Weekend Programs

Vaccine Requirement

Silver Lake requires all guests to our site and participants at our in-person events to be fully vaccinated (2+ weeks from final dose) against Covid-19. Those who are not able to be vaccinated due to a medical condition or due to age may show proof of a negative PCR test taken not more than 3 days before the event.

As a ministry of the Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ (SNE UCC), Silver Lake adheres to all the policies put in place by the Conference.

Read the SNE UCC Covid Policy for Sites and Events.

Silver Lake provides several opportunities for individuals and groups to participate in specialized programs of Christian Education and Spiritual Renewal each year. We invite young people from throughout New England to meet others and to learn from these programs as they develop their faith and build relationships. Each special weekend program is designed around a specific theme and age group.

Action Weekends

Held in April or May (Spring Action), and October or November (Fall Action), these work retreats are designed to provide an opportunity for young people in 9th grade and above to work together as Silver Lake is readied for the summer and winter months respectively. Many hands make light work! Action weekends also provide a great opportunity to meet new friends, re-unite with old friends, and work hard. They are recommended for all young people who are contemplating being on the summer staff. Actions are also a great time for former staff and alumni conferees to come back to Silver Lake and help out.

Everyone is asked to register online. For high schoolers, cost is $45 and a complete health record is required. There is no cost to adult volunteers, though donations are accepted.

View all our upcoming weekend programs to register.

Christmas at the Lake

In the beginning of December, we will offer Christmas at the Lake as a weekend conference. The weekend provides a program for 4th-6th graders with their own deans and counselors. The retreat weekend offers a wonderful opportunity for young people to re-unite with friends made during the summer conference program or to experience the magic of Silver Lake for the first time. Registration is available online; the cost is $125 per person; a complete health record is required.

We also have a Christmas at the Lake intergenerational Day the first Saturday of December. Bring your family to camp for a day of fellowship by the fireside, games, crafts, hot cocoa, chili, and some Adventure games. Spend time outdoors with other families as we enter the season of Advent and prepare for Christmas.

View all our upcoming events for details and registration.

Maple Sugaring Weekend

Held during the maple sugaring season (early to mid-March) each year, this weekend is designed to provide 6th, 7th, and 8th graders with the opportunity to learn about tapping maple trees, boiling sap to make maple syrup, and to discover new ways to appreciate our environment and to care for all of God's Creation, in nature's resurrection: Spring!

Registration is available online; the cost is $125 per person; a complete health record is required.

View all our upcoming weekend programs to register.

We also have a Maple Sugaring intergenerational Day. From tap to table, experience nature’s renewal and its sweet gifts at Silver Lake! We will tap the camp’s sugar maple trees, collect the sap, and boil it over a big outdoor stove as we participate in the transformation of sap into syrup. See firsthand God’s gift of Resurrection in the coming Spring.

View all our upcoming events for details and registration.

Pride Retreat

This weekend retreat is a safe space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies to explore issues of identity and faith through a lens of progressive Christian values. All are welcome, regardless of faith identity or belief.
9th-12th graders will join a community of your peers for fun, laughter, connection, music, community, campfires, history, low ropes, arts and crafts, fashion shows, and discussion.

Weekend lodging is determined by age, not by gender.

Registration is available online; the cost is $140 per person; a complete health record is required.

Find additional details about the program and leaders on our Pride Retreat webpage.

View all our upcoming weekend programs to register.

Confirmation Retreats

The Southern New England Conference of the UCC provides Confirmation Retreats at Silver Lake annually. If your church's Confirmation Class is too small on its own of if your class could benefit from a retreat experience with other classes, these retreats were designed for you. The purpose of these retreats is not to teach confirmation all in one weekend but to help build community and to help begin the process of asking the questions that are key to the Confirmation process. The curriculum resources used are appropriate for young people in 7th - 9th grade.

Program includes Team Building games and campfire on Saturday.

The Conference provides the resources and the leadership for each retreat and each group is required to bring adult advisors to facilitate the program: One (1) adult for every eight (8) youth participants.

