CPS founders envisioned that the non-work portion of CPS camp life would provide the men a unique opportunity to promote ways of living peace.  Men could grow individually not only in an educational program, but also in community living.  Leaders also envisioned that men would prepare for service of foreign post war reconstruction and also as leaders in the church. 

Eisan describes the educational program at Magnolia as “dynamic, broad in emphasis, and aimed at meeting all camper needs”. (p. 128) It included classroom activities, invited speakers in a variety of fields, interest groups, panel discussions and forums.  Men were encouraged to continue their varied interests in the arts and other areas.

The men published a camp newspaper Peace Pathways. An earlier newspaper was called The Peace Sentinel.  They also produced Magnolia Time Peace, the first issues in November 1941 and continuing through February 1942.

Magnolia campers knew that not all in the area surrounding this camp in the South appreciated having COs in their midst.  They had experienced unfavorable reactions while working in the fields or when in town.  The project superintendent also cautioned the men about customs of address in the South.  Particularly, he advised that men would not be appreciated for addressing Blacks as Mr. or Mrs.  One assignee, William Stafford, recorded a Sunday afternoon experience in McNeil, a town within hiking distance of the camp. 

One of the assignees at Magnolia, Morris T. Keeton, later served as National Education Director for Brethren CPS for most of the war.  Keeton had just earned the Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard.  When Keeton arrived he bunked next to William Stafford.  Stafford recalls that one of the country boys came up to Keeton the first night and asked where he was from.  Keeton answered, “Harvard.”  The country boy then asked, “What have you been doing there?”  Keeton replied, “I’ve been studying for my Ph.D.,” and the country boy replied, “You ain’t never worked, have you?”   After the war, Keeton had a distinguished academic career at Antioch College.  Stafford taught at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, and became one of the preeminent American poets of the last half of the 20^th Century.