2024 Retreats and Events

“I am so thankful to have had this weekend for rest, reflection, quietness in nature, good food, great fellowship, and spiritual input that was inviting, thought provoking and meaningful.”

Women’s Retreat Participant

*Registration for 2024 Retreats opens on December 1!*
Packing List for Retreats
Register for Events & Retreats Listed Below

(After you sign in, choose 2024 Events & Retreats and follow the directions at the top of each page.)


Cancellation Policy: No refunds for cancellations made less than 2 weeks before the retreat. Prior to two weeks: $50 cancellation fee (or $100 cancellation fee for retreats over $400). If a retreat or event is cancelled by Silver Lake, a full refund will be given.


Winter Camp for Grown-Ups: March 1-3, 2024

This weekend is for 20 & 30 somethings who want to do camp again! This “choose your own adventure” weekend is the perfect winter escape and is a collaborative project between PiE (Pastors in Exile) and SLMC.  Click here for packing list and schedule

Cost:  $180 (+HST) per person  Subsidized Cost: $110 (+HST)              Register


Weekday Wanders – Bruce Trail Sydenham End to End Hike: April 9-12 and/or April 22-26, 2024

Do you have ambitions to hike the Bruce Trail? Knock off the Sydenham Section (all 170+ km of it!) through our 2-part series this April. Each day hike approximately 20 kms (see schedule for route information). Complete half the section with this series and/or sign up for both hikes to complete the entire section! Connect with an Indigenous guide along the journey. Enjoy a relaxing sauna at the end of a long day. Accommodations (shared), breakfasts, lunches and snacks are included in the price. The 4 day/3 night and 5 day/4 night weekday hike series is geared to adults, requiring participants to be able to hike moderate to difficult terrain for up to 7 hours per day, and have their own vehicle or carpool to locations each day. For more information email hr@slmc.ca or call 519-422-1401.

Cost:  $385 (+HST) per person (Part 1), $513 (+HST) per person (Part 2)

 See Sydenham Schedule, Hiking Packing List and Camp Packing List           Register


Music is Medicine Retreat: April 19-21, 2024

Come to Silver Lake for some time away at camp filled with singing and instrumental music! Sing through songbooks, hymnals and more in the company of music-lovers! Alissa Bender will be joined by Mykayla Turner and Joel Woods to lead this weekend. Connect and eat great food! All meals provided.

Cost:  $210 (+HST) per person        Click here for the packing list  and here for the Music Retreat Schedule             Register


Spring Work Weekend: April 26-28, 2024

This weekend is for those who enjoy doing physical labour and cleaning up camp. It is fun and family friendly. Saturday is spent doing various tasks around the property. Generally people divide into small groups or teams and tackle projects on the list that excite them (and have the skill set for!) Food is provided – really yummy food! You can leave Saturday after dinner or stay and leave Sunday. Sunday breakfast is provided. Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or have a parent sign a waiver entrusting them to responsible adult. (That includes CILT 2s from this past summer.)

A CILT Cabin Dedication service will take place at this year’s Spring Work Weekend to honour Henry Pauls’ legacy and years of service at Silver Lake. Time TBD.

Packing List                Register


Connecting with Indigenous Culture: April 29, 2024

Indigenous cultural awareness workshop with Diane Giroux, Giiwe Coordinator at M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre of Owen Sound and award-winning presenter, George Couchie whose spirit name is Zoogiday ‘strong heart’.

Come to Silver Lake Sunday evening for a 6:30pm supper and enjoy the evening at camp. Monday enjoy breakfast, a session, lunch, an afternoon session and dinner, then depart. Be inspired and learn about indigenous culture. As Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples come together to build relationships and trust, it is imperative that we recognize there is a different way of knowing. This session provides the learner with a glimpse into the fundamental understanding of spirituality of the First Nations People in Ontario. Native spirituality forms a basis for the culture as a whole. Native spirituality does not exist separately from other processes within the community such as history, politics, education, justice and social structure.

**Details of this workshop still being sorted out – stay tuned!***      Cost:  $ (+HST) per person         See overnight packing list


Weekday Wanders – Bruce Trail Bonanza: April 30-May 2, 2024

Passionate hikers unite for 2 fun-filled days (and 2 nights) on the Bruce Trail on the Peninsula! Day 1 will be exploring around the Owen Sound area from Inglis Falls to Jones Falls, with some fabulous views in between. Day 2 will be Jackson Cove and Barrow Bay north of Wiarton. Participants should be willing and able to complete up to 20 km on moderate to difficult terrain. The third day is a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ if you have additional personal hiking ambitions in the area. Email Karen B at hr@slmc.ca with any questions.

Stay in camp cabins and be treated to homecooked meals while taking in the beauty of the local landscape. Shared or private rooms available.

Cost:  $210 (+HST) per person       Camp Packing List      Hiking Packing List           Register


Newcomer Family Holiday: May 3-5, 2024

“I will talk about my first experience canoeing until I’m an old man!” – Shinga

Enjoy a weekend of fun-filled memories! Families experience waterfront activities, sports, campfires and games. Meals provided and much more! Join us for a weekend of fun, good family time, and enjoying everything Silver Lake has to offer. The weekend is for families new to Canada (within the last 3 years) and their sponsors. Each family is encouraged to come with a support person.

