About GAP Year
Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), through its camping
ministry Pioneer Ranch Camps, and its leadership development
program known as Nikki’s Leadership Initiative (NLI),
is pleased to continue our innovative and suffessful leadership and spiritual
development program formed into “a GAP Year.”
Eleven
months in length, the GAP Year is a foundational program being
offered at Pioneer Ranch Camps in Alberta, and is aimed at
17 – 27 year old men and women who desire to develop
their leadership skills, engage in outdoor pursuits, learn
more about God and themselves, and serve students and guests
who come to Pioneer Ranch Camp for outdoor education, band
camps, retreats and conferences.
Service. Faith. Growth.
Go Deeper.
The GAP Year is a
unique program in Canada built for post high-school young
people interested in a life-changing, unconventional year
of learning involving service at a camp venue, development
in outdoor pursuits, horsemanship, adventure, and informal
Christian studies. |
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Service. Faith. Growth.
Go Deeper. The GAP Year is a
unique program in Canada built for post high-school young
people interested in a life-changing, unconventional year
of learning involving service at a camp venue, development
in outdoor pursuits, horsemanship, adventure, and informal
Christian studies.
GAP Year Seasons
Fall
- Orientation; hosting students at camp; Bible study;
- Planning and carrying out weekend youth camps;
- Living in community; training and practice leading a Bible
study; debriefing and reflection
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Winter
- Christian studies with visiting teachers
- Participation in Christian conferences such as Breakforth
and MisisonFest;
- Research and development of an “ecological hike”
at camp
- Training and participation in outdoor pursuits
- Engagement in a social justice project
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Spring
- Hosting students at camp; ongoing community life;
- Engaging in and leading Bible studies; training in outdoor
pursuits; serving on leadership teams planning summer camp;
participation in wrangler and canoe skill schools
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Summer
- Taking a leadership role at summer camp at each of Pioneer’s
three sites in Alberta: Peace Country Pioneer, Pioneer Lodge,
and Pioneer Ranch.
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A Little History
Pioneer’s GAP Year is unique in that it is a continuation
of our already existing program known as Nikki’s Leadership
Initiative (NLI) which began in Alberta in 2005.
The NLI program was inspired by the person and work of Cathie
Nicoll – long time campus and camp staff member with
IVCF and Pioneer who gave her life to the influence and development
of thousands of young men and women. The NLI program recognized
that leadership is a process and a journey, and desired to
see young people’s lives changed. The GAP Year program
will incorporate all of the goals and values of the NLI program.
Advantages of Pioneer’s GAP Year
- Small number of participants (10 maximum) – you’ll
form close-knit friendships that will last a lifetime as
you serve, study, hang-out and go on trips together. Together
you will challenge, support, affirm, and pray for one another
– as you help each other grow and develop.
- Close interaction with Pioneer staff and key volunteers,
and visiting teachers
- Feedback rich environment essential for leadership development
- Enjoy God’s creation at Pioneer Lodge located in
the Red Deer Valley and Pioneer Ranch located in Crimson
Lake Provincial Park
- Receive solid training in outdoor pursuits and horsemanship,
and in Christian studies from qualified teachers
- Hands-on application of what you learn – right away
- Pioneer Camps and IVCF have a long-standing reputation
of quality youth ministry in Canada. The Camp has 10 full-time
staff, 30 key volunteer summer camp directors, and hundreds
of volunteers and alumni
- Integration of service, quality teaching, living in community,
leading, and reflection creates a rich and textured learning
and growing environment
- Participate in some exciting and adventurous day-trips
and outtrips
Objectives
- Ceate the conditions necessary for Christian leadership
– courageous learning; Christian living; higher calling
– not just theology but application; not just study
but action; not just service but reflection; not just ‘good
enough’ but ‘pushing higher.’ Not just
‘me’ but ‘you’
- Invest in leadership on a year-round basis
- Extend the influence of Pioneer camps to urban centres
- Sustain a link between campus and camp ministries in Alberta
- See personal, spiritual, and skill development
- Equip a new generation of leaders with the strength of
character, development of faith, personal knowledge, and
leadership development they will need to know God and make
Him known; to become characters of God who initiate on behalf
of the gospel; to be fully committed followers of Christ
- Further the leadership development of Pioneer Camps/IVCF
among post high school students in Alberta
Participant Selection
The following criteria will be evaluated in order to determine
who the best fit is for our new GAP Year:
- Willingness to take leadership development seriously
- Desire to learn and grow
- Desire to grow in faith
- Willingness to work with students who visit camp
- Enthusiasm and passion for life
- Ability to live “in community” at a summer
camp venue
How to Apply
Print and complete the GAP
Year application form. Then, mail, fax, or e-mail the
completed application form to:
The Gap Year Program
Pioneer Ranch Camps
Box 660, Sundre, AB, T0M 1X0
Email: registration@pioneercamps.ab.ca
Toll Free: 1.888.511.2660
Fax: 1.403.638.4041
Start Date
Orientation for the 2010--2011 GAP Year begins Friday, August 27, 2010 at 6:00 pm. (Plan to arrive at The Lodge in Sundre on that Friday afternoon to get settled.) |
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