Tips For Planning A Great Retreat

Tips For Planning A Great Retreat

Do you want to have the best retreat ever? Are you looking for something that will bond your group, afford you time to cast vision, have a blast together and experience new depths of God’s love? If so you need a retreat. Planning a retreat can seem like an overwhelming task but here at Shepherd’s Fold we want to help you have the most amazing retreat experiences. If you are in need of a retreat or rental place, give us a call today!! We can work with you on any facet of your retreat planning and are experts in specifically youth retreats, team retreats, church retreats, youth camps and team development. Please use some of our time tested and group approved methods of planning your next retreat.

Planning is the most important part of the preparation.

What is the Plan?  As the Retreat Coordinator the plan is up to you!  You will have several people to bounce ideas off of and check to see if it sounds good, but in the end, it’s up to you.  It’s one thing to be able to react “on the fly” and MAKE the retreat work.  It’s a very different thing to go into the retreat well prepared and to use the retreat like a tool to get somewhere with people.  Which would you rather do?

So, here are all the bases you need to cover.  Take some time and write these ideas out and you’ll be well on your way to a smooth retreat.

Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking that personality alone can make a retreat work.

What do you want the guests and leaders to go back home saying?  This is a great place to start.

Use this idea as the filter all your future planning filters through. If it does not support this idea it most likely does not fit in this retreat.

The Three Areas You Need to Prepare

1. ADMINISTRATION: How will you be prepared?

2. PROGRAM: What will you do?

3. SPIRITUAL TRAINING:  What will you teach?

After you have theses three areas covered simply build your schedule from arrival until departure fitting in the activities and programs you have decided on.

**Don’t forget meal times!

***Allow your group 5-10 minutes of transition time from location to location.

**** For more detailed information on retreat planning or to get a free sample retreat schedule email us.

For more information than you have ever wanted to know about retreat planning check these great resources:

Women’s Retreat Planning

Corporate retreat planning guide

Fun retreat games and ideas

Incredible game/activity planning book!

This article was written by Daniel Roberts the Retreat Director and professional catch all at Shepherd’s Fold Ranch one of Oklahoma’s best Christian camp and retreat centers since 1972.

By rongriffin