GSS Halton-Peel helped the Interfaith Council of Halton to organize and put on the second Interfaith Peace Camp in Oakville from July 9-13! We had 21 amazing campers from 5-12 years old participate, with councilors joining us from the Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI). The camp was aimed to learn about different faiths by visiting their places of worship and participating in activities and discussions around peace and faith. The campers were very interested to learn about the Baha’i Faith, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism – and especially to see the wonderful commonality and also uniqueness within these different faiths. One common value was the Golden Rule – treating others how you want to be treated – which also lended to one of the interfaith environmental themes of the camp supported by GSS Halton-Peel and Faith & the Common Good: the Green Rule – do unto the Earth as you would have it done unto you.
Every day, we also had time for some fun crafts, games and outdoor activities, including eco-mindfulness activities led by GSS Halton-Peel along with Darryl Houghton and Kristen Stanstell from the Bronte Creek Project. GSS staff also led a fun backyard birds workshop where we made birdfeeders for the campers to take home. We had a great time learning alongside so many new friends for the week and we congratulate the Interfaith Council of Halton for their great efforts to go green in so many ways during the camp this year – from only vegetarian meals to proper waste sorting!
We were also grateful to be invited to make a presentation about the Green Rule at the Interfaith Peace Camp in Peel, organized by the Interfaith Council of Peel on July 23rd. We talked about the value that all faiths share for the environment, as well as how to be more environmental in our daily lives. After we helped the campers make bags out of old t-shirts!