Planning a retreat for a Christian church group can easily be done on a tight budget, with a little creativity and a bit of elbow grease.  Follow the steps below in planning and you are sure to have a wonderful time.

1. Choose a setting that is close to home.  Gasoline costs can be shared by carpools.  There is no need to stop to buy a meal on the way. Have travelers pack a snack for the road trip.
2.  Also choose a center that allows you to bring in your own food.  Prepare meals in bulk prior to the retreat and bring them with you.  Or ask everyone to bring some food for a potluck dinner.
3. Search for speakers that volunteer their time, or ask your local pastor to be your guest speaker. 
4. If you need to purchase supplies like notebooks, decorations, or candles, make a list of all the supplies needed in planning your Christian retreat, and distribute the list to your church.  Ask for donations, which can be tax deductible.
5. Rather than paying a band to play for your worship time, consider making a CD mix of favorite praise songs.  Bring along a portable sound system.
6. If you are planning a Christian retreat with a theme, and you wish to have decorations, remember to check your church inventory for decorations that had been previously purchased and stored away.
7. If you are planning to have meals served at your Christian retreat, why not choose to skip the first evening’s dinner and bring hot dogs to roast over the campfire.  (This is a great ice breaker too!)
8. Work with the camp director to see where you can opt to cut costs.  Christian charity is known to be extended for retreat planning on a budget.  Perhaps you can opt out of the linen service that the camp customarily provides.  Ask your retreat attendees to bring sleeping bags and their own pillows instead.  Can your group volunteer one hour per day on work crew at camp, in order to offset the cost for your group?  Find out if there are any “scholarship” funds available through the retreat center itself.  Often these camps have yearly donors that support the camp.

Retreat centers generally offer one of the most rewarding work environments.  Whether you are seeking temporary, seasonal, or full-time employment, you will want to search for retreat centers that fit your skills, talents, work experience, and personality.

Director Positions
If you are seasoned and looking for a full time director position, you will need to have experience with: fund raising, marketing, operations, reservations, guest relations, facilities cleaning, building and inventory management, bookkeeping and accounting. Sometimes, depending on the retreat center’s needs, you will need to be able to facilitate spiritual activities and events.  Usually a college degree is required, in addition to excellent communication skills, event marketing, and management and computer skills. Often, retreat centers may look for experience in event coordination, hospitality and ministry.

Program Director Positions
Qualifications typically required for program staff include: staff experience in resident summer camp, supervisory skills, management experience and the ability to evaluate the performance of camp counselors, and training experience. Retreat centers may want you to train and supervise program counselors, coordinate camp activities and special events, and provide primary backup of program counselors.

Camp Counselor Positions
If you are seeking seasonal work at retreat centers, the list of qualifications may focus on some of the following abilities:   relating to one’s peer group, accepting supervision and guidance, working with children, and assisting in teaching activities.  Character traits most needed are: integrity, adaptability, and enthusiasm, a sense of humor, patience, and self-control.

The benefits of working at any one of the thousands of retreat centers across the country can offset a smaller salary.   Most retreat centers have a mission statement that centers on renewal of body, mind, and spirit.  Located in beautiful settings and staffed by harmonious people, your work experience may truly become your career path, and even, a way of life.  All the best to you as you search for retreat centers and opportunities that suit you well!

Few people have ever found the hidden treasure in observing a special kind of Christian spiritual retreat called a retreat of silence.  Some have other ways to describe it: meditation, listening to the inner self, hearing the voice of God. Whatever you prefer to call it, a day of silence gives breath to the soul.  For Christians, this kind of retreat can be truly spiritual.  The traditional retreat format includes games, activities, and lectures, which can unfortunately take the place of actually communicating with God.  The day of silence is just the opposite.  The only things you do all day are talk to God and listen for His voice.