Each retreat begins on Friday at 7:30 pm and ends at 11:30 am on Sunday. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided on Saturday, and Brunch is served on Sunday.

While specific retreat dates are announced annually, they are generally held in the following months: February, March, April, and November.

Details and registration can be found on the SNE Faith Formation webpage - www.sneucc.org/disciples

Please note, while Silver Lake hosts the Confirmation Retreats, all registration, payments, schedule, and additional details are collected and organized by the Southern New England Conference.

Upcoming Events

Title	Cost	Age Range	Dates
Pioneer: Alumni Edition	$180 / $105 full week, $45 for 1 day to cover meals	Age 18+	6/25/2023 - 6/29/2023	Register
Do you LOVE Silver Lake? Like LOVE it love it? Do you wish that Action weekends were warmer or miss your time on Summer Staff? Then this program is for you! We'll be working on a variety of projects to help Silver Lake prepare to host all the campers and volunteers for the summer season! Meet other passionate individuals, reconnect with friends, and enjoy all that Silver Lake has to offer! Register for the whole week or just the days that work for your schedule. Dean: Jen Bourque Adults, 18+ Pricing: $180 / $105 full week, $45 for 1 day to cover meals Full week: Sunday arrival at 2 p.m., Thursday departure after lunch 1-Day (Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday): Arrive for breakfast at 8:30 a.m., depart after dinner. If you need to arrive outside of these time, please contact the office at slcrc@silverlakect.org Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students and staff in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
My Loved One & Me	$745 per pair / $670 per pair / $595 per pair	4-5, plus adult	7/2/2023 - 7/5/2023	Register
Take your loved one — mom, dad, grandparent, you name it! — on a camp adventure! Dive into the waterfront, swing at High Ropes, create artwork at the Art Grotto, and learn about your faith. The grownups will have a solo adventure, and you can fly on your own! Deans: Evelyn Cass and Kat Altamirano Grade 4 and 5, plus Adult Half-week, Sun.-Wed. July 2-5 Pricing: $745 per pair / $670 per pair / $595 per pair Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Raise Your Voice	$745 / $670 / $595	6 - 8	7/2/2023 - 7/8/2023	Register
Who are you and how do you let others know who you are? Join us as we find that voice inside of each of us, the one that has a lot to say but doesn't often speak, and tell our stories through poetry, art, lyrics, and more! We are all created uniquely in the image of God and deserve to shout it from the rooftops (or through the ballpark). Bring your pens, your instruments, and let’s raise your voice!  Deans: Brittany Anderson and Kaleb Oakleaf Grades 6-8 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Sing Praise	$825 / $750 / $675	7 - 9	7/2/2023 - 7/8/2023	Register
Let all the earth sing praise … and dance, and paint, and make music. We’ll explore our different ways of prayer and worship as we join forces to create an original Biblical musical and share it with the Silver Lake community. Come exercise your gifts and talents and perhaps discover some new ones. Deans: Leanna Bonafini and Val Tutson Grades 7-9 Pricing: $825 / $750 / $675 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Faith 360	$745 / $670 / $595	10 - 12	7/2/2023 - 7/8/2023	Register
Feeling the pressure to figure out what you want to do with your life? How do we find direction when our life seems to be all over the map? Join us to explore how walking with the Spirit, a journey that is characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control leads to powerful transformation. Meet new friends, ask deep questions and gather the collective wisdom that empowers our journey. Dean: Lynne Dolan - Read the Dean's Letter Grades 10-12 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 *Please note the program name change from when initially announced. Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students and staff in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Team Lego	$745 / $670 / $595	4 - 6	7/9/2023 - 7/15/2023	Register
