A Week of Connection and Community: Unplugging and Reconnecting at Coldspring Campground

Coldspring Campground, July 2025 – For one unforgettable week, the serene beauty of Coldspring Campground transformed into a vibrant hub of community and connection, as CentreCanada Newcomer Society hosted its annual Summer Tent Camp. From July 1 to July 7, over 50 families gathered for an experience that fostered a strong sense of belonging and community spirit among newcomers in Canada. This year’s camp was not just an escape from city life, but a profound journey of rediscovery of nature, of self, and of one another.

---

You can relive the highlights through a special AI-generated podcast that captures the voices, reflections, and atmosphere of this incredible event.

Don’t miss it — listen now and share with others who joined or wish they had!

---

The Joy of Disconnecting: Embracing Life Beyond the Screen

In an era where instant gratification and digital connectivity dominate, the camp offered a rare opportunity to truly unplug. For many, the idea of being without electricity and internet for six days seemed daunting at first, but attendees quickly found profound benefits. As Dr. Lyndsey Eksili, an accomplished educational leader and speaker at the event, observed, we are “used to everything being at our fingertips right away”. This constant accessibility, she noted, can lead to losing connection with one another and even with a higher power. The camp provided a crucial chance to “break away and have some free time, have some downtime, have some spiritual time”.

The Çavdar family, a large family of six plus grandparents from Kelowna, BC, recounted how their kids had “no screen time and they were still enjoying their day”. Feyza Çavdar highlighted the benefit of having “more conversation than our busy daily life”. Similarly, Ceylin K., a young attendee from Burnaby, BC, found it “easy” to be without internet, noting her “eyes won’t break” and she could “spend more time outside instead of like inside like rotting in my bed”. Malik Miradov, from Calgary, admitted they “weren’t sure how we were going to do” without internet or phone reception for six days, but found it “totally normal and fine,” with plenty of activities for all age groups. Dr. Eksili echoed this sentiment, stating that after “two or three days, we got used to it and now we don’t want to go back”.

Seminars and Spirituality: Fueling Personal and Community Growth

A cornerstone of the camp experience was the series of interactive seminars, covering topics such as family life, values, and community building. These sessions were highly effective and deeply appreciated by participants. Feyza Çavdar was particularly enthusiastic, stating she “wanted to join all of them” and ran “towards to the tent that the seminar had”. She found the speakers “really experienced and they were really good answering our questions,” providing guidance on how to “help our families to have a better time together and understand the different stages of the childhood”. She described the seminars as “very beneficial and it was very spiritual as well,” with the natural setting enhancing the understanding of conversations.

Malik Miradov also greatly enjoyed the seminars, particularly speakers from the US who “shared their life experience and how did they become who they are”. Marites K. noted the seminars were “more effective” because they allowed attendees to “get to know all the people that come from other places” and listen to “nice speaker[s]”. Sinan Çavdar emphasized the moral improvement gained from the seminars. Dr. Eksili, coming from an educational background, highlighted the personal benefit of “being able to meet with different people here, hear their stories, get to know them on a personal level,” calling it “probably the most touching aspect of these kinds of events”.

Building Bridges: The Heart of Community Connection

The primary benefit of the camp, unanimously highlighted by attendees, was the unparalleled opportunity for socializing and building connections. Sinan Çavdar expressed the joy of “getting together with our friends” and making new ones. Malik Miradov similarly cherished meeting “old friends from years ago” and making “new friends” from across Canada, including Vancouver, Kelowna, and Calgary.

The camp cultivated a strong sense of togetherness. Families shared meals, built lasting friendships, and engaged in genuine interactions. The Çavdar family highlighted the incredible generosity and openness: “everyone was inviting each other even though we didn’t know each other to their tents and we had tea time together, had really good conversations and then we shared our food. It was a lot of sharing ideas, sharing food, sharing our table”. This level of sharing and connection helped the Çavdar family feel “that we are in our home”. The K. family also felt “very happy to lots of people here, our community people”. Marites K. added that camping brought them “more closer to our family” with “more time spent together with the kids at night talking and during the day just walk around see our community, talking each other, eating together, drinking tea together at night, having a fireplace with the family”. Young Meva Miradov, when asked about the most fun part, simply stated, “Making new friends and playing with them”.

Dr. Eksili eloquently summarized the importance of these gatherings: “Because everything is so easily accessible, we lose connection with one another”. Camps like this, she explained, are “really important for a lot of reasons, but it helps us build that one-on-one personal connection with our families, with our friends, meet people we don’t know and to kind of spend time in nature and just look at the wonders of everything that God has given us on the earth”. She further remarked on the impact of bringing together university students and families, providing a chance for everyone to break away from pressures and strengthen family bonds.

A Resounding Thank You and Hopes for the Future

The overwhelming sentiment from all participants was one of deep gratitude to CentreCanada for organizing such a beneficial and heartwarming event. Sinan Çavdar thanked CentreCanada for helping them “get along with our friends and making new friends and improve ourselves morally”. Feyza Çavdar, speaking for her family, said, “We are looking forward for the next one” and appreciated CentreCanada “for all the organization and helping us feel that we are in our home”.

Ali K. expressed thanks for “making this space for us” and for the opportunity to make “a lot of new friends in the community”. Malik Miradov extended his thanks to “all the staff and volunteers,” recognizing the “hours and days of preparation” required, and added, “we’re looking forward to see you next year”. Dr. Lyndsey Eksili, who found this to be her first such summer retreat in nature, praised CentreCanada for taking them away from “all of the comforts that we know so that we could take some time to come here, do some tefekur, and bring ourselves closer to God and to everything around us”. She expressed hope that this “same idea and build it in other parts of this country and other countries as well”.

The CentreCanada Tent Camp at Coldspring Campground truly lived up to its promise, creating a memorable week of community and connection that will undoubtedly resonate with families until they meet again next year.

---