We are inundated with sound everywhere we go.  The car radio blasts on when I turn the key.  The grocery store is playing Aerosmith in “musak! “ And you can learn how to speak Italian when visiting the rest room in your favorite restaurant, as they play language tapes over the speaker system! Planes zoom. Trains screech. The TV blares with commercials. Did you ever notice that you can virtually never escape the noise?  Just as a body needs rest, so does the spirit.  A quiet place is one anecdote to our stress.

As a Christian, I know how good it is to connect in spirit with God. So I take a Christian spiritual retreat once a year, at least.  The idea is very simple.  Find the most quiet, peaceful place you can.  A retreat center often has single rooms available for these kinds of guests.  Perhaps you prefer to stay at a local hotel for the day.  Ask a good friend who will be traveling if you could use their home for the day while they are gone.  This spiritual retreat for any Christian does not have to cost a dime. Just be sure to find a comfortable spot with no phones, no TV, and no radio.

Most people who plan a day of silence prefer to find an outdoor setting.  Some prefer to hike, others to sit.  If this sounds like the kind of spiritual retreat that fits you, be sure to bring along several things to make your experience more enjoyable.  Bring the following: cushion, journal, pen, portable alarm clock, snacks, insect repellant, hat, sunscreen, hat, warm jacket, hiking shoes, and water bottle.  The day is yours …indulge in the solitude!

Christian youth retreats are said to be some of the most significant events in a teen’s life.  When teens are taken out of their typical environment and put into a different one, the atmosphere is conducive to reflection, decision-making, and significant personal growth.  Unfortunately, not all Christian youths can afford to go to retreats.  However, with a bit of creativity and a little elbow grease, a teen can find a way to earn his way to camp.

Many Christian youth retreats take place over a weekend.  This article, however, will focus on the week-long Christian youth retreats.  These are the ones that teens find “too expensive.”  The first thing to do is determine the actual cost to the camper.  Remember to keep in mind incidentals, like meals and fuel costs.  Once you have the bottom line, check the calendar to see how many weeks there are till the payment due date.  Divide the total due by the number of weeks, and calculate how much cash must be earned or raised each week.  This makes saving for Christian youth retreats seem more possible.  The old adage says you eat an elephant one bite at a time.

Christian youth retreats often offer 3 ways to help a camper afford the cost.  These options include: fund-raisers, reduced fees, and scholarships.   Fund raisers can take the form of the typical door to door product sales, coupon book sales, or raffles.   Still other fund raisers are turned into large events, where the campers volunteer their time to serve at the event, in order to earn money toward Christian youth retreats.

Some families have asked Christian youth retreats and their directors if there is an option of a reduced fee.  Sometimes the camp will accept volunteer work hours at the retreat center as barter for all or part of the week’s stay a Christian camp for the youth retreat.  It is not uncommon that Christian youth retreats offer scholarships to students because they have financial support from donors.

Obviously, the sure way to earn fees for Christian youth retreats is by good old elbow grease.  Teens are able to do many odd jobs.  The typical odd jobs for teens include babysitting, yard work, pet sitting, car washing, and snow shoveling.  But with a little creativity, there is a job for everyone.  It is very rewarding for teens to know that they can earn their own way to any one of many the Christian youth retreats available today.

I know a woman who went on a retreat designed for a woman’s heart.  It was one of the highlights of her life.  Now, as a Christian woman, she had been on many a retreat. But this particular retreat far surpassed them all.   Every aspect of the retreat was geared toward a woman’s heart.  The setting was sublime, the food surprisingly wonderful.  And the speakers reached into places she said she had long forgotten.  There was healing. There was restoration.  There was freedom.  She felt more alive than she had ever felt.

It took place in a valley surrounded by the great Rockies.  The lodging was comfortably rustic yet welcoming, as were the staff members.  About 400 ladies had come to this place with anticipation and the retreat center did not disappoint them.   Hot tubs, ball courts, and hiking trails were available to everyone, but that is not what made this woman’s retreat experience different from the others.

