Island Song Circle Campout (WAITLIST)
A weekend of joyful community singing, with Island Songleaders, by the Salish Sea
Thank you for your interest! All spaces have now been reserved.
Read on to read about the songleaders, schedule and other details about the weekend.
I anticipate a few spots coming open.
Join the waitlist below and I'll contact people in the order they signed up if a spot opens.
Join Sylvia Humble and a wonderful lineup of Island songleaders for two glorious days and nights of heart-opening, playful, immersive community song circles. Explore vocal harmony, rhythm, creativity, and movement. Sing for joy, peace, hope, and unity with nature and with each other.
Whether you're a seasoned singer or simply love to hum and dance along, you are welcome. Together, we'll cultivate joy, healing, and belonging through song.
Where?
Our gathering takes place at the Living Forest Oceanside Campground, at the estuary of the Nanaimo River.
There are many places to sing in and around the campground, and shelter options in case of rain.
Camping is optional, and not included in the cost of our weekend event. We have reserved 30 waterfront campsites (partially serviced and non-serviced), and people wishing to camp will book directly with the campground. Details will be provided upon registration.
Land acknowledgement: In recognition and gratitude that we are gathering on the traditional and unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw and Stz'uminus Nations, we are donating 5% of all event proceeds directly to the
Our Facilitators:
Dave Ashwell (Comox Valley)
Session: Songs with Actions, for Kids of All Ages!
A retired elementary school teacher, Dave Ashwell loves to sing in harmony with others, and has sung with his guitar with children in school classrooms for decades. In 2023 Dave took the Community Choir Leadership Training, became part of the Ubuntu Choirs Network, and founded the weekly Comox Community Song Circle in Comox. His group focuses on easy-to-learn layered songs and harmonies, treating singing as a joyful community practice rather than a performance.
Dave also sings and leads bedside singing with the Comox Valley Threshold Choir.
Cathy Baker & Dick Jackson (Victoria)
Session: Música do Círculo and More!
A playful and connecting session including singing a few songs, as well as creating spontaneous harmonies and rhythms, and exploring movement, body percussion, vocal percussion, and musical riffs pulled from thin air!
Cathy and Dick are community songleaders, co-directors of Victoria’s Gettin’ Higher Choir, two thirds of the faculty of the Community Choir Leadership Training (CCLT) program, and certified facilitators of Música do Círculo. They are passionate about making singing accessible to everyone. Learn more at https://comesingwithus.ca/
Cari Burdett (Duncan, Vancouver Island)
Session: Wild Soul Song
An improvised nature-connection vocal ceremony in service and gratitude.
Cari Burdett is a vocalist, community song leader, and nature-based ceremonialist with over 40 years of vocal training. She is Artistic Director of Lila Music and Nature Centre and leads choirs, rites of passage, and elder collaborations in the Quw’utsun Valley. A mother of three and steward of a vibrant farm, she lives in devotion to song, ceremony, and deep nature connection.
Michael Geselbracht (Nanaimo)
Session: Songs to Meet the Moment
Easy to learn songs to open and close gatherings, offer blessings, gratitude, and support healing; gifts you can carry with you into your family, community, and everyday life.
A passionate community builder, Michael Geselbracht is the founder and lead educator of the Nanaimo Forest School, and co-leads the South End Eco- Development (SEED) neighbourhood co-operative, bringing people together around food forests, ecological restoration, and community resilience. Through song, storytelling, and shared experiences, he facilitates connection and local change.
Leah Hokanson (Gabriola Island)
Session: Sunday Morning Ecstatic Pop Song Circle
Leah's Diamond Chants blend the wisdom and inspiration of ecstatic poetry with the eclectic groove and tunefulness of popular music, including jazz, R&B, pop ballad, gospel, funk and world music. Lyrics are drawn from original texts, and wisdom teachings from such luminaries and mystics as Rumi, Hildegard of Bingen, Hafiz, and others. Come and sing yourself ecstatic!
Leah Hokanson is a lifelong adventurer of music, sound and listening—as a community choir leader, vocalist, pianist, improviser, singer/songwriter and group facilitator. She is co-founder of Sound, Belonging & Wholeness, directs the Song Keepers Women's Choir (Gabriola) and leads Contemporary Ecstatic Chanting circles at Bethlehem Centre (Nanaimo).
