About Peace Country Wilderness Camps
Our Vision
For nearly four decades, Peace Country Wilderness Camps (formerly Peace Country Pioneer) has been providing faith-based wilderness horse camp experiences. Nestled in the stunning Two Lakes and Kakwa region and along the scenic banks of the Smoky River near Grande Prairie, our camps have left a lasting mark of fond memories and personal impact on our campers year after year.
When campers are taken out of their comfort zone, away from the normal routines of life, and immersed in the grandeur of God’s creation with a small group of peers and dedicated leaders, magic happens. We are often at our best when we realize how small we are, how big God is, and how far He has gone to draw us to Himself. PCWC takes you on this journey with breathtaking views, new friendships, exciting adventures, fun and games, and Biblical learning and reflection.
PCWC has a vision to challenge campers physically, emotionally and spiritually in order to demonstrate what it means to be in relationship with God. This is done through strengthening horsemanship and camping skills, building friendships, and exploring the Christian faith through studying the Bible (God’s Word) and discussing what is learned.
We invite you to join our campers, both young and old from all walks of life, on the adventure of a lifetime!
How are We Supported?
Countless community volunteers and supporters support PCWC through their generous volunteering, finances, and prayer so that campers can hear the good news of God’s love in the exciting, beautiful wilderness.
Additionally, our annual PCWC Rodeo acts as our main fundraiser every June. This is family event has activities for all ages throughout the day and an evening concert, followed by a morning breakfast with the Gospel message. It is both a time to say thank you to those who have donated and to seek new supporters. It is also where we raise almost all of our funds to operate for the year and where we communicate what God has done through camp in the lives of our campers and volunteers.
Our History
Our camp was founded in the early 80’s under the umbrella of Inter-Varisty Christian Fellowship (IVCF). IVCF gave the framework and foundation to what has become a very unique wilderness camp. Our philosophies, statement of faith, style of biblical teaching, and motto have all been influenced by IVCF. For example, the premise of taking kids out of their comfort zone into one where they may experience risks and challenges is all for the purpose of engaging and challenging them to consider taking the risk of becoming a Christian and following Christ for their whole life. This model is from IVCF.
From IVCF we have gleaned knowledge, resources, personnel, training, relationships, ideas, and the inductive bible study method, as well as insurance for our summer camps and annual fundraising event, charitable status, and affiliation with an international organization. The ability to function in an inter-denominational environment and focus on “knowing Christ and making Him known” has proven not only inclusive and welcoming of all who attend a camp but has allowed us as a committee to function together toward one cause, even though we are all from different Christian denominations. Peace Country Pioneer (PCP), as it was originally called, was the only non-resident camp IVCF owned, and proved to be a strength locally but a weakness nationally. As the IVCF camping program grew, their need for uniformity across the nation did not allow the flexibility needed to operate a smaller, locally run and funded camp.
So, with our philosophies and statement of faith molded by IVCF, we have since become independent and continue to take the valuable techniques we have learned and use them to best fit our campers and camp style.
Our Statement of Faith
We believe in:
- The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the godhead.
- The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgment.
- The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture, as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
- The universal sinfulness and guilt of all people since the fall, rendering them subject of God’s wrath and condemnation.
- Redemption from the guilt, penalty, dominion and pollution of sin, solely through the sacrificial death (as our Representative and Substitute) of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God.
- The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and His ascension to the right hand of God the Father.
- The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.
- The justification of the sinner by the grace and unconditional love of God through faith alone.
- The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
- The one Holy Universal Church which is the Body of Christ and to which all true believers belong.
- The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Focus Statement
Peace Country Wilderness Camps provides campers with an atmosphere that challenges their personal growth and invites them to experience God in creation and to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Our Statement Regarding Restructuring
Peace Country Wilderness Camps has a clear vision for sharing the gospel through wilderness camping. In pursuit of that vision, and considering future growth and development we have chosen to restructure Peace Country Wilderness Camps independent of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship of Canada (IVCF). This allows increased opportunity to provide unique solutions to specific needs and challenges.
Our relationship with IVCF spans the past 30 years. We are grateful for this rich heritage where we shared faith, vision, leaders, and resources. We recognize that the core values of IVCF are deeply imprinted on PCWC and we support their ministry.