“We’re here!” the kids squeal as we turn into the camping area. Your stomach begins to swirl and your palms sweat. You begin to wonder if the youth retreat will be all that you planned and if everyone will like it.
Every youth leader goes through the same thought process when selecting a camp for their youth/teen retreat. We want everything to be just perfect and often stress ourselves out trying to reach that very point. At my church, our youth retreats were often held at our church. But when a portion of our church were rented out for a local Headstart program, we began to look at camps. The search was arduous and the planning a wee bit stressful, but the result made it all worth it.
Let’s make a point here—there is no such as a perfect camp, but there are ways to alleviate the stress in finding one. Here are a few tips that may make your planning worthwhile.
Brainstorm: Yes God has given you the vision to have a successful retreat. But it’s important to involve the other members of your team that have also received the vision. They will have ideas that perhaps you have not yet considered. In the brainstorming session, talk about the number of children you expect, how far you are willing to travel, budget, bathroom accommodations and other amenities you expect at the camp you would like to stay at.
Research, Research, Research:Once you’ve meet with the core group and you have established your goals , break out the phone directory and start looking on the Internet for camps. Make sure that there are stores nearby just in case you need to go to one in the middle of the night.
Interview: It may take a while but once you have found a few candidates that you think will fit your list of requirements, schedule time to physically visit the sites. Check out the bathroom and dining facilities and the quality of the buildings or cabins you and the group will stay in. Questions regarding the deposit, timeline for payments and final count are acceptable at this point.
Develop a Plan: After selecting the camp that is best for your group, select the lessons that are appropriate for each age group and create a corresponding schedule. On the schedule, list the meal times and include the names of the workshops your youth leaders will teach.
Breathe! If you have reached this point you are well on your way to having a successful retreat. Take this time out and reflect on the important aspects of the retreat to convey to the children. Schedule prayer times with the youth department to encourage unity and deep reflection.
Gather Materials: By now you should have an idea in mind the supplies that are needed to have a successful retreat. Figure out ways to gather your materials—either through the congregation, sponsorship from local businesses or from your pantry at the church.
Go Forth! Enjoy it! Shake the nervousness from you and go forth in victory. With a positive effort and a strong team effort from your core group, nothing can stop you!
