Peace Camp Olympics 2024
Peace Camp 2024: The Peace Olympics- Update
Over thirty children attended our annual Peace Camp 2024: The Peace Olympics, where they learned concepts of nonviolence in the context of global peace. The daily themes were: Train for peace, coach curiosity, grow teamwork, champioin human rights, and practice courage. Students prepared pizzas with toppings representing each continent with Tron Passmore, our kitchen coordinator. Peacemakers played cooperative games with Linda Himes. Marv and Kristina Guinto gave campers a tour of the garden, taught them how to compost and tasked students to pick produce to share with the food bank. Aaron Cruse led the peace camp service project with Rise Against Hunger, and students packed ten-thousand meals that will go to the Philippines to help feed those who are food insecure as a repercussion of a terrible typhoon season.
Thanks to every volunteer who made Peace Camp come to life – it truly takes a village.
What is Peace Camp?
The La Verne Church of the Brethren sponsors a non-religious day camp, which takes place each July, designed for students entering Kindergarten – students entering 6th grade. Peace topics include non-violence, inner peace, global peace, advocacy, justice, and more. Students participate in hands-on activities such as planting in our community garden, cooking in our commercial kitchen, exploring open-ended art in our courtyard, working on tangible service projects for the community, and more. Peace Camp is a much-loved tradition and students in the community often come back to volunteer because of the lasting impact Peace Camp has had on their lives.
Peace Camp 2023
Peace Camp 2023 – Super Powerful Peace
At the end of July 2023, we held our 20th annual Peace Camp, entitled Super Powerful Peace. Forty-eight Peace Campers and even more Peace Camp volunteers, met on our campus to explore nonviolence in meaningful and relevant ways. Each day, Peace Campers were introduced to a nonviolent superhero, creatively designed by our Peace Camp team. Superhero Freeze used their superpower of freezing to find peace when conflicts arise. XR used his x-ray vision to look beyond the surface of behaviors to see what is really going on, helping students notice how unmet needs can cause negative behavior. Sklyer taught us that flying to the past and learning its history can help save the future. Mighty Maddie’s strength demonstrated that super strength is nonviolent. And superhero Radiance taught us that there is super powerful peace in community. We partnered with The African American Museum of Beginnings and raised funds through a nightly lemonade stand to support their work of educating our community on often overlooked aspects of history. It was an incredible week, full of art, garden, kitchen, yoga and more. Thanks to everyone who donated funds, supplies and their time and energy to make Peace Camp happen.
Peace Camp 2022
Peace Camp 2022 – Our Story of Peace
Peace Camp 2022 was amazing! Thanks to all who participated.
Peace Camp takes place every year in the month of July from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. It is designed for children entering kindergarten through 6th grade. We offer a Mini-Peace Camp option for children between the ages of 2 and 4, with a participant cap.
Our focus this year was children’s books and how we may also write our own peace stories in the world. Our service project entailed building and supplying a Little Free Library for the community. As usual, students explored peace concepts through open-ended art projects, cooking, gardening, and more!
Peace Camp 2021
Peace Camp 2021 – Peace Builders: Shaping our World with Creative Tools
Peace Camp 2021 was amazing! Thanks to all who participated.
Here is a free digital activity book based on our theme: Peace Camp 2021 Activity Book.