Columbia Gorge Peace Village

Peace Village 2011 Movie - be patient it will load :)

2011-09-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Robin Dickinson Photography for putting the slideshow together of our week. Enjoy

(If this doesn't load well for you, and you would like to have a copy on DVD, please email DeLona at campdavis@charter.net and we'll get one to you.)

Wonderful Week

2011-08-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

The 4th Columbia Gorge Peace Village was a wonderful experience. Soon we will load the slideshow from the week and you can get a glimpse for yourself. Check back in the next week for the show. Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, teachers, counselors, junior counselor and the many volunteers who made camp extra special for us all.

Living and Learning Peacefully

2011-08-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

Thursday turned out to be quite a day of fun, excitement and learning! We added some fun new activities to our morning rounds. Mixing it up with fun variations provided us with opportunities to expand our minds to encompass many new ways to sustain peaceful living. Today we are also giving a shout out to our wonderful cook Molly, who has a birthday tomorrow. We thank her for all the love and support she selflessly gives to everyone. Peace Village would not be the same without her. (She also makes the best cheesecake I have ever tasted in my entire life! No joke!)

Peace Heroes, as the name suggests, offers us a glimpse into the past. This was one of our new morning activities. Through fun games we learned inspiring stories from some of our greatest peace-makers through the ages. As someone famous once said, study those who were successful yesterday to be successful today.

Next was Media Literacy. We studied the wide world of advertising and learned how to tell the truth underneath the propaganda. As a whole we learned to read the fine print and decipher what was really being said. We created our own adds and hopefully were able to carry away many skills that we can apply to our every day lives. For the media is everywhere and if one isn't wary there lies the possibility to be duped into decisions one would rather not make.

Last, but certainly not least, was art. We followed the creative vision of our fabulous artist-in-residence. On the first day all the campers drew charcoal drawings of the flowers we brought for the opening ceremony. And today we transferred our drawings onto a large flag in the shape of a heart enclosed inside a peace sign. This symbol represents our uniqueness but how we can all come together to create unity.

World peace was our theme throughout the day, and how we all play a small part in creating this ideal. In the words of singer/songwriters Leila and Ellie Grace, "We will join together drop by drop until a drop becomes a flood."

Martha

Bees and Books

2011-08-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

Day three already! Can you believe it? Time sure flies when you're having fun. And fun we are having indeed! This middle day of the week turned out to be one to remember. We had our activities and fun as usual with a few surprises in store this afternoon.

A beekeeper visited us today! He brought a little portable hive with a tiny bee colony. We also got to sample some of the honey with our delicious snack this morning. During the activity campers could view the bees at work and ask any questions they had about the workings of a hive. All the children gathered eagerly around the small box. Bees covered all sides of the glass windows. Everyone waited and listened intently to the expert's words. Although some were hesitant to come near a family of bees, it soon became a workshop that no one wanted to miss. The patience and diligence of the bees is a reminder to us of the rewards of team-work and determination.

Another new and exciting activity that we got to experience today was whimsical book-making. The campers got to create books out of things that one usually wouldn't think to make a book out of. We got to try writing between covers of wood cookies and shells. The two halves were then sewn together with the pages safely enclosed inside. It was a great opportunity to get those creative juices flowing. Overall a fabulous exercise to broaden our imaginations, expand our realms of perceivable ideas and get us to think outside the box.

A fun day we had, and a warm and windy one as well. We played and laughed and supported each other to create an open loving environment; a place where we were free to grow as artists and as peace-makers. Over the day many opportunities presented themselves to us, ways to try out our skills of peace. It's my hope that we can continue to learn over the next few days so that we can all do our little part to make the world a safer and more peaceful place for future generations to live.
Martha

