Summer Break Camp for Adults & Singing in the Pines
Walking the Seven Stone Path
Thursday, August 8 to Monday, August 12, 2024
Dean: Randy Kokal
Keynote Facilitator: Peter Bolland
Director of Music & Worship: Malcolm Hawkes
Embark on a transformative five day/four-night retreat amidst the tranquil embrace of nature, led by acclaimed author Peter Bolland, and facilitated by Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle, Malcolm Hawkes, and Chris Epting.
With this year’s theme, Walking the Seven Stone Path, we will delve into Peter Bolland’s illuminating new book, The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom. The book distills
the universal insights of the world’s wisdom traditions into seven core ideas: acceptance, surrender, engagement, allowance, enjoyment, love, and integration – guiding us towards deeper self-awareness and understanding. Over the week of workshops and discussions, deep under the spell of the serenity of Camp de Benneville Pines, we’ll feel our innate wisdom rising through the cracks of our own lives.
It is highly recommended, but not required, that you read The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom before arrival. The workshops and discussions are designed for everyone, whether you’ve read the book or not. You can order it online wherever books are sold (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Balboa Press, and many more.) Books will also be available for purchase at camp. And everyone receives the free 26-page study guide The Seven Stone Path Workbook, full of discussion questions, exercises, and journaling prompts.
The Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle will lead us in Crafting a Life Review, exploring a selection of major life themes of our specific journeys, defining moments, and turning points, such as nourishing and joyful relationships, difficult times and unresolved issues, and spiritual challenges up ahead.
This year we also welcome back Singing in the Pines where choir participants will spend a meaningful week making beautiful, energizing music together with the picturesque backdrop of snow-capped peaks. More details coming soon!
Immerse yourself in a soul-nourishing experience, where diverse voices converge, and shared wisdom blossoms. Join us at Camp de Benneville Pines for a retreat that enriches the spirit and engages the mind, body, and soul.
Stay tuned for more details – it’s an adventure you won’t want to miss!
About our Facilitators:
Peter Bolland is the Philosophy and Humanities Department Chair at Southwestern College where he has taught philosophy, comparative religion, and world mythology for thirty-three years. A long-time columnist for Unity Magazine and a frequent speaker and teacher at numerous lifelong learning communities and spiritual centers around the country, Bolland is also an award-winning poet and singer-songwriter. His YouTube channel is a popular resource for wisdom students all over the world with over 300,000 views. Learn more at peterbolland.com.
Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle has been a parish minister since 1967 and is the author of two dozen books on various topics of personal growth, social compassion, and spiritual depth. He has been part of the beloved Camp de Benneville Community for over 50 years. Learn more at https://tomo-t.com/.
Malcolm Hawkes is a SoCal native, professional musician, and college educator. For over a decade, they have been directing worship services, and derive deep joy from creating beautiful experiences with others through the joining of instruments and voices. Malcolm loves making connections with and mentoring students at Norco College, where they are an adjunct associate faculty member and the staff accompanist for their music department. Their religious life centers around their Throop family in Pasadena, where they serve as Musician-in-Residence, direct the choir, and run an LGBTQ+ support group.
Chris Epting is the author of 40 travel/history books, including James Dean Died Here (Santa Monica Press), Roadside Baseball (McGraw Hill), Hello It’s Me, Dispatches From a Pop Culture Junkie (Santa Monica Press) and many others. He is also an award-winning travel writer and has contributed articles for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Westways and Travel + Leisure magazine, among other publications. In addition, Chris is a memoirist and has co-written Def Leppard’s Phil Collen’s memoir, Adrenalized, the John Oates Memoir Change of Seasons, and Long Train Runnin’ with the Doobie Brothers among many others. Learn more at https://www.chrisepting.com/.
Pricing Information
Camp de Benneville Pines has moved to a self-selecting sliding fee scale. Level 1 is our minimum cost, Level 2 is what it takes for us to meet our needs and Level 3 helps to offset costs and supports Camp’s scholarship fund.
| Camper Type | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Camper age 19+ | $595 | $615 | $635 |
| Add On: | |
| Singing in the Pines | $75 |
Pricing includes lodging, all meals, activities, and supplies. A $75 per person non-refundable deposit is required to confirm registration. Full balance due one week before the start of camp. No refunds will be allowed after check-in begins on the first day of camp. Electronic invoices will be sent out periodically, allowing partial or full payment, until payment in full is received.
Accommodations:
Camp de Benneville Pines welcomes you to a peaceful night’s rest in one of seven sleeping cabins. The cabins are scattered throughout our beautiful property, surrounded by forest, and walking distance from all camp activities and other buildings. Each cabin is distinctively decorated with a mountain theme. All offer rustic comfort.
Cabins host between three and nine sleeping rooms and two to three communal bathrooms. Standard accommodation includes twin bunk beds, and there are optional cabin upgrades for cabins with kitchens and living room areas, as well as rooms with double beds, or a combination of the two. Cabin upgrades are limited so register early.
Experience the joy of togetherness in our cozy cabin retreats, where each “family” is provided a private room to create their own haven of relaxation. For individual adventurers or friends journeying together, our cabins offer a harmonious blend of community and comfort, accommodating 2-4 guests per room. We understand the value of companionship, so we invite you to personalize your stay by requesting roommates during the registration process or asking friends and family to join you ensuring your camp experience is shared with familiar faces and new friends alike.
Explore our accommodations by selecting About > Facilities > Lodging on the navigation bar above.
Options:
Standard Accommodation: included in Camper pricing
Craig’s Cabin*: $60 additional fee per adult
Cabin 6*: $40 additional fee per adult, twin beds only
Double Bed Room*: $25/person, 2 people required
*Cabin upgrades are limited and are subject to availability. A refund will be processed after cabin assignments have been completed for any upgrade fees paid that cannot be accommodated.
To make camp affordable, you can even make payments!
COVID UPDATE: Camp no longer requires proof of vaccination at check-in, however, you will be required to show a negative Rapid Test result upon arrival before mingling with other campers. More details to follow closer to the event. Click here to read the updated policy in full.
Contact Information:
Facilities or General Camp: Contact Janet James, Executive Director, director@uucamp.org, 909-435-6298
Registration: Contact Jessica Fairchild, Camp Registrar, registrar@uucamp.org, 909-747-9792
Camp de Benneville Pines may sometimes need to make the difficult decision to cancel camp due to a variety of factors including but not limited to the following: severe weather conditions, Covid and other contagious outbreaks, camp volunteer and site staff shortages, and/or low camper registration. Should the camp have to cancel, refunds will be issued.