With its incredible beaches, beautiful forests and slow pace, Gabriola Island is a refuge. What’s more, it’s just a 20-minute ferry ride to Vancouver Island and some of Canada’s best campsites and hiking trails.

We don’t take this extraordinary location for granted. Every week we are reminded of the majesty of our West Coast environment as we walk to the Point and Twin Beaches to celebrate Shabbat. Every session we embark on adventurous overnight land and water trips designed to safely challenge our belief in ourselves, build our confidence and – most important – cement our trust in one another.

Even when we’re not on tiyul or celebrating Shabbat, Miriam is a haven. The tall timbers that surround our site protect us from the summer sun, and our no-mobile-phone or internet policy gives us a well-deserved respite from the social media pressures of our daily lives. Most of our daily activities, from boating to sports to swimming and even arts and crafts take place outdoors – all that nature and fresh air give us a daily motivation to take care of our space and the planet.