Village Fair Highlights

2011-08-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hello again and we've made it through day two! And it was a fabulous day! We are now used to our routine and there was much less shuffling throughout the day. We finally achieved a nice easy flow that helped boost the peace-loving atmosphere. Activities changed to mix it up a little and today's surprises included a special drumming workshop! You could feel your heart syncopate to the irresistibly catchy beat. And this afternoon we, of course, had our wonderful Village Fair. It is such a fantastic addition to a camp we thought couldn't get any better! Some of our highlights today included taste testing, ceramics and vegetable carving.
Taste Test was an incredible learning opportunity that one doesn't always get through all the social media. Campers got to taste the difference between natural, locally grown foods and their counterparts, the same foods, but processed and imported from far away. There were cherries and green beans and many other delicious local delicacies. We got to decide for ourselves which of the treats was better. Furthermore we learned to make our own granola (containing 8 ingredients) and compare it to a popular cereal brand (Fruit Loops - 35 ingredients!). Campers also got to make hand-squeezed orange juice and hold it up to Sunny D, possibly not a fair contrast. We also got to dye T-shirts with confetti sprinkles to see how long the dye lasts. A frightening concept don't you think? So basically a fascinating thing to think about!
Another afternoon activity was Ceramics. We were making pinch-pots today. A wonderful exercise that helps to center us and guide us towards inner peace and understanding of our inner selves. The beautiful red clay is local and the little pots can be fired in a kiln in Hood River for very cheap if a finished product is desired. Making these lovely works of art is also a peaceful and healthy way to deal with frustration and anger. In all comes together to create a peaceful world.

Our final highlight of the day was vegetable carving. The art is fabulous way to express oneself creatively while making something completely biodegradable and eco-friendly. In fact all the finished products will be composted and given to the chickens. Vegetable carving also teaches cooperation, team-working, and loving support. We cheer each other on because the best art is born in a healthy, loving, and supportive environment.

So overall today was a great day for learning peaceful ways of living. We are excited to see the art that comes from all this creativity floating around. I feel honored to be a part of the next step towards a safe and peaceful world.

Martha

First Day of Camp

2011-08-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Peace Village! Today was the first day of camp and it was a busy one! It looks like this week is going to be great! You can feel the creativity and fun in the air! We started today off with a flower ceremony. Each camper had a flower symbolizing the unique individuality of each person and how, although we are beautiful alone, we can all come together to create something wonderful. In addition, everyone took home a flower that they did not bring as a symbol of unity. We were serenaded by the fantastically talented Jamba marimba group. After the ceremony we were broken into age groups and proceeded to our morning activities. In the afternoon, it was time for the Village Fair. This consists of many different stations that the campers go to depending on preference. There was the usual hectic shuffling to get everyone to an activity but our behind-the-scenes magicians figured it all out. Some examples of activities are gardening and rock painting, taste-test, fiber arts, veggie sculptures, ceramics, artful recycling, games, and many more. Looks like fun! One of the highlights of this afternoon was homemade ice cream. In fact we have the recipe here in case you didn't get to try it and want to do it at home.

Ice Cream

Place 1/2 cup milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla into a small qt sandwich bag.

Fill a 1 gallon plastic bag with 4 cups ice and 4 tablespoons rock salt.

Put the small bag inside the large bag and shake hard.

Enjoy your homemade ice cream!

Yum! Everything looks wonderful. This is promising to be a fabulous week filled with fun, laughter, and...peace! We're learning many ways to live peacefully, including getting along with others. But not only people, animals too! A sheep and an angora rabbit came to visit at lunch today. What beautiful long hair they had! All the better to wrap themselves up snugly warm for wintertime my dear! Although there is no need for it now as it's beautiful sunny summer! The weather today was ideal, warm and clear and sunny. Perfect for our many outdoor activities. So overall today was a fantastic day of laughing and loving and learning. And there is still more to come! We have four more days of fun and peace to come! It's going to be great!

Martha

What is peace?

2011-08-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

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

Peace Village in the News

2011-07-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Columbia Gorge Peace Village 2011

2011-02-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

What is Peace Village?
Peace Village is an interfaith, multicultural day camp with the mission to provide a fun, educational environment in which children can learn the messages and practice of nonviolence and peacemaking from various world traditions.

When is Peace Village?
The dates for Peace Village 2011 are August 8th-12th.
During the week, we will gather at 9:00 AM each morning and finish by 3:30PM. On the last afternoon, families of the children attending will be invited to join us for a closing ceremony.

Where is Peace Village?
The location for Peace Village 2011 is Mosier Community School.

