lodge here at Qwanoes. So we piled into the vans and headed to a local Christmas tree farm, were we cut down a tree and brought it home to set up. Later that afternoon, we took the time to craft homemade decorations for our tree!
We exchanged gifts!
Another tradition at Camp Qwanoes is our mug exchange! Students are asked to shop for a coffee mug that best expresses themselves. Students and leaders then partake in a “Yankee Swap” or “White Elephant” style gift exchange. At the end, whoever’s mug you end up with, you commit to praying for that person every time you drink out of it. This is one of our favourite events of the Program and we had a blast exchanging gifts this year!
We ended the week with Girls/Guys night!
Saturday night we split up the genders and hit the town! The girls headed out to Victoria for dinner and ice skating, while the guys headed to Victoria for dinner and a Hockey game! While there were many other activities done throughout the day, it is fair to say that both groups had a blast enjoying one of the last days together before Christmas holidays.
Please be in Prayer…
Please be in prayer for our students as they travel home for Christmas break. We were so pleased to have them here at Camp Qwanoes and are excited to see them again in the New Year!
Merry Christmas from myself and all the Staff here at Camp Qwanoes!
In Him,
Dustin Smith
Kaléo Program Intern, Camp Qwanoes