Nor was the difference found in the dining hall with all its bounty.  She shared that they were waited on by smiling servers who lavished them with savory bacon and eggs in the mornings and fresh bread and fine entrees in the evening.  They indulged in a full salad bar at lunchtime.  The desserts, especially the warm chocolate chip cookie smothered in hot fudge and ice cream, were to die for.  But again. this was not the reason that this woman’s retreat was exceptional.

What made this woman’s retreat so unique was the amazing message that the speakers shared.  With much candor and passion, the five speakers shared about the core desires of every woman’s heart.  A retreat like that is a rare thing in this world of pretense and women’s rights.  Women could relate so closely to what they had to say.  The speakers shared honestly and openly about the painful things in their lives.  They also spoke about the healing that was available through faith.  But most importantly, they ushered women into a place of spiritual freedom.  That is what made this woman’s retreat an experience she will never forget as long as she lives.

There’s a stereotype about men that, if true, is only partly true.  In a recent children’s film, the main male character tells his wife, “For guys, a punch in the shoulder is like six months of therapy.”  In other words, men don’t know how, nor do they really need, to talk honestly and openly with each other.  A “hey buddy,” with a brotherly jab in the shoulder is about as close as we will ever get to connecting with another man and trying to be his ally.
 
Well, sadly, the stereotype can be true at times, but it’s not because men don’t have the ability or the need to speak honestly about their lives, or their challenges, or their problems.  It’s that many men have simply never had this modeled or taught.  And, when a person lacks the vision or the knowhow for something, it’s easier to fake their way through things so they can avoid what feels awkward or foreign.  But, a well planned and well executed men’s retreat can provide a forum and environment for men to unplug from the demands of life and experience a level of honesty with themselves, with other men, and even with God. 

Several things need to be considered and then put in place at a men’s retreat, but if retreat leaders take the following three suggestions to heart, they will be off to a great start in creating a men’s retreat experience that will foster positive change in the lives of men.

1. Find a location for your men’s retreat that has as much wilderness and natural beauty as possible. 
Not everyone lives near the mountains or the sea, but every part of the country is near natural, rugged, unspoiled places.  And having a men’s retreat in the conference room or basement of your local church doesn’t do much to open a man’s soul. 

You don’t have to have men rappelling off a cliff or rafting through whitewater to help them get out of the ordinary and be open to the unexpected, but giving them wide open fields, wooded trails, or lakeshores to explore just does something to a man… and it’s good.

2. If you have men speaking or facilitating at your men’s retreat, make sure they are men that have sincerely journeyed in their message and not just studied a book. 
When a church or other group chooses some popular book, tells a team of men to read it and then assigns a chapter to each, there is little strength and power to the message.  It ends up being a “staged” or “scripted” program, and there will be little that is authentic.  If you let men hear from other men who are genuine, tell the truth about their lives, and let the power of their lives speak for them, then you may very well help other men do the same.

Ask men and most will tell you they want to be in the company of a man who has become someone rather than one who simply knows something.  Who you are is way more powerful than what you know. 

3. Don’t plan guided or structured activities for every hour of the retreat, and honor a man’s privacy.  They way many men’s retreats are planned and structured, it seems like the leadership doesn’t believe a man can go out and experience much that is deep or spiritual on his own. 

Sadly, men go from large sessions where speakers teach to assigned discussion groups that are also led in some way to recreation times, meal times, and so forth, with little, if any unstructured time to be alone and decide what they need on their own.  Retreats can almost feel like elementary schools where the participants are watched and led all day long.

Trust a man to be out on his own for an hour, or for a number of hours, without his blackberry, laptop, cell phone, and you may be amazed at what can happen.  So, be intentional to plan for long periods of time when men do not need to be led, taught, assigned to a discussion group, or counseled.  They just get to be alone and do what they feel is the best thing to do.  Good things will happen.

