Grade 10 Retreat
On September 20th, just after supper on Sunday night, 10 grade tens piled into the RJC van and headed off to Camp Kadesh, to get better aquainted with each other, with the start of another school year.
With the expert guidance of Kirsten Hamm-Epp, they began their sessions in the afternoon of the second day. The theme of the retreat was “peace with self”. Kirsten had the students make their own “toolboxes” out of repurposed coffee bags. Around a table, buried with craft supplies, the students set to work, covering their bags with images and words that represent them. Many things were then added to the bag during the rest of that day and the next. This included, a visual map of their fears, weaknesses, talents, and values, among other things. Another addition to the bag was their personal description of what God is and what God means to them. The final insert was a personalized list of things to do for self-preservation. All these things were placed in each student's respective “toolbox” to serve as “tools” to remind them of who they are, to coach them through times of self-doubt, and to remind them that they are each a uniquely made and beloved child of God.
The rest of the retreat was spent braving the rope coarse, tubing across Christopher Lake, enjoying the delicious meals prepared by Bev and the rest of the staff, making s'mores, singing songs by the campfire, and enjoying the company of one another. Though they may have arrived with apprehension, they left with new-found friendship, better equipped to create peace with the self, and by extension, each other.
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| Lodge at Camp Kadesh |
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| Jerry and Valen on the ropes |
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| Ma April, Katherine and Adriana balance together on the tightrope. |
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| Kiley being passed across the spiderweb. |
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The water was 56°F so Maria, Shayleen and Ma April decided to take a quick dip.
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| Kristen Hamm Epp lead the sessions. |
Grade
11 Retreat
The
grade 11s went to camp Kinasao for their retreat this year. The weather was
nice, but it was too windy to go out on the water with canoes and kayaks. Our
speakers this year were Krista Loewen and Sarah Unrau. They focused on our
theme of 'making peace with creation'. Throughout the sessions we were
challenged to think about our place in creation, and how God would like us to
treat the natural world around us. At
the end of our sessions together the students painted a dove with their
thumbprints, representing their commitment to respecting and living in peace
with creation. Some of the highlights otherwise included a photo scavenger
hunt, playing capture the flag and using the camp's sauna.
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| Sarah Unruh and Krista Loewen lead the grade 11 sessions. |
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| Running for the Sauna! |
Grade
12 Peace-by-Peace Class Retreat 2015
The grade 12-class retreat was at Big River
Bible Camp, located on Delaronde Lake.
Students enjoyed the interactive Peace-by-Peace sessions led by Rosthern
Mennonite pastor Craig Neufeld and Warman Mennonite pastor Josh Wallace. Students also enjoyed the outdoor games
(tetherball, life-size connect four, the merry-go-round, swings, and
others). The Grade 12 Coffee House was a
definite highlight. All students and
staff participated and hilarity ensued!
In the evening, time was spent around the campfire, huddling to keep
warm. Later on the Northern lights were
fabulous! The girls crammed into one
cabin, and on the boys’ side they did the same.
It is better to be a bit cramped then to be alone it seems! Students took advantage of the time spent
together and built memories to last a lifetime.
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| Craig Neufeld and Josh Wallace session leaders for the Grade 12 Retreat |
