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60 Years. $60,000. Let’s Build a CILT Cabin!

Update – The CILT Cabin Campaign Fund continues to grow. We are getting closer and closer to reaching the goal thanks to the generosity of the Silver Lake community!

March 20, 2021

We are excited to officially launch the first fundraising campaign to celebrate Silver Lake’s 60th Anniversary!

60 Years. $60,000. Let’s Build a CILT Cabin!

Silver Lake was started by young Mennonite leaders in 1961. From then until now, Silver Lake has empowered young leaders. The Camper in Leadership Training program (CILTs) has been a cornerstone of the Silver Lake experience. The CILT cabins are the last cabins at camp that need replacing. As we support young leaders and meet the demands of an expanding leadership program, this project of building a CILT cabin and rejuvenating the CILT area is the perfect fit for the 60th Anniversary, honouring camp’s past and preparing for the future.

Be sure to scroll down to see CILT groups from the past! Can you find your crew? If you have any other photos of CILT groups, please send to fun@slmc.ca. We would love to fill in the missing years!

We have currently raised $66,345 towards our goal! Your gift, big or small, could help us reach $60,000!!!

You can donate online quickly and easily here:

Donate Now to the 60th CILT Cabin Campaign!

• Donating online through the above link is the best option for camp! However, we are still happy to accept donations by other ways.
• Cheques can be mailed to: Silver Lake Mennonite Camp, 209-50 Kent Avenue, Kitchener ON N2G 3R1  (*please mark 60th Campaign on your cheque)
• E-transfers can be sent to fun@slmc.ca (no password required)

The Fine Print: Any funds that go above and beyond the goal, will be saved for CILT area improvements and additional building expenses. Due to current high building material costs, it’s expected that the total price to build the CILT cabins will be higher than the original estimate.

Thank you in advance for your support and generosity, not only this year, but over the past 60 years at Silver Lake!

April 7 – Second CILT Cabin Announcement!

At this time, we are thrilled to announce that on behalf of the Henry & Nancy Pauls Family, a generous donation has been made, in the amount of $60,000, to go towards a second CILT Cabin! This special gift, made in memory of Henry, is such a fitting tribute to honour Henry’s legacy and years of service at Silver Lake. (Henry, a long-time Silver Laker, passed away in May 2020.) Our heartfelt thanks goes out to Nancy and the Pauls family for their generosity and continued support of Silver Lake. What a gift to our leadership program and future CILT groups!

Scroll down to see CILT Groups from the Past!

** Attention long lost Silver Lakers! To reconnect with camp or to be added to our Staff Alumni list, please fill out the following…

Fun Data Gathering Form!

1987 CILT 1’s and 2’s plus some staff

1986 some CILT 2’s and staff

2003 CILT 1

2002 CILT 1C

2010 CILT 1A outtrip

2012 CILT 1A

1992 CILT 2’s

1991 CILT’s

1987 CILT 1’s

1988 CILT 1’s

2019 CILT 1’s

2014 CILT 1’s

2015 CILT 2’s

1992 CILT group! Duane & Elinor leaders

199_? CILT Group

2011 CILT Group

2011 CILT group

2011 CILT group!

2011 CILT group

2011 CILT Group

2011 CILT boys

2019 CILT 2’s

The Grand Paddle & Hike 2021 Fundraiser- an Incredible Success!

Silver Lake’s annual fundraiser looked a lot different this year, but that didn’t stop the support from being record breaking! During a year when we couldn’t actually gather together for this event, we never would have imagined surpassing our original goal ($35,000) by such a significant amount. The grand total for funds raised was $54,000! Incredible!

A heartfelt thank you to each participant and each donor for your enthusiasm, your generosity, and your support of Silver Lake, especially this year. The funds raised will go towards summer staff wages and supporting young leaders at Silver Lake.