How much does Peace Village cost?
The base fee for each child is $100. The cost of running camp is about $200 per camper. We receive grants and donations to support some of our operating costs and provide scholarships to children whose families could not otherwise afford for them to attend. Please consider making a donation to support this experience!
Registration is limited to 90 campers.

Who participates in Peace Village?
Children between the ages of 6 and 13 are eligible to attend. Young people aged 14 or older who are interested in participating are welcome and encouraged to contact us for an application as youth staff. Peace Village is an interfaith camp. Children from all spiritual and cultural traditions are welcome to apply.

Who are the adult leaders?
The adults organizing Peace Village range from elementary, high school and college level educators to yoga teachers and religious leaders. In additions, skilled adults with specialized expertise will be enlisted to teach and lead throughout the week, including yoga teachers, artists, nutritionists and health professionals.

What do the children learn at Peace Village?
Children will learn about the practice of peacemaking, both by understanding the roots of violence, and by learning practical techniques to deal with violence in themselves and others. These techniques for peace making include conflict resolution skills, spiritual practices such as prayer/meditation and yoga, the arts, nature studies, media literacy and Peace Heroes. All of these experiences will be developmentally appropriate for the ages and will model a deep respect for cultural and religious diversity. We celebrate that our children are nurtured by many faith traditions and welcome this opportunity to learn from each other.

How can I apply to Peace Village and/or get more information? Visit https://sites.google.com/site/columbiagorgepeacevillage/home
and click on "Register Now". All registrations and payments must be completed on-line.
Contact Debbi Trumbull at peacevillage@gorge.net or call Laurie VanCott, 541-490-7420, with questions.

2010-10-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

2010-08-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

2010-08-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

Peace Village 2010 was a huge affair. There was TONS going on, and villagers got to participate in many different activities, some new and some back again for another year. There were many wonderful, wonderful people who helped put Peace Village together, and make it the success it was. A huge thank-you goes out to everyone who donated their time, money, and effort. We appreciate you!

A not-so-short rundown of most of the larger activities is as follows:

This year the kids had yoga every morning with yoga teacher Laurie VanCott. In addition to doing traditional yoga poses, the campers learned multiple concepts related (and somewhat unrelated) to yoga, but all pertaining to living peacefully. They learned about Ahimsa, which is non-violence and kindness; Santosha, which is contentment and being happy with what you have and don’t have; Satya, or truthfulness and speaking the truth; Karma, which has to do with cause and effect. In the latter they learned that one action can effect others, and that you should take care of each other and the planet. Laurie also discussed peace with the kids.

The campers also were able to practice short periods of meditation, though kids under 12 often have trouble with that concept. =P Laurie explained that “meditation can be a way to find inner silence and promote clarity of mind.”

They also learned some useful skills to deal with conflict:

Take a deep breath.
Act from a place of kindness with non-hurtful words.
When you are upset with someone, try to treat them like you would your best friend.
Step back from the situation—give yourself some space.
Find someone to help you solve the problem; a grownup or neutral party.
Use “I” statements, not “you.”

The campers were able to copy down quotes that were meaningful to them into the recycled journals they made. One such quote from Chief Seattle reads:

This we know.

The earth does not belong to us,

we belong to the earth.

This we know.

All things are connected

like the blood which unites one family.

All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the earth

befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.

We did not weave the web of life,

We are merely a strand in it.

Whatever we do to the web,

we do to ourselves…

Also, Laurie read a Native American quote from Camp Director Bill Weiler’s book: “The frog does not drink up / the pond in which he lives.” The younger children in particular appreciated this quote.

Throughout the week the campers built a picnic table and two large benches with Jody Seaborn. Their creations will stay at Mosier School. The benches will go to the community garden on the campus, so that gardeners can sit while they enjoy the positive atmosphere of the growing plants. The wood (cedar) was from Jody’s stash, and Tum-a-lum, who provided the wood at discounted prices. Thank you Tum-a-lum!

Ceramics artist Pam Springer brought her popular clay back to Peace Village again this year. The kids absolutely loved being able to work with the mud, and built many creative constructions, including “treasure boxes,” that had the imprints of natural products on their walls (leaves, pine needles and cones, grass). Most of the kids also got a chance to throw pots on Pam’s wheel. Unfortunately, there were simply too many campers and not enough time, so not everyone was able to do this. Pam will fire the kids’ artwork and get it to them at some point in the next three weeks; she’ll e-mail parents then and campers can pick up their things at the Bethel Congregational Church in White Salmon.

