It’s when you’re socked in with snow and freezing temperatures during winter that you’re more likely to think about a spring retreat. But as far as effective planning goes, the earlier, the better.
In this article, we’re talking about why now is the right time to start planning your spring church, corporate, civic, or group retreat.
Why Now Is the Time to Start Planning Your Spring Retreat
1) You Need to Consider that Spring Is a Common Time for Retreats
A retreat is a wonderful idea in the spring. The springtime hues are amazing if you spend any time outside, and the weather is frequently moderate and warming up. Spring treks are fantastic, even though it might still be a bit too cold to jump in the lake. Planning a retreat in the spring has some drawbacks, most notably rain and the possibility of a late-season snowfall.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of groups planning retreats for the spring. That means it can be challenging to book your ideal location, transportation, etc. You want to start planning as soon as you know you want to host a spring retreat.
2) You Want to Get Your Preferred Retreat Location
Finding the ideal setting is one of the cornerstones of a successful retreat. You want to select a retreat center that fits your needs and has plenty of natural beauty. You can select the best facility by answering the following questions:
- Do you want a pleasant place to stay?
- Do you need Wi-Fi?
- Do you prefer a location with a view?
- Which types of activities will your group be interested in?
- What skills do you hope your group will acquire?
- Do you prefer being close to nature or to a city?
Once more, the earlier you plan your trip, the better your chances are of finding a location that meets your requirements.
3) You Need to Arrange Transportation
If you’re hosting a corporate retreat or church retreat for a primarily adult group, people might drive their personal vehicles. Otherwise, you may need to rent passenger vans or buses. These vehicles are typically booked months in advance, so the sooner you can put your retreat on the schedule, the better.
4) You Need Time to Choose a Theme
Regardless of the primary demographic for your guests, your retreat will need a theme. It is best to give yourself plenty of time to think, pray, and meet with your team about how you want people to learn and grow from your retreat.
5) You Need Time to Plan the Schedule
Although you can work on your theme and timetable at the same time, you should get both settled sooner than later. We advise groups to take these factors in mind as they work on their schedules:
- Utilize the space you are using to its full potential.
- Don't forget to leave enough room between activities to get around the campus. You may need to build in time for guests to go back to their rooms to change after physically demanding activities.
- Don't forget to leave plenty of time for meals. In particular, if you are cooking for yourself, preparation and cleanup should be part of your planning.
- Make time for relaxation. You might schedule some unscheduled, loosely-structured time for fellowship, personal Bible study, and prayer.
A good timetable with considerable wiggle room is essential to a great retreat. The more time you can give yourself to tweak and adjust your schedule, the better.
6) You Need to Advertise Your Retreat
You may need to book a certain number of rooms at your desired retreat center before you have your full roster. That means you’re going to want to make sure you fill those spots as soon as possible. It is often easier to add spots than give them back.
You may start seriously marketing your retreat to your target market as soon as you have a date and a theme. The ability to make quick decisions may be greater among college students than among adults and families. Given how rapidly sports and school schedules fill up, be careful to provide yourself with enough time to publicize your event.
7) You Need to Recruit Volunteers
You want to make sure you have plenty of time to recruit and train volunteers for your retreat. You may not need as many volunteers if your retreat is primarily for adults, but for youth retreats, you may need several. Regardless, the more time you have to recruit volunteers, the better prepared they will be to help you put on a great retreat!
High Peak Camp in Estes Park, CO
For those searching for a beautiful retreat venue near Rocky Mountain National Park, High Peak Camp has beautiful views, great facilities, and everything you need for the perfect spring retreat. Reach out to our team as soon as possible to make sure you get your desired date for your spring retreat.