Cost $300 (+HST) per family.  Click here for packing list and    2024 Schedule     Register


Spring Teen CampMay 10-12, 2024

Can’t wait for summer? Come enjoy a weekend of fun-filled memories! Waterfront activities, sports, campfires and games along with great food and much more! Join us for a weekend of fun, and enjoying everything Silver Lake has to offer. The weekend is for youth of high school age (13-17) and youth sponsors. We hope many sponsors will come and also know that there are a number of churches who do not have sponsors. Teens can come with or without a sponsor.

Cost:  $210 (+HST) per youth,  $100 (+HST) per sponsor.       Click here for packing list and schedule              Register


The Grand Paddle & Hike Fundraiser: May 10-12, 2024

Silver Lake has only one fundraiser each year for it’s annual budget called Paddle the Grand. Funds raised from this event are used to support all kinds of camp costs, such as staff wages, camperships, programming, food, etc… Last year was a record-breaking year so let’s continue the trend! For more details visit The Grand Paddle & Hike Fundraising Page!


Family CampMay 17-19, 2024

Enjoy a weekend of fun-filled memories! Families experience waterfront activities, sports, campfires and games.  Meals provided and much more!  Join us for a weekend of fun, good family time, and enjoying everything Silver Lake has to offer. The weekend is especially beneficial for any camper considering coming to camp for the first time.

*Family is defined as 4 people living at the same address – each additional family member (13 yrs or above) is an extra $100 for a room or cabin. If you want to share a cabin with another family, both families must register and pay separately, then email fun@slmc.ca to let us know which family you will be sharing with.

Cost:  $450 (+HST) per family of 4*        See packing list and Schedule                  Register


2024 Fall Retreats (opening later)


Men’s Retreat: September 13-15, 2024

Participants enjoy a weekend of relaxation, connection, good food, swimming, boating, games, campfires, nature walks and time together at Silver Lake. Join host Mike Schmidt for a fun-filled weekend! Saturday dinner will feature a Russian Mennonite meal with many favourite traditional dishes and foods. More menu details to come!

Cost:  $260 (+HST)              See packing list


Weekday Wanders – Secrets of Sydenham: September 2024  TBD

Come discover the ‘Secrets of Sydenham’ through a series of small hikes along the Bruce Trail near Owen Sound. Each day, we will go on short hikes to search for clues and learn more about the cultural and natural history of the Niagara Escarpment while staying in great accommodations at camp! All food and accommodations (shared) are included in the price. The hike is mid-week (2 days and 2 nights) and geared to adults, requiring participants to have their own vehicle or carpool to locations each day. (Note: these hikes will be different from the ones in 2023!) Email Karen B at hr@slmc.ca with any questions.

Cost:  $250 (+HST) per person       See packing list for hiking and camp packing list


Fall Hike Retreat: September 20-22, 2024

Come stay at camp for the weekend and spend Saturday hiking on a nearby section of the Bruce Trail. A variety of hiking options will be available from easy to more challenging. Enjoy a hike with your young or older children, bring a partner or come on your own for a hike that suits your comfort level. Enjoy relaxation, great food and a comfortable room at the end of the day. Oh, and did we mention sauna? Two nights (Friday and Saturday) accommodation and Saturday breakfast to Sunday breakfast included. Participants will need their own vehicles to get to and from the Bruce Trail.

Cost per Adult: $180 (+HST)   Cost per Child: $50 (+HST)         See packing list

“The weekend was amazing! We had such a great time! Girls loved it and everything was well run with lots of great ideas to keep folks busy.”     – 2020 Hiker


Fall Work Weekend & CILT 1 Reunion: November 1-3, 2024

This weekend is only for those who enjoy doing physical labour and cleaning up camp. It is fun and family friendly. Saturday is spent doing various tasks around the property. Generally people divide into small groups or teams and tackle projects on the list that excite them (and have the skill set for!) Food is provided – really yummy food! You can leave Saturday after dinner or stay and leave Sunday. Sunday breakfast is provided.

Note: CILT 1’s will be supervised by Silver Lake staff throughout the weekend. (Anyone else under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or have a parent sign a waiver entrusting them to responsible adult.)

No cost!                      See packing list


SLMC Staff Alumni Retreat: TBD

Calling everyone who used to work for Silver Lake! Return to camp to reunite with friends and former staff! Relive old memories, sing your favourite songs, and hear stories from other generations. You definitely don’t want to miss this nostalgic, relaxing getaway. Ages 21+!

Cost per person: $180+HST


Fathers and Kids Retreat: January 17-19, 2025

Skating on the lake, building snow forts, snowshoeing through the woods, roasting smores over the campfire, and playing games in the dining hall! Dads enjoy free-time Saturday morning (coffee in abundance) while staff provide programming with kids. NOTE: Father is defined as any male adult mentor.

Cost:  $210 (+HST) per Father   Cost per Child: $50 (+HST)      See packing list and schedule


Women’s Retreat (Forest Leadership): February 7-9, 2025

Come, experience the beauty of creation. Be nourished by the relaxed pace, good food and meaningful conversation. Leah Reesor-Keller will guide us through the weekend.  Play in the snow, breathe deeply in yoga, cross country ski, go on a snowshoe hike through the woods, laugh into the wee hours of the night. Come, the circle is welcoming and wide!

Cost:  $260 (+HST) per person      See packing list and schedule


Interested in booking the camp?

Silver Lake Mennonite Camp is available for rental from early September to late June. Weekend availability is limited.

To find out about rental availability and pricing, please contact fun@slmc.ca or 519-422-1401