Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Happy Easter From Camp Qwanoes!

Back to Class!

With class back in session it’s exciting to see our students back to the books and learning more about the faith that they possess.  As their class on Introduction to Theology was naturally more of a theological approach, last weeks class took a philosophical approach instead.  While this class proves to be one of the more difficult ones that they take, we were excited to see them learning from a different perspective!  



Throughout last weeks class on Modernity and Post-Modernity, students were tasked with a group project.  Each group was assigned different books and topics to present to the class as a way of taking on the role of teaching their topic, while getting a more in-depth approach to learning.  We were proud to see students and their groups work together to learn and teach their fellow class mates!




We Celebrated Easter!

This last weekend, many of our students had the chance to attend and be involved with easter services in their churches.  For some, Good Friday was a regular youth night while others attended easter services.  We were happy to see many students invited into homes to enjoy meals and celebrate the death and resurrection of our saviour this weekend.

Please Be In Prayer

This week, as our students enter into their last class of the program, please be in pray that God will continue to give them focus and excitement about what they will be learning.  As well, please be in prayer that as we enter into the last couple weeks of our time together here at Qwanoes, that God will continue to form strong relationships and spiritual growth amongst our students.  Again, thank you so much for your prayers and support throughout this year, and we look forward to having you celebrate with us at graduation!

In Him,

Dustin Smith
Kaléo Program Intern, Camp Qwanoes

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Spring Is Almost Here!

With Spring just around the corner, we are now just over a month from the end of the Kaléo Program this year!  While this subject is rather touchy with our students and a little sad, it is fun to start looking back on our year and what God has done in these past few months.  With spring around the corner and the weather starting to get sunny (at least for now) it is becoming a beautiful end to our time together here at Qwanoes.

It's Crabbing Season!

After students finished their class Introduction to Theology, the next week was quite low key.  While students took most of their free time to study and prepare for their next class, we organized a couple small events for them.  As a tradition this time of year in the Kaléo Program, we broke out the crab traps, and took the time to catch crabs off the end of the dock here at Camp Qwanoes.  After a few day of trapping, we saved everything that we caught and had a crab eating party the following saturday!





We Went to the Pool

To help fill in the time during crabbing week, we decided to load up the vans one evening and head to the local wave pool.  While this is considered to be one of our minor out trips, we still had a blast playing games in the pool and slides, as well as taking the time to relax in the hot tub!

Our Camping Adventure

This last week, we ventured on to one of our last out trips.  French Beach is a beautiful Provincial Park on the south-west side of Vancouver Island and is a great spot for large camping groups.  We were excited to take some time away from Qwanoes and enjoy the great outdoors of our beautiful province.  


While we camped, we organized several activities for our students to enjoy.  Twice throughout the trip, we took the time to participate in several leadership games, and even built structures on the beach!  We also went on a couple different hiking trips and explored the beach of the west coast.



Overall this was a great trip for our students and it kicked off the last month of our time together.  Amidst all of the business of this season, it was great to slow down and enjoy some time together and relax.  We were sad to leave our campsite, but excited to launch into the final stretch of the Kaléo Program.


Please Be In Prayer

As our students are preparing for their final class of the program, please be in prayer for them as they study, as well as prayer for their focus.  Camp Qwanoes and the Kaléo Program would like to thank everyone for all of the prayers and support towards our students this year and we know it has meant a lot to our students!

In Him,

Dustin Smith
Kaléo Program Intern, Camp Qwanoes

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Happy March!

As we’ve entered into the month of march, it seems that the Kaléo Program has entered into a new season of its own.  As missions month has come to a close, things have started to slow down into their normal pace.  With only a month and a half left in the program, the once far away end, seems much too close.

Back to Class for Our Students

This past week, students were back to the desks for their class Introduction to Theology, with professor Merrill Dyck.  Merrill is a part time staff member at Briercrest and enjoys making the trip out to Qwanoes a couple times during the Kaléo Program, so we were happy to see him again this year!  



While the students took in many good teachings on theology, they were also tasked with a theological debate to end their last class.  The group was divided into four teams, two tasked with one topic and two with another topic.  Teams were then assigned with prepping and preparing their theological standpoint to present in a formal debate at the end of the week against the other team.  While the students were being marked on their efforts in research, we also had a judging panel consisting of Kaléo Program leaders Andrew, Lyann, Melanie and I to determine the winners of the debate, just for fun.  We all had a great time listening to the debate and we were proud to see what our students had learned through this experience!



Qwanoes Hosted a Youth Worship Conference

Every year, Camp Qwanoes hosts an event in which youth from Vancouver Island and the mainland can come to experience and learn about deeper worship is.  This event hosts sessions and seminars on worship led by experienced leaders from the local area, including Qwanoes’ very own Russ Smith.  While this wasn't a required event for students, we were happy to see many of them participating in the worship conference and taking advantage of the great speakers that we had come out.  It was also warming to see our students taking the opportunity to share their own experience and knowledge with local youth.



Please be in Prayer

As the students enter into the last few weeks of the program, it is sad to think that many of them will be leaving camp.  However, some have already made the decision to stay for the summer to serve at Camp Qwanoes!  Please be in prayer for those who have chosen to serve, as well as those who are still deciding what to do after the Kaléo Program.  We are also preparing for our camping trip to French Beach next week!  Please be in prayer for preparations and safety on our trip.

In Him,

Dustin Smith
Kaléo Program Intern, Camp Qwanoes