Over Seven Decades of Transformational Experiences

Photo of an outdoor gathering where a man is speaking at a podium to a seated audience. The scene is set in a wooded area with picnic tables and benches, and the audience appears to be young adults. Adjacent to this scene is a black-and-white photograph of a man in a striped shirt and striped trousers, standing and gesturing as if giving a lecture or presentation.

Founder Reverent Bob McLaren addressing some of the first visitors of Naramata Centre, late 1950’s

Open to people of all ages, Naramata Centre is an inclusive, welcoming place to connect and deepen in mind, body and spirit.

Vision: Welcoming community: where people of all generations are valued for who they are.

Experience the Magic of Naramata Centre

Holy Mystery, Loving Presence, Spirit of Life:
It would have been enough if You had just brought us to this sacred place;
but you also gave us the capacity to take in the beauty of it all:Okanagan lake view, majesty of ponderosa pine, aroma of sage, tumble of clay bank, cactus dry hillside…
May our love of this beauty, inspire us to keep faith with all creation.
It would have been enough if You had just given us life in this Naramata Garden Paradise,
but we have also been blessed with imagination, creativity, the love of story, artistry, reflectiveness, and music.
May we fully embrace our imaginative potential as we shape a future for Naramata Centre in community.
It would have been enough if You had just given us one another as companions,
but we find ourselves alive with the instinct for love and compassion — a deep desire to embrace the diversity of human life: all ages, gendered expression, race and religion, multiples of giftedness: a rainbow gathering on the beaches and under the trees of Naramata.
May we never lose sight of the Deep Compassion at the Heart of our Lives.
It would have been enough if You had just placed in us a desire for compassion and justice;
but You also made us restless, indignant, and vocal in the pursuit of justice for all your creatures and all your creation.
May we always know a holy restlessness in us as we make gentle our bruised world through the life of Naramata.
It would have been enough if You had just inspired your great teachers and prophets to show us Your Ways, but you also gave each one of us things to do that illumine the holy purposes of this sacred creation.
May we each receive the courage and strength to release our sacred gifts into the unfolding future.
It would have been enough if You had brought us here and left us speechless,
but you also breathed into us the language of gratitude so that we would always remember the blessings that came from beyond us and be able to say ‘Thank you’ with our hearts, our hands, and our voices.
May we be a community that always keeps deepening into the discipline of gratitude.
And so we say thank you, thank you, thank you
And Amen.

Learn About Community Life

We Look Forward to Welcoming You

Personal Retreats

We offer a range of accommodations, from modern suites to rustic cabins to tent and RV camp sites. Whether you are looking for a little peace and quiet, or want a place to reconnect with family and friends, we will make your stay enjoyable year-round! Naramata region is home to remarkable vineyards, chef-inspired restaurants and quaint shopping, hiking and recreation opportunities.

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Summer Programs

Lovingly referred to as “Family Camp” we offer a different program every week in the summer. Join us for Wild Church or our ever-popular Music Week in late August. We have plenty of accommodations options to suite your lifestyle. Daily activities like yoga and art are included in your booking fees. Catered lunch is available as an add-on.

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Group Bookings

Our facilities are unmatched in size and versatility in the South Okanagan. We have a variety of spaces, from spacious suites for break-out rooms to a gymnasium and chapel for larger group gatherings. Indoor and camping accommodations are available. We would be happy to host your value-aligned group on our property!

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A large group of people, including young and old, enjoying a meal together at a covered outdoor pavilion with wooden beams and string lights. Some are eating, drinking, and socializing at tables covered with striped tablecloths.

Our Mission

Inspiring individual and collective transformation in a safe, inclusive, sacred space.

Our Values

We seek, celebrate, and welcome all people who desire to be in community rooted in our values:

A woman and a young girl sitting at a colorful table in a garden-themed restaurant, smiling at the camera. The girl is holding a red crayon, and there are coloring pages, a blue napkin, and glasses of water on the table.

We work in partnership.
We welcome and honour all ages, abilities, cultures, economic and social circumstances, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, and sexual orientations.
We are honest, fair and just; what we say and how we act are congruent
We adapt in the presence of challenge and opportunity
We act with deep and courageous respect for the sacredness of life, in service to all creation, living with wonder and faith

“I truly treasure the deep friendships I’ve made over the many years at the Centre.”

— Shirley Vollett, Program Participant (pictured on the right)

Two people sit on lawn chairs under trees by a lake, with a mountainous background, some people swimming in the water, and various items on the grass, including towels and bags.

We acknowledge and affirm our roots and connection to the United Church of Canada. Our Christian story gives us language and metaphor to share our stories, and is one path to deeper relationship with ourselves, one another and God. We encourage conversations and experiences that challenge us to explore questions about our beliefs and how we live in the world. We value diverse spiritual expression that nurtures all people, those who are trusting, doubting, seeking and knowing.

Our History

Featured

1947 - 1948

We were established by Minister Bob Mclaren in 1947-48 as the "Christian Leadership Training School" established to "provide courses and experience relevant to the role of Christians and to serve as a Centre for study of present day issues and problems in the church, in the community and in society at large."

1967

In 1967 the board formally changed the name to the "Naramata Centre for Continuing Education" with a focus on lay leadership training, over the years becoming a transformative place for congregational families over the summers and a place for youth and young adult leadership development over many now famous 'Winter Sessions'.

1980-90s

During the 80's and 90's, the Centre hosted up to 350 people onsite in community and worship.

2000’s

The 2000's saw continued growth with Winter Session, the completion of the Chapel, Orchard Courts and Creekside Commons that continue to welcome visitors today.

Today

But love for the Centre was too strong. The community rallied and with enormous volunteer support and commitment from the Pacific Region, the Centre re-opened in 2016. By 2018, the Centre was back in full swing with children's programming, potlucks, worship and Music Week!