the bigger purpose: the ultimate goal
This challenge is not just to climb the three highest peaks in England, Scotland, and Wales, but also to use this adventure as an opportunity to transform lives through Christ’s love.
You can be one of a select group of 16 people who take on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise both awareness and financial support to benefit Canvas, CMF’s Globalscope Campus Ministry in Birmingham, England.
A Jesus-centered community for all university students, Canvas is a place where students can belong, explore life and faith, and learn to serve others (both near and far) with grace. Only 5–10% of students in the Canvas community identify as Christians—making Canvas a rare place where many students build their first meaningful relationship with a Christian. For some, it’s where they read the Bible for the first time or begin to understand God’s love personally. Canvas creates a welcoming, authentic community where students can belong during their university years while also offering a safe space to ask big questions about life and faith and explore what following Jesus could mean for them.
the mission
Our goal as a group is to raise $50,000 from our 16-person hiking crew. When you sign up to participate, you commit to give/raise at least $3,000 (in addition to trip fees and airfare costs) to benefit God’s work through Canvas. Just like we will be climbing these mountains together as a group, we want to reach this ambitious goal together as a group, too.
Through the funds we raise and the steps we take together during the Three Peaks Challenge, we’ll also be helping university students take their next steps into this community modeled on God’s love.
In summer 2027, Canvas will celebrate 20 years of reaching students for Jesus. As we look ahead, we’re praying for God to sustain this ministry for the next 20 years—and this challenge is the starting point.
$50,000 will fund a full year of Canvas ministry, from weekly “Thursday Nights” meals to student retreats, small group resources, and the rental of our campus house. More than covering essential costs, it helps lay the foundation for long-term impact—so Canvas can continue offering Christ-centered hospitality, community, and grace for years to come.
Campus ministry is about helping students take next steps—some big, some small, all important. Join us as we pave the way for Canvas’ future impact.
take this once-in-a-lifetime trip in summer 2027
June 27-July 3, 2027
The adventure begins in Birmingham, England, the home of Canvas. During our first day together, you'll meet ministry leaders, learn about the opportunities and challenges of reaching students with the gospel, and explore some of the city's most notable sights before setting out on an unforgettable journey across the UK in the days that follow.
With the support of experienced guides, we will hike the highest mountains in England (Scafell Pike), Scotland (Ben Nevis), and Wales (Snowdon), taking in some of the most spectacular scenery the UK has to offer. After each hike, we will travel by coach to our next destination, staying in comfortable local hotels along the way. The evenings will be spent resting, refueling, and reflecting together on what God is doing in us and through our efforts to support students in Birmingham.
The adventure culminates with Canvas’s 20-Year Celebration weekend, where you'll have the opportunity to meet students, alumni, staff, and ministry partners whose lives have been impacted by the ministry over the past two decades. After spending the week supporting Canvas through your adventure, you'll get to witness firsthand the fruit of that ministry and celebrate all that God has done—and continues to do—through Canvas.
This is a very accessible adventure for those with good general fitness who are willing to do a little preparation beforehand. No mountaineering experience is necessary—just determination!
If you relish a challenge, love being surrounded by God's beautiful creation, and want to be part of the bigger story of what God is doing in the lives of students in Birmingham, then grab your spot today. We anticipate the 16 spots for this trip will fill quickly.
To reserve your place on this life-changing adventure, submit your $500 non-refundable deposit by September 30, 2026.
Register!
Note: The initial deposit will be credited toward your total trip fees. All trip fees are due to CMF on April 12, 2027. A suggested trip payment schedule will be provided upon registration.
Trip Costs: $2,200/person + airfare
All trip costs are separate from the $3,000/person fundraising commitment and include the following:
- Hotel accommodations throughout the scheduled trip
- Breakfast & Dinner (daily lunch to be purchased personally)
- All In-country transportation during the Three Peaks Challenge (including pick-up and drop-off from our starting point in Birmingham, UK)
- Experienced hiking guides and mountain/first aid responders
- Trip leaders who serve with Canvas
- Team hat
Just like your fundraising commitment, you are welcome to raise funds to cover your trip fees from friends, family, coworkers, and your local church. All outside donations given toward either your trip fees and/or fundraising commitment are tax-deductible, with donors receiving a receipt upon donation. Should you decide to pay your own trip fees, however, those donations are not tax-deductible as you will be receiving a good/service in return. CMF is excited to help you reach your fundraising goals, and we’re prepared to resource you along the way.
everything you need to know
Trip Itinerary – June 27-July 3, 2027
If you are coming from outside of the UK, depart from your airport of your choice for Birmingham, United Kingdom. Be sure to make your travel arrangements such that you arrive in Birmingham by early morning of Sunday, June 27, 2027.
June 27: Arrive and Explore Selly Oak
We ask that you arrive by 2 PM on this day, though if you need flexible arrangements on the timing, please contact us to let us know as soon as you can. We will start by meeting at Canvas to see the space where everything happens. While there, we will have some snacks and get to know each other and a bit more about the ministry. The late afternoon will include a quick tour of The University of Birmingham and end with a dinner with the entire Canvas team to celebrate everyone’s safe arrival and this incredible journey we’re about to depart on! Our first night will be spent at The Bournbrook Inn, where we will rest up for an early morning start the next day.
