when Dave Kreiter was searching for a place to build a retreat camp outside Billings, he wandered into a canyon where he saw three snowy owls perched in a tree.

"I was praying about where to go, and it was just kind of a confirmation of that canyon," he said. "It was something natural confirming something spiritual in my heart."

With that motivation, Kreiter set out to build a place where groups can come to think and reflect. He's still building the camp, which is called Trinity Encampment and is on private ranch land about 15 minutes southeast of Billings. The camp hosts numerous retreats every year and often combines nights at the camp with daytime events like hiking, sailing and rafting trips.

"We want to get them out of the church basement and get them outside," he said of the youth groups that often come to the camp. "It's a Christian camp, but it's open to all."

The camp has three big tepees that each sleep about a dozen kids. There's a fire pit close by and a large wall tent that serves as a dining hall. Most of the retreats happen in the spring and fall, because the summer heat makes it difficult to spend time at the camp.

Kreiter and others are building trails and a dozen ponds with a small stream running between each. With a huge workload, he has hosted several Eagle Scout projects and offers a discount to groups if they combine their retreat with some time clearing trails or doing other work.

Kreiter is an electrician during business hours but often finds himself at the camp before sunrise, doing work or praying. Sometimes, he may be the only person out there, but he's not alone, so he keeps a live trap at the camp.

"I've relocated 14 packrats from the kitchen area," he said.

One recurring challenge is money. Kreiter has received help from donors, but his continuing work makes fundraising a big issue. He has finished four of 12 ponds and needs liners and sandstone for the remaining ponds and creek. With the help of others, he hopes to complete most of the work on the camp in about three years.

Kreiter teaches sailing using his own invention, called Cat-A-Canoes, which are two aluminum canoes welded together with metal crossbars and sails. He sails on Lake Elmo and on larger rivers with kids and adults. At the camp, he employs different games and activities to encourage those on retreat to think more closely about themselves and God.

Kreiter said he and the others involved are trying to open the camp to groups of any kind, but most of the groups are religious. He works with each group to design retreats that can last from a few hours to a few days.

"I'm a Catholic and I love my faith," he said. "I want to know why Lutherans love their faith and why Episcopalians love theirs. But I don't try to change theirs, and they don't try to change mine. I think the world is a great place because we don't all think the same way."