Everything is awesome when you are part of a team! During a fun-filled week, we will build connections with God, creation, and each other as we play games, participate in the challenge course, swim, do arts & crafts, enjoy God’s creation, and of course, have fun with Legos. Deans: Kristen Kleiman & Stu Rosenthal - Read the Dean's Letter Grades 4-6 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Fun in the Son	$745 / $670 / $595	7 - 9	7/9/2023 - 7/15/2023	Register
When Jesus is your head coach, welcoming the stranger and loving your neighbor are more important than defeating your opponent. In this high energy week of playing, passing, and scoring, we’ll exercise our bodies, minds and spirits (yoga & dancing, too!). We’ll share some laughs, share God’s love, and make lifelong friends! Join our team! Deans: Cameron Hull, Brian Lapis, & Caitlin Mundy Grades 7-9 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Rock of Ages: Unplugged	$825 / $750 / $675	9 - 12	7/9/2023 - 7/15/2023	Register
The sounds, the songs, the smell of the campfire & cookies - explore your love of music at camp! Bring your voices, creativity, ideas, instruments and spend a week unplugged learning about community, faith, and building a musical experience in God’s Backyard. Join the band! Deans: Bowen Kirwood & Amber Novotney Grades 9-12 Pricing: $825 / $750 / $675 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Day Camp	$425 / $380 / $335	1 - 3	7/10/2023 - 7/14/2023	Register
This week is filled with AMAZING experiences geared for our younger campers. As we swim, explore nature, play games, do arts & crafts, go on adventures, and much more, we will make new friends, try new things, and learn about God’s dream for a world filled with LOVE, JOY, PEACE, and KINDNESS. Silver Lake’s Day Camp is a non-denominational, progressive Christian program open to families of all faiths or no faith. Deans: Jeff & Megan Lukens - Read the Dean's Letter Grades 1-3 Monday-Friday Before Care: 7:45-8:45 am Day Camp: 8:45 am-4:45 pm After Care: 4:45-5:30 pm Pricing: $425 / $380 / $335 Before Care: $30 After Care: $30 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Family Camp 1	Adults (age 11 and up) - $290, Child (age 10 and under) - $190, Under age 3 - FREE, Family Max - $950	All Ages	7/16/2023 - 7/19/2023	Register
Families of every size and description are welcome to gather and enjoy all that Silver Lake has to offer. We’ll worship together, be challenged by the ropes courses, cool off in the lake, and much more, while learning what it means to be a family, not just to each other, but to all God’s people. Deans: Sarah Rodriguez & Stacy Stevens All Ages Half-week, Sun.-Wed. July 16-19 Pricing: Adults (age 11 and up) - $290, Child (age 10 and under) - $190, Under age 3 - FREE, Family Max - $950 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Gone M.A.D.D.	$745 / $670 / $595	4 - 6	7/16/2023 - 7/22/2023	Register
Music. Art. Dance. Drama. We’ll explore it all while making new friends, learning about God, and having fun outdoors at camp. Bring your voice, your instrument, your senses of adventure and wonder and see what we can create together. Deans: TBD Grades 4-6 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students and staff in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Carry the Torch	$745 / $670 / $595	9 - 12	7/16/2023 - 7/22/2023	Register
Join us for a truly Herculean week full of sports and competition! In the spirit of the Ancient Greeks, we invite all to join our own version of the Summer Olympics. Get ready to challenge yourself, focusing on mind, body, and spirit. Along the way we will learn about teamwork and how this all ties into being better Christians and citizens of the world. Deans: Bernie Hinckley & Andrew Wicks - Read the Dean's Letter Grades 9-12 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Still Singing	$825 / $750 / $675	9 - 12	7/16/2023 - 7/22/2023	Register
Bring your voice, your heart and your mind! We'll mix them all up with music, sharing our Godly gifts to explore the place where our faith meets the issues of today -- as we write, compose, and perform an original Bible musical for a joyous experience of worship. Deans: Whendi Cook-Broderick, Val Tutson, & Vin Urbanowski Grades 9-12 Pricing: $825 / $750 / $675 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
FruitFULL Faith	$745 / $670 / $595	7 - 8	7/16/2023 - 7/22/2023	Register