June 28: Transport to Fort William
We will meet up at The Bournbrook Inn to be transferred via coach to our first hotel in Fort William, Scotland. That evening, we will have an equipment check, a briefing, and devotional time, before relaxing ahead of our big adventure.
June 29: Hiking Ben Nevis
After breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for Ben Nevis. Each mountain we climb over the course of this challenge will take approximately 6-8 hours to summit. After we descend from this first peak, we will stay at our second hotel, en route to Scafell Pike. The evening will include dinner together at a local restaurant/hotel, then a debrief and devotional time before some time to relax.
June 30: Hiking Scafell Pike
After breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for Scafell Pike, in the beautiful Lake District of northern England. After a full day of hiking, we will end our day in Snowdonia National Park, Wales. The evening will include dinner together at a local restaurant / hotel, then another time for debriefing and devotion before resting. We’ll be ready for good rest before our final hike the next day!
July 1: Hiking Snowdon
Following a good breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for Snowdon. This mountain is in the picturesque countryside of Wales. After descending from our third peak, around mid-afternoon, we will be transported by coach back to The Bournbrook Inn in Birmingham, UK. The evening will include dinner together and a final time to debrief the day and take some time to devote it all to God, before collapsing into our beds having completed the Three Peaks Challenge!
July 2: Team Celebration
Enjoy resting and recovering this morning—you've earned it! As a team, we’ll meet up midday to enjoy time at the Canvas house, meet students, chat with staff, and hear stories of God’s goodness from those involved in the life of Canvas, both past and present. We’ll end the evening with a team dinner, celebrating all that we have experienced and achieved together.
July 3: Canvas’s 20 Year Celebration
Today we explore and celebrate! The Canvas staff will be hosting a range of activities, giving you a chance to explore a little more of England and experience some truly British highlights. You can take a day trip to Warwick Castle and experience the majestic bird of prey show, visit Stratford-Upon-Avon and enjoy a cream tea in Shakespeare’s hometown, or explore the fascinating culture that is Birmingham, visiting some of the highlights of the city and its thriving multicultural street food culture, too. These activities are to be confirmed closer to the time, and they are optional with an additional charge on top of the official trip fees.
That evening, you’ll join Canvas alumni, staff, students, and partners as we come together for a special meal and celebration of the last 20 years of Canvas’ history, thanking God for all He has done, and the lives He has changed through this ministry. We will laugh together, cry together, and most of all, celebrate together!
This will be our last full day together. Please plan your travels home on or after July 4.
July 4: Optional - Worship and Thanksgiving / Leaving day
For those who stick around Birmingham past our scheduled trip, you are invited to a morning of worship and thanksgiving at the Canvas House. If you are interested in visiting more of England or the UK in the days ahead, our team will be glad to advise you on how to make the most of your travels.
This adventure is designed for individuals with good general fitness and a willingness to prepare beforehand. No technical climbing or mountaineering experience is required, but participants should be comfortable hiking for several hours each day on steep and uneven terrain while carrying a daypack. Over three consecutive days, we'll climb the highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales, encountering a variety of weather conditions that can include rain, wind, and rapid temperature changes. Proper footwear, clothing, and physical preparation are essential to getting the most out of this experience.
TRIP COST: $2,200 + Airfare
All trip costs are in addition to the $3,000/person fundraising commitment and include the following:
- Hotel accommodations throughout the scheduled trip
- Breakfast & Dinner (daily lunch to be purchased personally)
- All In-country transportation during the Three Peaks Challenge (including pick-up and drop-off from our starting point in Birmingham, UK)
- Experienced hiking guides and mountain/first aid responders
- Trip leaders who serve with Canvas
- Team hat
Additional personal expenses:
- Airfare to and from Birmingham, England
- Passport (must be valid within 6 months after completion date of our trip)
- Trip Insurance (highly recommended)
- Specific equipment needed to complete the Three Peaks Challenge (i.e. hiking boots, proper clothing, basic hiking gear)
- Daily lunches
- Meal to/from Birmingham
- Transport to/from/within Birmingham before and after the Three Peaks Challenge
- Optional activities during the weekend of Canvas’s 20-Year Celebration
TRIP REGISTRATION DEADLINE:
We anticipate the 16 spots available for this trip will fill up quickly, so don't delay! To reserve your spot for this life-changing adventure, submit your $500 non-refundable deposit by September 30, 2026.
NEXT STEPS
Once you have made your deposit or expressed interest, our trip leaders will send you regular updates to help you train and prepare for the trek. We’ll help you every step of the way. Your excitement for this great adventure of a lifetime is going to build, so be sure to get your deposit in today!
But am I fit enough? Is it safe? Will I be supported?
As long as you are willing to prepare, our contracted expert guides that lead these climbs will ensure you reach each peak safely. Likewise, your trip leaders (below) will guide you every step of the way through the preparation process, including ensuring you are doing what you need to, to be physically, financially, and spiritually ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
Meet your trip leaders, Jenna and Luke.