Centers across the country offer a wide variety of venues for hosting conference retreats.  These destinations are capable of hosting groups of all sizes and types.  Most centers are located near geographic features like mountains, lakes, and deserts.  All conference retreats are unique and are best suited to a place that fulfills the particular need of the group attending. 

Common conference retreats are developed around the following interests: team development, couples’ retreats, youth groups, artist workshops, spiritual retreats, weddings, birding adventures, yoga workshops, family reunions, and also retreats just for women or men.

It is key to find a center that has specific amenities that are best suited for each of the particular interest groups. Obviously, conference retreats featuring adventures in bird watching would need to be located in a region known for its diversity of bird species.  Yoga retreats would need to be removed from noisy traffic.

The following is a checklist for event planners when searching for the perfect center for its conference retreats: transportation available to and from the center, dining hall fare, equipment available for usage, climate, insurance requirements, and deposit information.  Other details to investigate are the policies on pets, alcoholic beverages, quiet hours, and smoking.

Conference retreats generally feature guest speakers who are experts in their field. Rooms should be comfortably filled to capacity, but not over crowded. The room should reflect the appropriate atmosphere for the topic.  Rooms can be set up in one of these 4 basic seating styles: theater style, banquet style, classroom style, or reception style.

Centers for conference retreats and their meeting rooms should include most of these items: sound system, lighting options, podium, stage, chairs, tables, and water service for guests.  Speakers’ needs must also be addressed.  Equipment that is typically requested includes: projectors, screens, and TV/VCR/DVDs.

Conference retreats offer the attendees a place to withdraw from the daily routine.  They also offer a time and place to focus on business, relationships, hobbies, or spiritual renewal.  The trick is to find the place that best suits the need.

Christian women’s retreats come in all sizes and shapes. Some are exciting with music, speakers, dance, pageantry, and games.  Still others are quiet, intimate, or very personal.  There is a myriad from which to choose.  You alone are the one who can best determine what suits your spiritual needs.  It is well worthwhile to invest a little time and effort in researching the Christian women’s retreat offerings.

First of all, determine what your needs are, and what you’d like to gain from attending a retreat.  Are you in need of inner peace? Or do you long for deep interpersonal connection with other ladies? Perhaps you are hoping to get some guidance for a particular issue in your life.  Knowing what you are searching for is of utmost importance when choosing a Christian women’s retreat.

Once you have identified your personal desires, you will want to research the many venues that are available in your area.  Consider doing an internet search for “Christian women’s retreats.”  You can also contact local churches for information on upcoming events.  Investigate the many nonprofit organizations that focus on women’s issues.  Often, they sponsor annual retreats which feature highly esteemed female leaders. 

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you may want to consider traveling across the country or even, across the globe to find a Christian women’s retreat that is world-renown.  Of course, time and money can be possible factors that will determine if this is a plausible option for you.  However, it can be life-changing and one of the best experiences you will ever have.

“A friend in need is a friend in deed.”  If you are experiencing particularly difficult inner turmoil, you may want to consider inviting a friend to attend the Christian women’s retreat with you.  Sometimes a friend can bring vision and hope to you as you process through the issues that arise at the retreat.  If you have a small circle of close friends, it can be very rewarding to experience a retreat together.

The Midwest has literally hundreds of exceptional Christian Camps.  In Ohio, alone, there are 43 Christian Camp and Conference Association member camps.  Many have served generations of families in healthy, fun, and deeply personal ways.

There are a variety of programs, formats, and types of groups that Christian Camps serve.  There are Family Camps, Day Camps, Kids Camps, Group Camps, and Resident Camps.  There are also camps specifically for athletes, those with disabilities, single parents, musicians, and other groups. 

And Christian Camps will offer programs centered around activities, too.  Some of these include programs in Art, Sports, Whitewater Rafting, Music, Drama, and Writing.  These are especially good, because enthusiasts can spend a week receiving instruction and practicing their skills, and they can also meet others who share the same passion and interests.