Sylvia Humble (Nanoose Bay)
Session: Songs for Hope, Love and Belonging
Sing uplifting songs from the community singing movement that cultivate hope, universal love, and belonging, taught through call and response. We'll weave together layered parts, satisfying syncopated rhythms, and simple harmonies. Mostly a cappella with some ukulele and April Laurie’s percussion, we'll raise some joyful, imperfect harmony, and blissful community vibes.
Sylvia Humble is a community songleader, songwriter, and voice activist. Through participatory performances, song circles, workshops, and her non-performing Humble Harmony weekly groups in Nanaimo and Parksville, she invites people of all ages and abilities to sing together for pure joy and connection. A graduate of Community Choir Leadership Training, and member of the Ubuntu Choirs Network, Sylvia believes that every voice belongs.
April Laurie (Nanaimo)
Session: Forest Songs
In this playful vocal improv offering, April asks us to become connected with our surroundings. We'll establish some signals to be able to be in silence together as we wander on a scavenger hunt of creativity, stopping and creating pieces (musical, poetic, or textural) inspired by what we see and hear in the natural world.
Vocalist and percussionist April Laurie has been teaching and performing since 1998, and has studied with vocal improvisation pioneer Rhiannon of Hawaii, and Vancouver's David Hatfield. April now offers her own playful, creative "Sound Sculpting" workshops and collaborates with Sylvia Humble, guiding participants to discover music, rhythm, and texture with their voices.
Bernhard Spalteholz (Victoria)
Session: Sing and Play
An invitation to sing, laugh, move, and simply enjoy being human together. We'll weave easy songs with games, movement, laughter, creative play, and moments of quiet wonder in nature. There is no agenda beyond following our curiosity, reconnecting with our playful spirit, and delighting in whatever emerges together.
Bernhard Spalteholz leads weekly community singing in Victoria, BC: songs taught by ear, in harmony, with no auditions and everyone welcome. A graduate of the CCLT (Community Choir Leadership Training) 2024 and member of the Ubuntu Choirs Network, he also runs Sing and Play sessions that blend songs with play. Learn more at singtogether.ca.
Schedule (still in the works):
Cost and Logistics
Cost: $150 (sustaining price) for the weekend of singing (does not include camping or food).
If cost is a barrier, please email sylvia@sylviahumble.ca; some partial bursaries are available.
If you'd like to contribute to the bursary fund, please choose the higher price option of $175 (supporting price)
Friday, Sept. 11 at 6pm - Sunday Sept. 13 at 1pm
To facilitate community building, registration is for the whole weekend only.
There will be a maximum of 50 people (including songleaders) to keep the group singing experience intimate.
Please Register In Advance to save your spot.
Camping is optional, and not included in the event price. If you’d like to camp, you can book directly with Living Forest campground (fees start at $47 per night). Our group reservation includes unserviced and partially serviced ocean-view sites (T1 to T27 - except T4 - and F31 to F34), and you'll receive details about our reservation, after you register for the singing weekend. Please note: the Living Forest website says 3 night minimum, however we are reserved for two nights, so you can book two.
Food is not provided or included in the cost of the event; everyone is responsible for bringing their own. Sharing is welcomed. There is a picnic shelter with a sink, and washrooms directly beside our campsites.
In case of rain, we will either sing in the rain, under the picnic shelters, or in the indoor lounge (these spaces can shelter 50)
This is a substance-free gathering. Experience the natural bliss and unity of singing together!
Photo taken from one of the oceanview campsites, overlooking one of our singing spots outside the campground on the estuary.
Join the Campout Weekend WAITLIST
Thank you for your interest! All spaces have now been reserved.
It's quite common for plans to change, and spaces may become available.
Join the waitlist below and I'll contact people in the order they signed up if a spot opens.
Please fill in your info. You'll receive a confirmation email, and if a spot opens up I'll contact you.
If a spot comes up, would you want to camp?
Photo from my Humble Harmony "Big Sing" in Spring 2026
Join me at an upcoming song circle!
Please check out my EVENTS page to see my upcoming community singing gatherings in Nanaimo and Parksville.
...and Sing On!
Stay Connected.
Not receiving my monthly newsletter yet?
Sign up for occasional community singing news, videos and inspirations.