About
Peace Camp is a non-religious day camp where children take part in Global Village activities, a Kitchen Experience, a Service Project, a Peace Mural Project, Garden Exploration, and a Video Project. Campers spend time planting in the community garden, cooking in a commercial kitchen, exploring open-ended art in the courtyard, working on tangible service projects for the community, preparing pizzas with toppings representing each continent, and playing cooperative games. They also tour the garden, learn how to compost, pick produce to share with the food bank, and act out conflict resolution scenarios in front of a green screen.
• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: Takes place each July as a non-religious day camp
The La Verne Church of the Brethren sponsors Peace Camp and states that it continues the work of Jesus peacefully, simply, together, creating a Christian community that is inclusive, caring, and peace-minded. The church affirms that people of any race, ethnic identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, economic status, faith tradition, or life situation are welcome in the congregation, and it states beliefs in compassionate service, stewardship of creation, respect for diversity, and nonviolent reconciliation for differences among all people, nations, and faith traditions. The church states that it claims no creed but the New Testament, as exemplified by the life of Christ, strives to follow the way of Jesus, and seeks to grow closer to the mind and heart of God through these efforts.
Peace Camp’s leadership team includes kitchen coordinator Tron Passmore, who guides kitchen activities and supports campers in creating recipes and granola bars, and Linda Himes, who leads cooperative games. Marv and Kristina Guinto give campers a tour of the garden and teach composting, while Aaron Cruse leads the peace camp service project and Phil supports campers in the video project. Summer Service students Darlene Gonzalez and Emili Melkonyan are welcomed to work with Peace Camp; Darlene is a third-year Psychology student at the University of La Verne with experience as a camp counselor at YMCA Camp Oakes, a Teacher’s Assistant for second graders at Hope Lutheran School, and as a Behavioral Technician supporting children and adults with autism, and Emili is a third-year Business Administration student at the University of La Verne who previously served at Brethren Hillcrest Homes through Summer Service.
Peace Camp partners with the Pomona Economic Access Center to assemble care packages for children affected by ICE raids and for local day laborers. In one service project, campers filled over 150 backpacks for the Newcomers Access Center to be distributed to children from local immigrant and refugee families. Produce picked by students in the Peace & Carrots (also referred to as Peace and Carrots) Garden is shared with the food bank, and the La Verne Church of the Brethren welcomes University of La Verne Summer Service students whose work centers around Peace Camp.
Unique features of Peace Camp include peace topics such as non-violence, inner peace, global peace, advocacy, and justice; a Global Village with interactive stations focused on peacebuilding in everyday life; and a Peace & Carrots / Peace and Carrots Garden where children pick and taste fresh fruits and vegetables. Campers help paint a peace-themed mural in the Yellow Room, assemble care packages, craft personalized granola bar recipes while learning about healthy ingredients and mindful eating, and take part in a video project acting out conflict resolution scenarios in front of a green screen. Daily themes for Peace Camp 2024 are listed as train for peace, coach curiosity, grow teamwork, champion human rights, and practice courage, and students in the community often come back to volunteer because of the lasting impact Peace Camp has had on their lives.
Last updated July 15, 2026.
• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: Takes place each July as a non-religious day camp
The La Verne Church of the Brethren sponsors Peace Camp and states that it continues the work of Jesus peacefully, simply, together, creating a Christian community that is inclusive, caring, and peace-minded. The church affirms that people of any race, ethnic identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, economic status, faith tradition, or life situation are welcome in the congregation, and it states beliefs in compassionate service, stewardship of creation, respect for diversity, and nonviolent reconciliation for differences among all people, nations, and faith traditions. The church states that it claims no creed but the New Testament, as exemplified by the life of Christ, strives to follow the way of Jesus, and seeks to grow closer to the mind and heart of God through these efforts.
Peace Camp’s leadership team includes kitchen coordinator Tron Passmore, who guides kitchen activities and supports campers in creating recipes and granola bars, and Linda Himes, who leads cooperative games. Marv and Kristina Guinto give campers a tour of the garden and teach composting, while Aaron Cruse leads the peace camp service project and Phil supports campers in the video project. Summer Service students Darlene Gonzalez and Emili Melkonyan are welcomed to work with Peace Camp; Darlene is a third-year Psychology student at the University of La Verne with experience as a camp counselor at YMCA Camp Oakes, a Teacher’s Assistant for second graders at Hope Lutheran School, and as a Behavioral Technician supporting children and adults with autism, and Emili is a third-year Business Administration student at the University of La Verne who previously served at Brethren Hillcrest Homes through Summer Service.
Peace Camp partners with the Pomona Economic Access Center to assemble care packages for children affected by ICE raids and for local day laborers. In one service project, campers filled over 150 backpacks for the Newcomers Access Center to be distributed to children from local immigrant and refugee families. Produce picked by students in the Peace & Carrots (also referred to as Peace and Carrots) Garden is shared with the food bank, and the La Verne Church of the Brethren welcomes University of La Verne Summer Service students whose work centers around Peace Camp.
Unique features of Peace Camp include peace topics such as non-violence, inner peace, global peace, advocacy, and justice; a Global Village with interactive stations focused on peacebuilding in everyday life; and a Peace & Carrots / Peace and Carrots Garden where children pick and taste fresh fruits and vegetables. Campers help paint a peace-themed mural in the Yellow Room, assemble care packages, craft personalized granola bar recipes while learning about healthy ingredients and mindful eating, and take part in a video project acting out conflict resolution scenarios in front of a green screen. Daily themes for Peace Camp 2024 are listed as train for peace, coach curiosity, grow teamwork, champion human rights, and practice courage, and students in the community often come back to volunteer because of the lasting impact Peace Camp has had on their lives.
Last updated July 15, 2026.
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