Ohio also has some excellent Outdoor Education programs with eight CCCA member camps offering these kinds of experiences.  Christian Camp Outdoor Education curriculum options include Animal Studies, Exploratory Science, Plant and Earth Studies, Wilderness Survival Training, and other specialized training.  These programs use college prepared staff members with many being certified in the areas they teach.

Most Christian camps have their own websites which makes searching program options and registration really easy.  Christian camp websites will include events calendars, program descriptions, age or other restrictions or groupings, the camp’s philosophy and faith statement, and costs and special instructions for campers.  Lodge and cabin rentals, group rates, holiday weekends or discounts, and other specials can also be found on camp websites, so if you want to plan your own group retreat or special get-away weekend, Christian camps are the way to go.

What makes Christian Camps unique, and very special, is their commitment to providing youth, adults, families and groups opportunities to unplug from the distractions of life, re-focus on what really matters, relax, grow from God’s Word, and build great relationships.  And these special experiences all take place in beautiful settings where campers can revel in God’s amazing creation.

So, as Spring approaches, make plans with friends, or your Church, or with your family to spend a really special week at a Christian Camp.  Do a few web searches around the type of program you are looking for, the denomination you may prefer, or the location you hope to visit.  You can also visit the directory of Ohio Christian Camps, which allows the user to search for camps in a variety of ways.

If you are new to planning and creating retreats, the following five steps should help you.  These steps will move you through a deliberate process, and they can prevent you from making short-sighted decisions and help you to get out of the box and think creatively.

Sometimes traditions are helpful for the right reasons.  Other times, they are not.  Many churches and other community organizations have been known to go to the same camp center year after year after year simply because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.”  Again, sometimes this is a good decision if the camp center serves you in unique ways or offers scheduling preference or discounts because of your loyal patronage.  Other times, going to the same place again and again is the choice simply because it is easy and doesn’t require much effort.  This is when tradition can get in the way of providing the most enriching and memorable experience possible.

1. Be creative, involve others, and develop a fresh experience.
Before you make any contact with possible camp centers, do a little more work up front that will save you a lot of effort later and make your retreat unique. 

Find out what needs, interests, or challenges your group members are facing right now.  Do your planning with a creative team, and not alone.  Bring in new members to your retreat planning team every year, and then have a live, in person, brainstorming session where every idea is allowed and considered and you benefit from the excitement and synergy that only team work can bring. 

This is far better than trying to resurrect an old theme from years ago just because you have pre-made notes or ideas, or picking a currently popular book and arbitrarily assigning a few people to speak from a chapter.  Your participants always pick up on the genuine enthusiasm and involvement of leaders.  What has been impactful or has spoken to the lives of your team members?  What gets you excited or has you passionately interested lately?  Usually what has been speaking to the lives of your own team members will also speak to others.

2. Be very clear on your time requirements, your schedule, your accommodation and equipment needs, and your budget.
Knowing exactly what you want to occur, and when, during your retreat really helps you select the best camp center for you, and it also helps the staff of the camp center get ready to serve you.  Being clear on how many will attend, special dietary or sleeping arrangements, the specific types of media equipment you will need, and when your presentation sessions will take place are very important.  There’s a good chance the camp center will be hosting more than one group, so knowing exactly when you will need meeting rooms, recreation facilities, times of quiet and meals makes everything flow nicely.

If you are clear with your needs, the camp center staff can also be clear on total costs, which will help you set your budget.  Make sure you have final arrangements communicated in writing, and try to negotiate and plan with the same camp center staff member.  This minimizes the chances of miscommunication or last minute changes.
3. Having prepared well allows you to now select the best camp center.
Now that you have put good effort into creating your event, and you are very clear on all that you require, looking at various camp center options will be easier and more effective.  Camps will now be able to let you know when and how they can accommodate you, and before you even contact a camp center, you can now narrow your options by first visiting camp center websites.  Since you know what you need and when you need it, making your selection should go much more smoothly.