Jenna Gallant
jenna@canvashouse.org
Jenna has been on the Canvas team since 2017 and has hiked Snowdon before, along with several other mountains and trails around the world. Jenna is from Oxfordshire, in the UK, but has called Birmingham home since she came to study at the University of Birmingham in 2009. After becoming connected with Canvas as a student, she has transitioned into the role of team member, passionate to provide the same experience she had, exploring life and faith through this community, to the students of today. Jenna will be your primary point of contact for the preparation and fundraising, providing regular updates and helping you physically prepare for the challenge.
Rob Prucha
robprucha@cmfi.org
Rob is excited to join the Canvas team in early 2027. For the past seven years, he and his family have served with Christian Student Fellowship at Wayne State College in Nebraska, investing in the lives of college students and helping them grow in their faith. While Nebraska isn't known for its mountains, Rob has enjoyed the outdoors through pheasant hunting on the prairie and bow fishing its rivers and lakes. During his undergrad studies at Johnson University in Tennessee, he discovered a passion for backpacking in the Great Smoky Mountains.
That passion eventually led Rob to create monastic-style excursions for CSF, including backpacking trips in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, and multi-day canoe expeditions through the Ozark rivers of Missouri. These experiences created opportunities for students to encounter God, build meaningful relationships, and grow through both the adventure and the quiet moments of the wilderness. Rob is excited to bring that same passion for adventure, community, and faith to students through Canvas.
Important Note: The initial registration deposit is non-refundable. If a participant decides to withdraw from their CMF adventure trip, all additional trip fees can be fully reimbursed up to 75 days prior to the trip's start date. However, within 75 days of the trip, all additional trip fees are non-refundable.
SUGGESTED TRAVEL AGENTS
CMF does not officially endorse or have any connection to these travel agents, but we have used them with good success in the past. This list is provided to simplify and speed your process of getting your trip tickets and to hopefully ensure you get the best price.
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Regal Travel By Design Nancy Thaxton 304.776.5907 regaltravelbydesign.net |
AFC Travel Anthony Hilden 952.886.7676 afctravel.com |
Fly Me World Mohan 949.981.1707 flymeworld.com |
Faith Ventures Contact Name? 1-844-811-3213 faithventures.com |
TRAVEL INSURANCE OPTIONS
CMF does not officially endorse or have any connection to these insurance companies, but we have used these companies with good success in the past. This list is provided to simplify and speed your process of getting your trip insurance.
- International Volunteer Card
- Good Neighbor Insurance
- IMG Patriot International Plan
- World Nomads
We encourage you to have fun with this part of the adventure, trusting that you won’t go through fundraising alone. As a team, we’ll share tools and ideas to help you raise the funds to benefit the discipleship journey of students at Canvas, starting with how to share this opportunity with friends, family, coworkers, and church groups. After registering, you will be sent simple instructions to create your own unique fundraising page.
Participants are expected to actively engage in fundraising efforts toward the minimum goal of $3,000. CMF is committed to supporting each climber in this journey and also reserves the right to reevaluate participation if a good-faith effort toward fundraising is not demonstrated. Funds are due at the following deadlines, helping ensure that you reach your fundraising commitment.
- 50% ($1,500) on or by March 1, 2027
- 75% ($2,250) on or by May 1, 2027
- 100% ($3,000) on or by June 27, 2027
If you need assistance at any time, please contact adventure@cmfi.org.
Built into the itinerary of your trip is a weekend in Birmingham for the Canvas 20-Year Celebration. On that Saturday, you will have the opportunity to take part in an additional activity, including one of the following: visiting Warwick Castle, Stratford Upon Avon, or the Malvern Hills.
Before or after the programmed trip, London and Oxford are very accessible destinations to visit from Birmingham. Oxford boasts beautiful parks and old, historic universities, as well as hotspots frequented by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. London has all the excitement and fanfare of a capital city and tourist hotspot, including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye.
Keeping in mind this trip includes general sightseeing around Birmingham, multiple days of hiking, and a special event, we recommend the following packing list for this trip:
Travel Essentials
- Passport
- Credit/debit card
- Travel insurance information
- Copies of important documents
- Small amount of British pounds (£)
Electronics
- UK plug adapter (Type G)
- Phone & charger
- Portable battery pack
- Headphones/earbuds
- Camera (optional)
- Charging cables
Hiking Clothing & Gear
(See official Three Peaks packing list for full details.)
Casual Clothing & Footwear
- T-shirts/shirts
- Casual trousers/jeans
- Shorts (weather permitting)
- Light sweater or fleece
- Casual jacket
- Underwear and sleepwear
- 20-Year Celebration event outfit (business casual)
- Hiking boots
- Comfortable walking shoes/trainers
- Flip-flops/slippers for hotels (optional)
Miscellaneous
- Journal/Bible
- Compact umbrella
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Reusable water bottle
- Prescription medications
- Basic first-aid items
- Toiletries
A good rule of thumb: Pack for layers, not for cold weather. UK conditions can change quickly, even in the summer.