Kevin Friesen recalls a group of girls that met at Cypress Bible Camp a number of years ago. They’d arrived from various parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta but remained in touch. Now, every year, they return to the camp for their annual reunion.
“This happens all the time,” says Friesen, the camp’s executive director. “We encourage friendship and treating everybody with love and kindness. It’s really easy to make friends at Cypress.”
For Friesen, a meaningful camp experience starts at the relational level – among campers, and among staff. From there, the fun of the activities and enjoyment of the outdoors come naturally.
“One of the most important things for me is to show the kids who come to camp that they’re safe and loved,” he says. “It’s sometimes hard for kids to be away from their parents for a week, and we need to make them feel as comfortable as possible. In order to do this, we need to find the absolute best staff who truly care about them and are committed to being there for them at all times.”
Showing love, he explains, is the “secret sauce” that allows campers to taste the full experience of Cypress Bible Camp. When kids know they’re safe and valued, they can enjoy their surroundings more fully.
Surroundings like the literal, physical setting of the camp.
“You just can’t beat the unbelievable setting of Cypress Hills,” says Friesen. “You wake up in the morning and there’s the fresh smell of pine trees. There’s chattering of squirrels. More than likely you’re going to see a family of deer, or a moose wandering the valley. I can’t even begin to describe the beauty of this place.”
He emphasizes that the high elevation means fewer mosquitoes, and presents a picture of life at the camp.
“When we’re going to the pool or other places, we’re not just walking on a sidewalk,” he says. “We’re taking a mountain trail everywhere we go. Playing games like Capture the Flag in the Cypress Hills is always more exciting.”
Activities like archery, canoeing and kayaking allow campers to interact with the spectacular setting. And for 2025 the camp is bringing back FORK, which stands for Fun Outdoor Recreational Cooking. It teaches kids how to cook over an open fire. Sharing the meals they make facilitates even more opportunities for friendship.
Another popular activity for teens and jr teens at Cypress is movie-making. Friesen says it’s taken off because, beyond the fun and creativity of making a film, at the end of the week the entire camp watches it together on the projector.
Starting with the Leadership Training Camp, Cypress Bible will be running camps from July 2 thru August 28. There are camps for kids ages 6-8, for those 8-10, for junior teens and for teens. Then, on August Long Weekend, the annual family camp will offer the Cypress Bible Camp experience to entire families.
Tying it all together is the camp’s commitment to Christian faith, offered uniquely to each age group.
“Most of the way faith ties into our activities is through how our staff members care for each camper,” says Friesen. “We want to show the kids that they are loved by God. And we show this to them by how we treat them, and there are opportunities for that every single day.”
For prospective campers and parents who may be on the fence about camp this summer, Friesen simply encourages them to give him a call.
“I can answer any questions or concerns that anybody might have. I love to help people understand what to expect from camp, and there’s no such thing as a silly question. So just give me a call and I can help you understand what we’re all about.”
Friesen and Cypress Bible Camp can be reached by calling (306) 662-3956. Additional information is available on the camp’s website, and sign-ups can also be completed online.