Check out the gallery below to see photos of some of the families and individuals who hiked/ paddled/ ran/ biked/ and walked to raise funds for Silver Lake on the weekend of May 7-9. A record 35 teams helped to make this fundraiser so successful!

The Grand Paddle & Hike May 8/9, 2021

Click here to donate or participate in this important annual fundraiser!

Make Music with Silver Lake!

Do you sing?  Play an instrument?  Silver Lake needs you!

Calling all friends of Silver Lake to join voices and instruments together.

This is a chance to spread some joy, recording your part in your home, and sending it in to become part of an online music group singing and playing “Oh Silver Lake” and “Will You Let Me Be Your Servant.”

If you are or have been on staff at Silver Lake, we hope you’ll be part of singing “Praise God From Whom” (606/118/ 71) in Silver Lake style (acapella and at a good pace).

Click here to sign up and soon you’ll receive a lead track recording, information about the music and tips on how to best record yourself for these songs.

Recordings must be in by February 26th.

Whether you are/ have been a camper, staff, volunteer, supporter, or camp encourager, your voice matters and we hope to hear you through your instrument or vocal cords!

2021!

Here’s what’s happening at Silver Lake in 2021!

1. Registration for overnight camps and Discovery Day Camp at Silver Lake opens at 7am on February 1. Click here for more information and to register.  No fees will be collected until April 1 at the earliest and a minimum of 2 weeks notice will be given before fees are due.  These camps may not be able to run, but if they can, we’ll be ready!

2.  NEW!  Cabin rentals will be available at Silver Lake this year starting May 2nd.  Click here for more information and to register for as many time slots as you like.  No fees will be collected until April 1 at the earliest and a minimum of 2 weeks notice will be given before fees are due.  Please note that summer cabin rentals (June 27- September 2) may be cancelled if overnight camp is running.

3.  Registration for Silver Lake Adventures Day Camps is open at 14 locations across Ontario.  Click here for more information and to register.   No fees will be collected until April 1 at the earliest and a minimum of 2 weeks notice will be given before fees are due.  Please sign up early if you are interested in a day camp so that we know there is interest in your area.

4. CANCELLED:  May 21-23 Family Camp is cancelled.  Click here to sign up for the March Family Camp Getaway (March 14-20) or family tenting in Monetville on the shores of Lake Nipissing (August 15-21 or 22-28).  Click here to rent a cabin at Silver Lake that weekend or any other available time.

5.  Family Tenting in Monetville:  Click here for more information and to register for a week of family tenting.  Note that Silver Lake Adventures day camp will be running the same weeks and families can register children ages 9-15 for the day camp program.  For questions related to availability of programming for younger children, please contact me.

6.  Silver Lake Sings:  Calling all singers and instrumentalists to be part of Silver Lake Sings.  Click here for more information and to sign up.

7.  Looking for new activities while staying at home?  Click here to play the Silver Lake edition of a game similar to Ticket to Ride and lots of other activities.

Silver Lake at a Church Near You!

Mennonite churches have supported Silver Lake since its story began 60 years ago, so to start the year out right, catch Silver Lake at any of these churches. Church communities have found many new ways of gathering during the pandemic and not all have public services. See the links below for public services or reach out to churches you have connections to.

We hope to see many of you in the weeks ahead!

“Friends of Silver Lake” & “Staff Alumni” Contact Form

Silver Lake is working on an exciting new project to reconnect with Silver Lakers and Past Staff who we may have lost touch with over the years. We need your help!

Click on the form below to read more details and to:

• Confirm your own contact info
• Be added to the “Friends of Silver Lake” mailing list
• Share some details from your time at camp
• Let us know if you are SLMC “Staff Alumni”
• Report a change of email or address

SLMC Contact & Data Gathering Form!

Summer 2020

Supporting and Strengthening the Silver Lake Community

Dear Silver Lakers:

Summer 2020 is going to be very different this year!

Stay tuned here to know what’s going on at Silver Lake and how you can join in.

Looking for things to do in June?  Join any of these activities!