The campers went on hikes on Monday (and other days) down into the woods by the water to gather supplies for their natural dyes. Art teacher Amirra Malak then instructed them on how to use the materials to create their very own tie-dyed silk handkerchiefs. The first batch, done on Wednesday, looks fabulous! The second batch was done on Friday. Amirra also dyed the kids’ wool samples, and now they resemble small pieces of the Golden Fleece.

On Tuesday the kids got a chance to use their creativity for Village Fair, a new program centered around food and practical crafts. The campers used aged vegetables and fruit donated to Peace Village to make sculptures of anything and everything that came to mind, including dogs, boats, bicycles and flying saucers. The creations were scheduled to be ceremonially composted on Friday. While they were being creative with carrots, the villagers also got to watch and participate in the making of yogurt. They learned about goat milk and the many uses it can be put to, and they watched as the milk was heated, and the culture added. On Friday they were able to enjoy this yogurt as part of the daily snack, in a peach parfait. It was delicious! The yogurt was also included in the taste testing (see below).

On Wednesday, the kids trooped upstairs to experience the second phase of the Village Fair (after the Veggie Scuptures); the beginning of wool crafts with Jane McLean and Jori Osborne. The campers used fleece that Peace Village worker Molly Kisinger obtained from a 4-H group (fleece that would otherwise have been thrown away). First they learned how to “card” it. Carding is the process by which wool is cleaned of detritus and made soft and fluffy, perfect for spinning. The children took turns cranking the carding machine with Jori. It was a box of wood with two interlocking wheels, covered in sharp spikes that picked apart the fibers, flattening and smoothing them. Once they finished with that, the campers moved over to the spinning station, where Jane helped them turn their carded wool into yarn. They used home-made “drop spindles,” which consist of a short dowel, a CD, and a hook on the end through which the yarn slides. “Pinch, pull, and slide,” Jane instructed, as the kids squeezed the wool between their fingers, stretched it out, and slid their fingers up to the end, allowing more yarn to be spun. The end result was thin and smooth (for the most part). Each camper got to take a cotton ball-sized amount of wool to dye with Amirra, the art teacher, later on.

The next day, Thursday, those campers who wanted to learned how to make something of their yarn in the kitchen with volunteer knitting teacher Jen. They learned how to cast on, and the basic knit stitch. The yarn and needles were donated to the cause, so a big “Thank-you!” to the Hood River Middle School Knitting Club and the yarn shop Knot Another Hat.

On Thursday afternoon, the 8- to 13-year-olds went on a field trip to the Hood River Middle School to learn about the Farm-to-Table for Kids program there. Michael Becker, the home economics teacher at the middle school is in charge of this program, which benefits the students at the school. There is an on-campus garden for the kids, the results of which will be sold at the Farmer’s Markets held at the middle school on Thursdays. The money raised from these sales go to the kids who work hard in the gardens and sell the produce. The Peace Villagers were able to cut lettuce, and got some zucchini bread.

Camp cook Molly Kisinger orchestrated a taste test for the kids, that was conducted on Thursday and Friday. Molly arrayed two forms of several kinds of food (including cucumbers, scrambled eggs, and yogurt): store-bought and locally and/or organically grown. The campers sampled each form, and recorded which they preferred. Then they discussed why each tasted the way it does.

Peace Village is over for another year, but we're all very excited about making next year even better. See you then!

Isabel Martin
Junior Counselor

Reminder!

2010-08-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Be sure to join us for the closing circle on Friday. Plan to arrive at 2:30 for the 2:45 circle. We guarantee it will be the highlight of your week!

From Amirra, The Art Teacher

2010-08-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

Monday we had a fun afternoon in art! The kids hiked a trail and collected cottonwood leaves to create a nice yellow dye for tie dyed silk later this week. The kids were very respectful gathering the leaves and were careful not to damage the trees or take too much. When they got back to camp, they had a great time processing the leaves into smaller pieces so to soak overnight. Can't wait to see how our color turns out later this week!

