What is peace?

Year 4 of the Columbia Gorge Peace Village is just days away.  As your planning team puts the finishing touches on what looks to be a wonderful week, we want to share some thoughts on peace.  These have been our guiding thoughts through these past months. 

The questions we find ourselves asking and answering  are: 

What is peace?

How do we create, experience, make and do peace?

What does a peaceful world and community look like?

These questions seem like they should be easy.  But peace is often hard to pin down, to define, and so it gets defined by what it isn't even more often than by what it is.

What do you teach at Peace Village?

There are many wonderful practices that help create peace.  At the Columbia Gorge Peace Village we strive to share as many of these practices as possible with the campers.  We think of these practices as falling into three areas, of course there is a lot of overlap.  Each year campers, volunteers and staff add to this list of peaceful practices.  Below are the practices that guide us.  Many are taught throughout the week, some are just reminders for all of us as we find peace in our own lives.

Peace Within (Peaceful Heart)

Practices that foster a peaceful space inside, personally.

Yoga, meditation, prayer, singing, writing, drawing, clay or other hands on arts, music, nature, walking, working with our hands, drumming, healthy living, faith, spirituality, service to others, gratitude

 

Peace Among (Peaceful families and communities)

Fun, Laughing, Listening, Respect, Art, Music, Learning, Communication, Shared resources, Games, Shared food, Non-violent Conflict Resolution, Stories, healthy communities, faith, spirituality, nature, tolerance, service, gratitude

Peaceful World (Peace Around)

Shared resources, nature, understanding, cultures, religions, earth care, food, shelter, knowing our peace heroes, understanding the power of media, tolerance, service

This year we will be using the image below to help us remember these three areas of peace.  Each activity leader and counselor will help kids place the practices they learn on the image.  We'll create beautiful, fun, and energetic peace together all week long.  See you at camp.  DeLona Campos-Davis