Children’s Summer Camps – Creating Harmonious Community Life
The Christian Community has been hosting Children’s Camps in North America for over 50 years. There are and have been camps in Ontario, Canada, on the East Coast, Midwest and in Colorado and California. Each camp has its own character connected with its setting, staff and duration of the camp.
The intention is to bring children out of an urban environment into nature to experience the world in new and healthy ways. The strong daily and weekly rhythms, the caring interest of counsellors, the singing, the stories, the crafts, the wide-ranging activities carry the children through the two-three weeks of camp. Children are divided according to age and gender and will spend the whole camp together with their group. Each group has a counsellor (or two) who will be with their group continuously, eating, sleeping and doing activities.
East Coast Children’s Camp, located in Maine
August 1 – August 17, 2019
Camp Director: Rev. Carol Kelly, carolkelly.cc@gmail.com
For more information and to register visit www.ccgwb.org/sleepaway-camp
“What IS it?” the parents and friends ask, that makes this camp so special? What is it that goes so deep into the children’s hearts? The most concise and truthful answer is this: it is the Creation of Harmonious Community Life, in living action. We can dream all we like about a new and better world, but camp creates it, in a small but impressive way. The days have a rhythm, which compliment and harmonize the human being. They include nutritious, delicious food, chores, stories, artistic work, singing, nature, wild games, sports, laughter, reverence and gratitude. There are the usual frustrations of living with other people, but we strive to be an example of working through difficulties through conversation and patience.
There is no one thing, no element that can be singled out as the most important, except this: behind everything we do, there lives and weaves a consciousness of Christ as the Sun Spirit. This is no exclusive religion, but it is acknowledged that He belongs to the whole earth and can enter all human souls, regardless of nation or religion. It is this understanding that can bring about world peace. Our counsellors often exclaim, “Why can’t life be like camp?” Why indeed? We have to begin somewhere with models that work!
Camp Greenwood Lake – Midwest Children’s Camp
August 15 – August 29, 2019
Camp Directors: Rev. Ann Burfeind, annburfeind18@gmail.com, Rev. Emma Heirman, emma.heirman@gmail.com and Joen Dealandé
To register click here.
Camp Greenwood Lake is the summer camp of the Midwest Christian Community, for children ages 8 – 13. We are celebrating 22 years of fun and reverence in the outdoors, which is based on the European model that has been in existence since the 1950s. While the flavor is distinctly American, we are proud to continue the original camps’ mission to provide children an escape from the buzz of everyday life, a retreat into nature and the natural rhythms of the day and night. Together we sing, tell stories, and create beautiful projects – swim, canoe, and build bonfires – joke, play, and celebrate with the Children’s Service on Sundays. Campers live with their counselors in groups of 5 to 10 children: they eat wholesome and delicious meals with their groups, go on hiking and canoeing adventures together, and create a family away from home that results in friendships that last for years to come.
Camp Greenwood Lake is named after the song by Brendan Taaffe that our youth campers love to sing. The name reminds us that camp is a community, not a place.
The camp is a non-profit, and we are committed to keeping the fee at an absolute minimum. Acceptance is the same for everyone in camper and staff without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, or handicap.
COST: $925*
*This fee includes room and board and project materials.
There is a $100 discount for each additional sibling registered. No camper should be kept away for financial reasons.
Camp Greenwood Lake 2019
at Luther Park Camping and Retreat Center, Danbury, WI
New this year! – Camp in British Columbia
July 3 – July 12, 2019
Camp directors: Rev. Ann Burfeind, annburfeind18@gmail.com
To register, please fill out this form or mail a paper registration form to Rev. Ann Burfeind, 5050 Hastings Street Burnaby, British Columbia V5B 1P6
Registration Deadline: June 1st
A new sleepaway summer camp for rising 3rd-8th graders children facilitated by Rev. Ann Burfeind of the Christian Community and located on 100 acres of Steiner-inspired forest on the Koksilah River near Duncan, BC. Based on the European model that has been in existence since the 1950s, we are proud to continue the original camps’ mission to provide children an escape from the buzz of everyday life, a retreat into nature and the natural rhythms of the day and night. Together we leave our screens behind as we venture into the forest to sing, tell stories, create beautiful projects, swim, explore, and play games. As we build our camp community, we build a family away from home – we eat wholesome meals together, joke, play, and celebrate with the Children’s Service on Sundays. All beliefs and income levels welcome. Rev. Ann Burfeind serves the Vancouver congregation and its affiliates in Seattle, WA, and Duncan, BC. She is a former Waldorf teacher and the current director of Camp Greenwood Lake in the Midwest US and coordinator for Midwest US youth events and conferences.
Cost: $800 per camper / $100 discount for each additional sibling registered No one should be kept away for financial reasons – please contact annburfeind18@gmail.com or call 438-725-4848.
Camp Tamarack – High Sierra Summer Camp – California
June 29 – July 13, 2019
Camp directors: Rev. Craig Wiggins, craig@wiggins.nl, Rev. Rafal Nowak, rafau.nowak@gmail.com and Hans Walser, hanswdeuce@yahoo.com
For information and to register visit camptamccsummercamp.com
Camp Tamarack has been offering a quality wilderness experience for children 9-14 years old since 1971. Many of our participants come from the Waldorf community throughout the West. Camp Tamarack is surrounded by granite peaks and tall pine trees. Children experience the outdoors by swimming in nearby lakes and streams, and hiking to stunning sites while forming life-long friendships.
With a healthy rhythm of the day, we cultivate a wholesome and joyful community. Morning and evening gatherings greet and conclude each day with story and song. During the day, children are involved in group projects and activities under the guidance of their counselors. Activities include: arts and crafts, drama, horseback riding, archery, games, dancing, hiking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, overnight camp-outs and campfires.
The camp is sponsored by The Christian Community. On Sunday mornings we offer a non-denominational Sunday Service for children, and then join together in the afternoon for all-camp skits and games. Acceptance is the same for everyone in camper and staff without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, or handicap.
