ClayStone is a different type of educational experience. Combining outdoor adventure, cross-cultural mission experiences, and university courses into one program with an atmosphere of community and discipleship, ClayStone is a year like no other.
In partnership with Camp Shiktehawk, ClayStone offers students a year of experiential education while they complete 30 university credits. Each student will have the opportunity to experience outdoor adventure, close community, and mission experiences in Canada and the Dominican Republic.*
Students are able to participate in ClayStone in one of two ways: take the certificate program as a standalone year of discipleship or as one year of an undergraduate degree program. This means that both new and current students can be a part of the ClayStone experience, so be sure to contact us to discuss your options!
The purpose of ClayStone is to provide students with a series of opportunities designed to facilitate life-transformation: heart, mind and body. The ultimate objective is that students will achieve a more complete understanding of the person of Jesus, their relationship with Him and their obligations as His disciple.
ClayStone embraces an experiential model of education that allows students to be immediately and practically exposed to theoretical concepts studied in textbooks. In addition, ClayStone pays particular attention to the idea of “community” with a belief that the greatest measures of transformation are experienced while living in healthy relationships with other people.
Crandall University will be ‘home’ for ClayStone students while in the program. It is here where students will gather in community, participate in courses, and prepare for mission and outdoor adventure experiences.
The team at Camp Shiktehawk provide leadership to the outdoor components of ClayStone, and the Camp will be our base of operations for most winter outdoor activities.
At the end of the winter semester, students will travel to the Dominican Republic for a 2-week cross-cultural learning and mission experience, providing students with exposure to a culture that is significantly different from their own. Working with two groups of churches in Sosua, students will become involved in the life of that community as fellow disciples and attempt to live and experience the grace of Jesus.
While the ClayStone Certificate provides students with university credit and exposes them to a variety of unique learning contexts, the overarching outcome is related to discipleship growth, as students enrolled in ClayStone have opportunities to experience significant life transformation.
*certification available for successful completion
The ClayStone program fee is added to regular tuition and accommodation costs (we recommend living on campus, but it is not required) and includes all domestic travel, as well as meals and accommodations while on excursions.
There is additional cost for the Dominican Republic Mission Experience,* the amount of which is supported through fundraising by the students.
ClayStone students are also eligible for all of Crandall’s generous scholarships, awards, and bursaries.
The Directors of ClayStone are Dale and Twila Stairs. They have been discipling youth and young adults for over 25 years and are absolutely thrilled to serve in this adventure together! With experience in church and denominational youth and young adult ministry, teaching and university and raising three sons together, they are well prepared for this role. In addition to directing ClayStone, Dale is also the Director of the Crandall-Acadia Bachelor of Theology Partnership.
Camp Shiktehawk Director, Jon MacDonald, is very much part of the team as well. He takes leadership on the outdoor adventure components of ClayStone, and brings a fun and adventurous spirit into everything that happens!
For more information please contact us at (506) 858-8970. Select #1 for Admissions, or contact the Director directly at claystone@crandallu.ca.