Since 1929 Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship of Canada (IVCF) has been on campuses across the country, a student movement of ministry to fellow students. The need for solid leadership in this area, as well as the recognition of the impact of Christian camping in the lives of young people, resulted in the founding of Pioneer Camps across Canada.

For over 5 decades Pioneer Pacific Camp, one of eight in the country, has been welcoming people to retreat and adventure into Creation. This experience, in the context of small community living, provides unique challenges and opportunities that foster balanced personal growth and development in faith, skills and relationships, set against the backdrop of God’s glorious fingerprint.

Envisioned as a training ground for Inter-Varsity’s work on campus, and based on the philosophy that in terms of God meeting and working in us “there is no division between the secular and the sacred,” Pioneer stays true to these roots with its Life on Life leadership development programs:

Leaders in Training (LIT) involves 4 weeks of study, activities and practical experience to provide skills and tools for the novice cabin leader. On the Pioneer Youth Crew(PYC) teens explore the life of Christ as a model as they spend 3 weeks putting “behind the scenes” servant leadership into practice. Cornerstone is an adventure-based out-tripping program that focuses on skills and allows the “crew” to experience community and teamwork in Creation. These three complementary programs, each with its own focus and approach that offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities for balanced growth, reflects our belief that God is intimately concerned with all of life, and can reveal Himself to us in any of our daily tasks, activities and times of worship.

The relationships that are continually forged between Pioneer and the student campus work in colleges and universities have proved mutually beneficial for many of our young adults to build on their understanding of what it could mean to serve God through all parts of their lives. This partnership in ministry has brought a measure of spiritual maturity to the camp setting: students on campus serve at camp in the summer, and young Pioneer leaders venture to serve on campus.

Our vision is to be able to continue to build on the strong history shared by IVCF

and Pioneer: providing a fun and safe place for all who serve and are served through this ministry, encountering Christ, exploring their faith and building authentic relationships as the foundation of the church.