If you're looking for more info about the retreat, well, here you go:

 

Dates & Times: November 15-17.  We’ll meet at 7:00pm on 11/15 and return around 12:30pm on 12/17.  Eat supper before you come.  We will not eat lunch before we return. 

​

​

Cost:  $65.  This covers all of your food, lodging, transportation, supplies, three gummy worms, 1/2 package of fun dip, autographed picture of Johnny Manziel (they're really cheap now), an altoid can, an old shoelace, and a huge amount of awesome.

​

DO NOT miss this trip for financial reasons. There are scholarships available if needed. Talk to Monty or Heather for more info.

​

​

Where are we going?

We are going to a camp called Pineywoods.  It's the same camp we went to for the HS Retreat in 2022 and for the Family Retreat in 2023.  It's called Pineywoods because there are a lot of trees there.  They were going to call it Camp Trees, but that did not sound very cool.  They they tried Camp Lot O Trees, Camp Tall Trees, Camp Leafytree (our personal favorite) and Camp Treetrunk.  None of those worked.  They couldn't use Camp Treetrunk because some people thought it sounded like they had elephants there - which they don't - and people threw a fit because they wanted to see elephants - so after much deliberation - they finally ended up with Pineywoods.   

​

​

How we getting there?  Our bus.

​

How we getting our stuff there?  A trailer.  It will follow close behind the bus.

​
 

What are we going to do?

Retreat things.  You know, like games, activities, time to hang out, Bible study, talking with friends, getting to know people better, enjoying a weekend away, worship, eating, and spending some time outdoors.  We'll have a theme of some kind which will guide our Bible study and worship times.  The focus of the weekend will be on the Lord.  The things we do will all help us to know Him better.

​

​

​

 

Here are some additional questions you might (or might not) be thinking:

​

What if I have a schedule conflict?

Just invite everyone who is a part of the thing you have planned to join us.  For example: if you have a game or practice, just invite your whole team.  Then the possibility of playing the game or practicing won't exist because they'll all be at the retreat.  You probably have lots of practices or games anyway, but there is just one retreat like this during this entire school year.  And if it's a team sport, and you bring your whole team, we can have a practice and Monty will coach. See, before he was a youth minister, he was a math teacher, and before he was a math teacher, he was a model.  And before he was a model, he was a coach.  He knows most sports pretty well.  Of course, he knows water-skiing best.  But there is not a boat ramp on the pond at Camp Pineywoods to launch a boat, so we'll just hook a rope up behind a church van.  It'll all be fine.  Oh and for those who are safety-conscious and are now worried, don't be.  We would never do anything to put any student in danger...so the possibility of land-skiing is probably out.  We'll just go sky-diving instead.  We'll bring a bunch of helium and some balloons and you can go up a few thousand feet and then let go of the balloons.  It will be great.

​

Can I bring a phone or a battery powered life jacket? Nope.  By definition a retreat means to get away from routines and distractions for a few days. Because of this we're asking students to leave electronics at home - this includes phones, music devices, earbuds, video gaming devices, electronic tablets, etc.  Oh and don't bring a battery powered life jacket either.  Who even has one of those? That would be stupid. Batteries do not float. Neither do battery operated life jackets. So see this conversation is completely pointless and we're going to end it right now.

 

Can I bring a fan for the bus ride? Yes, you can.  However, it's not summer so you probably will not need it.  But...summer is coming.  So if you want to put one of those little fans which plug into a USB power outlet on your Christmas list, you would probably enjoy it next summer.  The ones we saw in the bus this past summer were well used and helpful.

​

Can I bring friends? Of course

​

Can I bring cell phones?  We will check phones in and put them in a phone box when we leave.  You can have your phone to call parents anytime you need to, or you are more than welcome to use our phones to call parents.  (And parents can call you anytime by calling our phones.)  But we will not have phones out during the weekend to do all the social medias and games and such.  I know, you're thinking: "why can't we just ask everyone to keep their phone put away during the retreat, then everything will be fine?"  Well, that does sound like a really good idea.  But if Sunday morning and Wednesday night youth class are any indication, phones will be out all of the time, even when our teachers ask for them to be put up.  So, we'll just try the phone box method and try to help all of us be emotionally and mentally present during the entire weekend. 

​

Will Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift still be dating by the time of the retreat?   No way to know

 

How do I sign up? Click the link below. It will take you to the sign-up page in CCB.

 

If I sign up for the retreat but I miss the bus, can I fly my personal airplane to the retreat? No, sorry unless you have a plane that can land on the water (the pond at the camp), we are sad to say you cannot fly a plane to the retreat. There are no runways in the area, however, let's talk about why you have a plane and you have never told us.  Don't you think it would be cool for a youth group to have access to an airplane? We could take turns flying it around and going to really cool places and doing really cool things. And you've been keeping this info all to yourself? Our feelings are hurt.

​

If I sign up but can't go, what do I do? Let us know as soon as possible (money you pay in for the retreat is non-refundable after November 3.)  If you no-show or back out within a few days of the retreat it costs the church the full amount for your retreat spot (which is quite a bit more than $65) so please let us know as soon as possible if you end up not being able to go.

​

Packing List? We will send out a packing list and details about the weekend by November 11. 

​​

We need some Parent Sponsors: Click here to help: Parent Help Sign-Up Page

 

What do I do if I still have questions? Talk to Monty or Heather. Texting and email will work too

​

​

It's going to be a great weekend we hope you can join us!

 

 

***Click here to go to the sign up page***