Camp Notes

2010-08-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

We need parents for the Thursday Field Trip!

We'll be taking the 8-13 year olds to the Hood River Middle School at 1:45. We're looking for:

1. 6 more parents to help us drive the kids there, stay with us for the program at the Hood River Middle School (2-3pm) and drive the children back to Mosier at 3. There is child care available for non-camping kids.

2. For those parents who are not available to drive, they should leave their booster seats (if necessary) in the morning on Thursday.

The kids will all come back to Mosier School after the field trip for pick up.

Thanks!!

Peace Village 2010 Begins

2010-08-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Enjoy a sampling of photos from day one!

2010 Parent Letter

2010-06-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome 2010 Campers!

Dear Peace Village Parent:

The Columbia Gorge Peace Village 2010 is almost here! Below you'll find all the important details to answer your when, where and what questions.

Camp is August 9-13, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM at the Mosier Community School 8 miles east of Hood River off of I-84. You'll see the school and grounds on the right as you drive into town and find parking around the back. Plan to check your child or children in at the Check-in Tables on the north side of the school. Camp Director, Bill Weiler, will be our camp phone contact. If you need to contact your child or camp during the week you can reach Bill at 917-991-1174.

What campers should bring to camp:
Please label everything with your child's name!

water bottle
healthy lunch
sunscreen
hat
shoes for outdoor play and exploring
Extras: drums, yoga mat or towel

We do need volunteers! There are many jobs available both before the camp, during and after. You may volunteer as much or as little as you like. There will be childcare for the under age six crowd.

TO VOLUNTEER: Please visit http://church.gorge.net/bethel/peacevillage.htm for an application and mail to:Columbia Gorge Peace Village, c/o Bethel UCC, P.O. Box 219, White Salmon, WA 98672

If you have any volunteer questions please contact the volunteer coordinator, Lisa Lucas at 503.720.4803 (lisamlucas@yahoo.com)

For any other questions you can email Debbi Trumbull at trumbull@gorge.net or call Laurie VanCott at 541-490-7420.

2009-09-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

Yoga Notes from Teacher Laurie

2009-08-21T20:01:00.001-07:00

Families of Peace Village Campers,

I have had a great time at camp this year and hope your kids have too. They have had a chance to move and do yoga poses, learn Bollywood dance steps, try breathing techniques, and study and apply the Yoga Sutras. Below you will find you will find some of the items we covered for their journals. Take a look and help them continue learning!

It's my hope that the yoga portion of Peace Village has taught the children ways to express themselves through movement, feel comfortable in their bodies, know ways to center their emotions, and believe in their abilities to make positive changes for the people of this earth.

Children have the innocence to be joyful and be creative. I believe cultivating these skills creates the possibility for positive change in an ever changing world.

Thank you for the opportunity to play and explore with your kids.

Namaste,

Laurie VanCott, MSPT
Yoga Instructor at Peace Village

For the journals:

Yoga Sutras- guideline to live by that include the Yamas (self restraints - attitude's towards our environment that create an over powering of negative qualities into positive ones) and Niyamas (attitudes towards our selves).

Ahimsa- Non Violence "To be non violent in our thoughts, deeds, and actions."
"Consideration for all living things, especially the innocent or those less fortunate."
Kindness and Caring
Taking care of the planet
Remember you can make a difference

Santosa- Contentment "Being happy with what we have and what we don't have.
One then discovers that true happiness and bliss are no longer dependent upon temporary
acquisitions of possessions or experiences.

Satya- Truthfulness "Right communication in speech, gesture, writing, and actions."
Think about friendship. Be the kind of friend you would want others to be to you.

May I find my own uniqueness
Know that I am special
I am able to love and care for others
May I walk in peace and harmony

Thankfulness Game- Take a moment everyday to think of all the things you are thankful for in your life.

Carry your garbage for a day!

Day One!

