10 Tips to Make a Retreat Successful

With school about to start back (sorry, school kids, but it’s true), many congregations are getting ready for retreats. Many will have youth retreats, while others will have retreats for nearly everyone! Fall seems to be a popular time to have these events, most often on the weekend.

While every retreat is different and have slightly different purposes, let me share 10 simple things to remember when planning, then I’d like to hear from you in the comments with some of your suggestions.

1. Have a Purpose (and Write it Down if Necessary). Don’t make your purpose, “We just needed to get away,” or “We’ve done one before, so we need to do it again.” That’s no reason to go to the time, effort, and expense of having a retreat. If a committee is planning the retreat, it is worth the time to write a statement of purpose for this retreat. What do you want to accomplish? That will help decide everything else.

2. Have a Solid Schedule. Of course, you need to be flexible. If you plan an outdoor activity, and there is a thunderstorm, you’ve got a problem. But not having any schedule at all is  not fair to people who are spending money to come! This is an area that needs to be examined before each retreat and after, to see if there are certain areas in which you could improve. Have plenty of time for spiritual growth, and make sure you plan plenty of time for meals (if 15 minutes really possible?).

HOWEVER…

3. Don’t “Over-schedule.” It is a “retreat,” after all! Most schedule some down time on Saturday afternoon, or have several leisurely activities planned. Either is fine. Allow for the group to relax a bit. This is especially true on retreats for adults. Part of the reason they are coming is to “get away” for a few hours.

4. Think Outside the Box on Locations. I’ve heard of groups having retreats in all sorts of locations, not just at state parks or church camps. I’ve even heard of some at a church building! As long as the activities are good and uplifting, the location becomes just that: a place. If it’s a couples retreat, a nice hotel might work with you on a discount, or might let you have a conference room for almost no money. If it’s a teen retreat, how about “retreating” to an inner city or another area where some work can be done?

5. Remember Tradition. After a group has had retreats a couple of times, certain aspects become tradition. It can be easy for those planning the retreat, though, to get so caught up in the “nuts and bolts” that they forget these traditions. If you have to, make a list! It’s amazing how these things develop and keep people coming back.

6. Don’t Put All the Work on One Person. If a youth minister is asked to do everything for a youth retreat, he won’t be able to interact with the young people and be part of their lives. It’s fine to have one person “heading up” the planning, but delegation is so key. Even those who are planning need to be able to “retreat” at the retreat!

7. If Possible, Have a Guest Speaker.  You don’t have to get outsiders to do everything, but the “keynote” addresses (if you have them) are a good thing to “outsource.” That provides a fresh perspective to the listeners, and it also is one less thing to worry about for those attending the retreat.

8. Prioritize Your Planning. Some groups will spend more time planning the T-shirt than the meals. This is a bad plan, especially if food has to be bought and taken to the location! Each area needs to be planned, but some just aren’t as important to “pulling off” a successful retreat.

9. Plan Year Round. If something “hits you” that needs to be done for the retreat, record it. This is what I do for VBS. Just a couple of days ago, I thought of a VBS idea and, even though our Bible School isn’t until next June, I recorded it in my VBS notebook in Evernote. Even if you aren’t on the planning committee, take down ideas and pass them along. Trust me: they will be appreciated.

10. PRAY! Don’t forget the power of prayer in making a retreat a success. Pray for every person coordinating an area. Pray that the Bible will be taught and learned. Pray that everyone will be safe. Bathe the retreat in prayer and it will be a success.

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What would you add?