SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue Presents: CAMP

February 21, 2023 - February 24, 2023

A four-day outdoor retreat for first and second year students

This year, CAMP took place from February 21st to 24th at Sasamat Outdoor Centre in Belcarra, British Columbia, located less than an hour drive from Vancouver and nestled on beautiful Sasamat Lake. Sasamat Outdoor Centre is a community-based non-profit organization that offers summer camps, leadership programs and outdoor education. They (and we) believe that time spent outdoors is time well spent, especially when we have the privilege of doing so together.

About CAMP

CAMP is all about making friends, having fun and learning new skills. It's an opportunity to connect and engage with other 1st and 2nd year SFU students, all while building the skills and perspectives you need to feel confident for the rest of your time at SFU. 

This retreat was also designed for students who want to trial a mini-version of Semester in Dialogue before fully enrolling. CAMP introduces students to the most essential and useful tools of dialogue like:

  • Conversations to help you gain insight into complex problems
  • Opportunities to listen and speak from many diverse perspectives
  • Time for self-reflection and self-care to help you assess your own skills and abilities 

Through CAMP, students also receive one official SFU co-curricular credit, free swag and prizes.

What to Expect at CAMP:

An authentic camp experience

This year, CAMP takes place at Sasamat Outdoor Centre on beautiful Lake Sasamat. We're talking cabins, bunk beds, fire pits, lake views and all those classic camp experiences from when you were a kid. 

Skills + activities

Wanna level up your talent and experiences? Come join us for four days where you'll have the chance to strengthen communication skills and learn new ones. 

 

Cool people, good vibes

You'll spend these four days at CAMP with a boatload of students in their early years at SFU who are keen to make new friends. Many students in our Semester in Dialogue programming go on to have lifelong friendships. Your facilitators are pretty cool too.

Food, prizes and free stuff

High-key or low-key, we've got something for everyone. S'mores making, mocktail competitions, playlist collabs, beach sunsets and that's just to name a few!

What We've Heard from Alumni

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the payment options for CAMP?

CAMP aims to be intersectional, inclusive and accessible. That's why there are multiple payment options for you to choose from. In your application form, please select the payment option that best allows you to show up for CAMP. We don't want finances to be a barrier to joining us for this retreat, so whichever option you choose is cool with us.

What if I cannot attend certain days or hours of CAMP?

CAMP is about building relationships and connecting with your community, so we strongly recommend that you are able to fully attend all 4 days of the retreat. 

What if I do not want to participate in select CAMP activities?

Although we hope you'll be present for each activity, you also have the option to leave the conversation whenever you choose. In fact, we'll be sure to offer additional resources and services, such as SFU Health & Counselling Services, to ensure your safety and well-being throughout the retreat.

Will there be any assignments or projects I will need to complete for CAMP?

CAMP will always be projectless and homeworkless! We ask that you come to each session ready to learn, though we also understand that a reading break shouldn’t be stressful. While you may be prompted to fill out select documents in preparation for the retreat, there won't be any assignments or exams to complete. 

How do you decide who gets accepted into CAMP?

CAMP is designed to be an immersive experience for new SFU students. We want you to create meaningful connections and build community. We've planned activities with intention so that they connect and build upon each other. For these reasons, only first and second year students will be accepted.

How do I know if I'm a first or second year student?

Whether you're a first or second year student is not based on credit hours, it's based on when you joined the SFU community. Most CAMPers will be first and second year students who have not yet completed 60 credits, however, we want to leave room for folks who are transferring in. If you are an undergraduate student who joined the SFU community within the last two years, you fit the criteria.