Join us for a week of exploring the Fruit of the Sprit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Living in community, spending time in nature, and seeing this fruit all around assures us we have encountered God. We will see how these same fruit flow freely from us when we walk in the Spirit and imagine the Fruit of the Spirit meeting the specific needs of the world today. Dean: Kelly Rogers and Noah Brewer-Wallin - Read the Dean's Letter Grades 7-8 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Fun in the Shade	$745 / $670 / $595	7 - 9	7/23/2023 - 7/29/2023	Register
For those who enjoy a more relaxed vibe during their summer: reading under the shade of a tree, sketching at the waterfront, listening to the peaceful sounds of the waterfall - come join us for a week of Fun in the Shade. We look forward to finding ways to connect with one another and with God's presence through reflective music, poetry, and art. Deans: TBD Grades 7-9 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
This Just In	$745 / $670 / $595	9 - 12	7/23/2023 - 7/29/2023	Register
Did that just happen?! Explore where current events and faith collide! Sing, dance, and laugh throughout camp as you strengthen your convictions and grow bold in your expression. Learn how to respond to current events in a way that is true to your beliefs and true to yourself. Dean: Emily McKenna Grades 9-12 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Silver Lake Sampler	$745 / $670 / $595	4 - 6	7/23/2023 - 7/29/2023	Register
Love God, love your neighbor, love yourself, and love creation. If we do these things, then nothing can stop us from having a great time wherever we go! Come join us for a week of getting to know God, new friends, ourselves, and the natural world through sampling all Silver Lake has to offer! Deans: TBD Grades 4-6 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Family Camp 2	Adults (age 11 and up) - $290, Child (age 10 and under) - $190, Under age 3 - FREE, Family Max - $950	All Ages	7/26/2023 - 7/29/2023	Register
Families of every size and description are welcome to gather and enjoy all that Silver Lake has to offer. We’ll worship together, be challenged by the ropes courses, cool off in the lake, and much more, while learning what it means to be a family, not just to each other, but to all God’s people. Deans: Steve and Jennifer Podoll All Ages Half-week, WED-FRI, July 26-29 Pricing: Adults (age 11 and up) - $290, Child (age 10 and under) - $190, Under age 3 - FREE, Family Max - $950 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Muggles & Wizards	$745 / $670 / $595	4 - 6	7/30/2023 - 8/5/2023	Register
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin: Come join us as we explore the world of Harry Potter and how it connects with God’s call to each of us! Bring your favorite Potter memorabilia and your sense of fun! We’ll look for God’s call in the wizarding world and in our own. We’ll play, pray, swim, sing — and even get in a game of Quidditch! We will use this program to engage with the world of Harry Potter and the reality we live in. As we delve into conversations about relationship, caste, and morality, we use the framework of the Silver Lake Loves: Love God, Love Your Neighbor, Love Yourself, and Love Creation. Deans: Sarah Hirx & Joanna Vastola - Read the Dean's Letter Grades 4-6 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
All A Board!	$745 / $670 / $595	7 - 9	7/30/2023 - 8/5/2023	Register
Do you love board games? Clue, Settlers of Catan, Scrabble, Sorry!, Dungeons and Dragons, you name it! We’ll gather around the board for a week of team building, game creation, and strategizing with new friends. Along with enjoying everything Silver Lake has to offer, we’ll learn how to game with grace and celebrate the different paths we all take on the board of Life! Deans: Jordan Governale & Sarah Noell Grades 7-9 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.
Reel to Real	$745 / $670 / $595	9 - 12	7/30/2023 - 8/5/2023	Register
Fade up on another beautiful day at Silver Lake! Each day we will write, produce, direct, and film our own videos. We’ll explore social issues while learning technical aspects about telling stories on video. Learn more about God, your neighbor, and yourself through the lens of a camera. Come join the fun! Deans: Erica Meyer & Julie Richardson - Read the Dean's Letter Grades 9-12 Pricing: $745 / $670 / $595 Silver Lake follows the immunization requirements for students enrolled in Connecticut schools. In addition, Silver Lake requires all guests to our site to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If your camper has a medical exemption, please contact us for more information.