WHY MUSKOKA?
Unlike most YWAM bases located in the hustle of major cities, our campus is intentionally set in the quiet of the country, trading concrete grids for the raw beauty of Muskoka and nearby Algonquin Park. This rural setting acts as a physical sanctuary that breaks the frantic frequency of urban noise, creating a natural landing place where you can silence distractions, rest, and focus entirely on the Lord. We believe in the biblical pattern of stepping into the wilderness to empty your tool belt of performance and build unshakeable roots in His presence; we gather in the peace of the countryside not to hide from the world, but to be deeply equipped and restored so you can be launched as a strategic weapon into the heart of the nations.
Discover God's purpose
Discipleship Training School (DTS)
a five-month spiritual journey WITH JESUS!
Phase 1: Training | Phase 2: Outreach
During the first three months of training, you will live on campus in an international community, quieting the noise of performance culture to focus entirely on heart transformation, hearing God's voice, and anchoring your identity in His Presence. A unique part of this training phase happens every Friday through our elective tracks, where you get to choose between Awakening—our arts and media track—or Edge—our outdoor adventure and survival track. Once that foundation is set, you step into the two-month outreach phase, leaving behind trends and comfort to carry the hosted atmosphere of Heaven directly to the nations—focusing on unreached people groups and spiritual frontiers through Spirit-led evangelism and compassion.
During the First 12 weeks, you are living on a communal campus (the "base") with people from all over the world. The schedule is intentionally designed to shift you out of the frantic pace of modern life and into a rhythm of intimacy with God.
Weekly Themes: Every week, a different international teacher or spiritual leader comes to the base. They aren't just giving academic lectures; they are sharing raw testimony and biblical truth to provoke heart transformation.
Lecture
Phase
The Outreach Phase is the final two months of the DTS where the journey transitions from internal training to global deployment. It is the physical "exhale" of the school. You leave the classroom behind, pack your life into a backpack, and board a plane with a small team to take the hosted Presence of God directly to the nations.
Rather than executing a rigid, corporate program or a standard volunteer trip, outreach is a fluid, Spirit-led assignment focused entirely on the nations—targeting unreached people groups, forgotten communities, and spiritual frontiers where Jesus is not yet known.
Outreach
Phase
STREAMS
(electives)
EDGE
AWAKENING
Disconnect from the city and experience deep, uninterrupted time with the Lord in the great outdoors. Your Fridays will be packed with canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, high-ropes courses, and practical bushcrafting. The ultimate highlight is an expedition into Algonquin Park, where you will test your wilderness survival skills, bond with your team, and hear God's voice in the stillness of the wild.
A creative sanctuary designed to awaken the artist and the creative inside you. Fridays are spent learning the heart of a true worshiper, exploring prophetic painting, and using digital media and photography to capture pictures that tell a deeper story. You will learn to master your tools and use your art not for performance, but as a direct expression of worship to reveal God’s heart to the world.
(SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP)
SOBE
April 5, 2027 - JUNE 30, 2027
The SOBE is an intensive, 12-week in-person YWAM school designed to completely shift your understanding of marketplace ministry while providing a comprehensive, hands-on overview of the fundamentals needed for a successful Business as Mission (BAM) venture.
Hosted entirely on base as a live classroom cohort, this school combines rigorous practical training with deep spiritual processing. You will engage in daily lectures, regular application exercises, live staff coaching, and interactive group sessions designed to turn your business ideas into reality.
Course Content and Curriculum
Our 12-week curriculum blends cutting-edge business strategy with deep biblical foundations:
The Foundations of BAM
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Introduction to Business as Mission (BAM)
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The Biblical Purpose and Values of Business
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Integrating the Business and the Mission
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Apostolic Entrepreneurship
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Weekly BAM Case Studies from around the world
Business Fundamentals and Strategy
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Marketing and Brand Management: Learning how to communicate your vision clearly.
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Servant Sales: Redefining sales through a lens of ministry and service.
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Operations and Fulfillment: Building the structural backbone of your business.
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Product Development: Utilizing the Disciplined Entrepreneur framework.
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Lean Startup / Business Model Canvas: Launching smart, pivoting quickly, and reducing risk.
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Human Resource Management: Leading and managing people with the heart of God.
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Business Finance: Mastering the numbers, budgeting, and funding your vision.
How It Works: The Learning Style
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Daily In-Class Instruction: Engage with lectures, interactive discussions, and practical exercises that force you to apply the concepts directly to a business model.
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Live Mentorship: Benefit from personal staff one-on-ones, targeted coaching sessions, and corporate processing times with your Muskoka cohort.
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The End Goal: You leave the base not just with a completed business plan, but with an empowered spiritual blueprint to transform the marketplace.
A DTS is recommended, but NOT required for the SOBE.
Cost: $3600USD ($5,030 CAD)
What is SOBE?
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To know God and make Him known!
WHAT IS YWAM?
Youth With A Mission (YWAM)—pronounced "why-wham"—is one of the largest interdenominational, non-profit Christian missionary movements in the world. Founded in 1960 by Loren Cunningham, its original vision was simple but revolutionary: to give young people the opportunity to wave goodbye to a conventional life and go to the nations to share the love of Jesus.
Today, it has grown into a massive global family operating in more than 180 countries, with tens of thousands of full-time staff working at over 1,200 separate bases. YWAM accepts people from almost every Christian denomination, and while the focus remains heavily on youth, individuals of any age are welcome to join.
The entire global movement operates under one unifying mandate: "To know God and to make Him known."
STAFF
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Mark & Jerr
Directors
We completed our DTS in 2006 at Kona, Hawaii. We’ve led DTS’s in Kona, Auckland New Zealand & Muskoka. As YWAM Muskoka base directors we are devoted to the presence of the Lord as He calls us to lead from a life surrendered wholly to Him. What an honour it is to be apart of this great Missions Movement!
Sarah
Staff
"When I look at how God moves, I’m constantly left in awe because what He does is so far beyond my comprehension. I am incredibly honoured that He invites me to walk alongside Him and be a part of His work. It’s a beautiful reminder that we don't have to have it all figured out; we just have to be willing. At the end of the day, our efforts fade, but the steadfast love of God endures forever and that is the rock we stand on."
David
Staff
My greatest passion is watching the gospel come alive in people's hearts. My own life is a work in progress, so walking alongside others as we learn, grow, and discover God’s heart is where I feel most alive. I’m genuinely expectant for what’s ahead ready to celebrate every small victory and stand in awe of the miracles God is going to do in our midst.
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Diana
Staff
Seeing other people's lives transformed by God, just as He has been and continues to be transforming mine, fills me with joy. We can share and walk together, discovering new things about God and about ourselves. I'm excited for the little things we'll see and for the miracles I know God will perform.
Karen
Staff
I am looking forward to going deeper with God, experiencing him in his creation and helping others do the same! Im excited for discipleship that challenges us to go deeper with God and the opportunity for new friendships, more revelation, and trusting God in a whole new way!
YWAM Muskoka
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