Fall Youth Group Retreat
*Shepherd’s Fold Ranch operates as a Christian summer camp and retreat center just outside of Tulsa Oklahoma and is proud to host groups like Arrow Heights Baptist Church for their annual #Breakinfree retreat.*
The Value of Fall Retreats
Retreats, any time of the year, are important to include in your schedule but during the Fall there is a special connection with the weather changing and the purpose of the retreat. As things slow down approaching winter it is a great time to have your life schedule reflect the pace of nature. Things begin to change color, the temperature drops and the air becomes crispier. All of this lends itself to the perfect time for a Fall Youth Retreat. Mark your calendars and get to planning. You have work to do. In today’s blog I hope to give you a few ideas of for your future plannings. Below you will find a sample schedule, programming guidelines and some other information.
Schedule
Please do not use this schedule without permission.
Breakin’ Free 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
8:30 a.m. Adult leaders check in at SC, help/guide students when they arrive
9:00 a.m. Student’s check in at SC & load luggage
9:30 a.m. Depart for Shepherd’s Fold Ranch
10:30 a.m. Buses arrive at Shepherd’s Fold Ranch
10:40 a.m. Welcome at Eagles Nest
10:50 a.m. Family Groups – “Get to Know Your Group”, intro, ice breakers, bandanna’s, camp rules, cabin assignments
12:00 p.m. Sack lunch at Dining Hall (adults & students are suppose to bring their own sack lunch)
12:30 p.m. Find luggage/cabin & get settled in – Girls @ Ranch Camp, Guys @ Treehouse Village
1:30 p.m. Low Ropes for family groups: Pink, Orange, & Red (1:30-3:30 pm)
High Ropes for family groups: Green, Blue, Yellow, & Purple (1:30-3:30 pm)
3:30 p.m. Recreation/Free Time: Outdoor choices: zip line, hiking, football, 4 square, volleyball,
frisbee golf, ultimate frisbee, basketball.
Indoor choices: board games in dining hall
4:30 p.m. Recreation shuts down – Clean up for dinner
5:30 p.m. Dinner – Dining Hall
6:45 p.m. Worship – Eagles Nest
8:15 p.m. Family Groups
9:00 p.m. Snacks – Eagles Nest
9:30 p.m. Night Games – Hanger
10:45 p.m. Everyone in cabins (no exceptions)
11:30 p.m. Light’s Out!!!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
7:00 a.m. Wake up/Clean up
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Quiet Time meet at Eagles Nest
9:30 a.m. Worship – Eagles Nest
11:00 a.m. Family Groups
12:00 p.m. Lunch – Dining Hall
1:30 p.m. Low Ropes for family groups: Pink, Orange, & Red (1:30-3:30 pm)
High Ropes for family groups: Green, Blue, Yellow, & Purple (1:30-3:30 pm)
3:30 p.m. Recreation/Free Time: Outdoor choices: zip line, hiking, football, 4 square, volleyball,
frisbee golf, ultimate frisbee, basketball.
Indoor choices: board games in dining hall
4:30 p.m. Recreation shuts down – Clean up for dinner
5:30 p.m. Dinner – Dining Hall
6:45 p.m. Worship – Eagles Nest
8:15 p.m. Family Groups
9:00 p.m. Bonfire & Smores
9:45 p.m. Night Games – Eagles Nest
10:45 p.m. Everyone in cabins (no exceptions)
11:30 p.m. Light’s Out!!!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
7:00 a.m. Wake up/Clean up/Load luggage
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Quiet Time at Eagles Nest
9:00 a.m. Group Picture wearing T-shirts
9:15 a.m. Clean cabins/Dining Hall
10:15 a.m. Head home
11:30 p.m. Arrive at AHBC
Program
As part of their activity package, we offered Arrow Heights the opportunity to do our zip line, high ropes course and a session of low ropes. For the group we divided them into two groups and did rotations of the low ropes and high ropes. After the session each day we opened the zip line during free time so kids could ride as many times as they want. The low/high ropes groups were grouped by their ages and the activities were scaled to their level of aptitude. Each group has the chance to conquer three high ropes elements and as a group work through group juggle, zoom, circle drop and blind square. As a team, each did very well. The middle school students showed a high level of humility and teamwork when pushing through the difficulties with the blind square. It was a great time for the students to get to know each other and share some great experiences. Low ropes is something we facilitate very well. We use it with groups to achieve a number of goals. The primary goals we accomplish with a full low ropes session are building team work, developing team relationships and having a great shared experience.
Resources for Low Ropes and Other Great Info