2009-08-10T17:03:00.000-07:00

Though there were a few hectic 'first day' moments - overall we had a great start to camp today - perfect weather, great kids, fun classes! Had you been a fly buzzing around here are a few things you might have seen:

Singing & stomping in the gym
Kids of all ages (myself included) dancing a few Bollywood moves in yoga
Learning about the aliveness of every single thing in Drumming
Storytelling in Non-violent Conflict Resolution
Nature journal making in Art
Advertising critiques in Media Literacy
Coyotes bonding together during breaks
Salamanders, Squirrels, Otters, Frogs, Bats, Hummingbirds & Turtles turning into Mosquitos, Salmon & Bear
Peacefull pottery doing it's magic in the garden

Best part for me was signing kids in at the beginning of the day - making eye contact, exchanging smiles, welcoming campers. Practicing names and checking in throughout the day was fun too. In short I love getting to know all these fabulous kids!

Here's what one mom had to say:
"I just wanted to send in some early feedback that my boys are both really enjoying themselves at Peace Village. When I dropped them off this morning they were slugging each other as they got out of the car and when they came home this afternoon they were excitedly talking about their conflict resolution class and their "homework" to point out bad advertising techniques and violence in movies as well as the pottery, art projects, journals, etc.... What a wonderful thing to hear!"
Cheers,Karen Bullard (mother of Clark & Colin Brace)

Well done everyone! See you all tomorrow - Karen M-M

All the basics . . .

2009-08-09T16:18:00.000-07:00

Columbia Gorge Peace Village Day Camp
Returns for a 2nd year!
August 10-14
Mosier Community School

What is Peace Village? Peace Village is an interfaith, multicultural day camp with the mission to provide a fun, educational environment in which children can learn the messages and practice of nonviolence and peacemaking from various world traditions.

When is Peace Village? Peace Village will be held August 10-14, 2009. We will gather at 9:00 AM each morning and finish by 3:30PM. On the last afternoon, Friday the 14^th, families of the children attending will be invited to join us for a closing ceremony.

Where is Peace Village? Peace Village 2009 will be located at the Mosier Community School. Driving directions will be included in camper packets which will be sent out in July.

How much does Peace Village cost? The base charge for each child is $75 for the week, which includes snacks for the week, materials for all activities and a t-shirt. We are dedicated, however, to creating a diverse atmosphere, and scholarships will be available.

Who participates in Peace Village? Children between the ages of 6 and 13 are eligible to attend. Young people aged 16 or older who are interested in participating are welcome and encouraged to contact us for an application as a teen leader. There will also be a few spots for ages 14-15 as leaders-in-training. Peace Village is an interfaith camp. Children from all spiritual and cultural traditions are welcome to apply.

Who are the adult leaders? The adults organizing Peace Village range from elementary, high school and college level educators to local artists and religious leaders. In additions, skilled adults with specialized expertise will be enlisted to teach and lead throughout the week, including yoga teachers, artists, nutritionists and health professionals.

What do the children learn at Peace Village? Children will learn about the practice of peacemaking, both by understanding the roots of violence, and by learning practical techniques to deal with violence in themselves and others. These techniques for peace making include nonviolent conflict resolution, spiritual practices such as prayer/meditation and yoga, the arts (music, storytelling, etc.), nature studies, and learning about healthy diets for body and mind. All of these experiences will be developmentally appropriate for the ages and will model a deep respect for cultural and religious diversity. We celebrate that our children are nurtured by many faith traditions and welcome this opportunity to learn from each other.

How can I apply to Peace Village and/or get more information? Sorry - Summer 2009 Camp is full.

Bill Weiler at (917)991-1174 or theland@gorge.net

Thank You Donors!

2009-08-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Donations to Columbia Gorge Peace Village are tax deductible. If you wish to make a donation please make your check payable to Bethel UCC with a Peace Village note in the memo. Send donations to Bethel UCC, PO Box 219, White Salmon, WA 98672-0219,

Much gratitude and appreciation to all our local donors and supporters!

Bethel United Church of Christ
Gorge Ecumenical Ministry
Baha'i Group of Klickitat
Mid-Columbia Unitarian Universalists
Riverside UCC
Hood River County Faith Connections Board
Small Planet Trading
Solstice Woodfire Cafe
SushiOkalani
Riggleman's Fruit
Riverfront 76
Providence Memorial Hospital
Betty Lou & Frank Hunsaker
Marylee and Dou Hattenhauer
Kristen Dillon and Paul Blackburn
Connie Serra