What is a custom Retreat?
Many pastors and leaders come to Thousand Pines with the intent of running their own custom retreat program because of the freedom it allows. This gives them the privacy to teach their own curriculum, accomplish defined and intentional goals with their group, build relationships specifically within their own flock, and minister to their own people in the fashion that works best in their direct ministry context. If these are your goals and hopes in building a retreat, Thousand Pines is the place for you.
What is a custom Retreat?
Many pastors and leaders come to Thousand Pines with the intent of running their own custom retreat program because of the freedom it allows. This gives them the privacy to teach their own curriculum, accomplish defined and intentional goals with their group, build relationships specifically within their own flock, and minister to their own people in the fashion that works best in their direct ministry context. If these are your goals and hopes in building a retreat, Thousand Pines is the place for you.
Give us a call today!
909.338.2705
OUR CUSTOM Retreat PHILOSOPHY
Our goal in serving our Guest Groups is to provide them with the highest level of excellence and service possible. By choosing Thousand Pines for your custom event, you’ll ensure that you will have an excellent and impactful camping experience. We specialize in helping make your event a complete success! We’ll provide the housing, meals, and activities as you need them, you do the rest.
We look forward to serving you for your next Custom Event.
We look forward to serving you for your next Custom Event.
OUR CUSTOM Retreat PHILOSOPHY
Our goal in serving our Guest Groups is to provide them with the highest level of excellence and service possible. By choosing Thousand Pines for your custom event, you’ll ensure that you will have an excellent and impactful camping experience. We specialize in helping make your event a complete success! We’ll provide the housing, meals, and activities as you need them, you do the rest. We look forward to serving you for your next Custom Event.
Build Your Own Retreat
Here are some tips on how to build a successful retreat!
THE BASICS
This section will take you through 3 basic steps to help prepare your retreat.
These steps will help in communicating your vision to our Guest Relations staff as they help coordinate all the necessary details to make your retreat a success. Prayerfully go through the steps and by the end, you’ll be ready to make a reservation with the confidence that your group will experience everything you hoped would take place.
These steps will help in communicating your vision to our Guest Relations staff as they help coordinate all the necessary details to make your retreat a success. Prayerfully go through the steps and by the end, you’ll be ready to make a reservation with the confidence that your group will experience everything you hoped would take place.
STEP ONE: BIG PICTURE
The first question to ask yourself or your leadership team is, “What is the purpose of this retreat?”
Do you intend to do some activities to build group unity? Do you plan to lead an intense, introspective, solitary experience for your people? Or do you want a fun, activity-filled escape from daily life where you can reach non-believers in your group with the message of the gospel?
Knowing the demographic of the people you are working with will be crucial here. Answering this question will influence how you determine what you want to accomplish with your retreat. Once you have your answer, you can move on to the next step.
Do you intend to do some activities to build group unity? Do you plan to lead an intense, introspective, solitary experience for your people? Or do you want a fun, activity-filled escape from daily life where you can reach non-believers in your group with the message of the gospel?
Knowing the demographic of the people you are working with will be crucial here. Answering this question will influence how you determine what you want to accomplish with your retreat. Once you have your answer, you can move on to the next step.
STEP TWO: SPIRITUAL IMPACT
The next step is to consider your theme and curriculum.
This step takes a bit of time to develop, but for now, you just need to know the basics:
Once you figure out the theme, core curriculum, and main topics, you can move onto the next step.
This step takes a bit of time to develop, but for now, you just need to know the basics:
- What is the main “message” of this retreat experience?
- What is the primary goal you want all your participants to meet?
- How would you define success in terms of what your people walk away with?
Once you figure out the theme, core curriculum, and main topics, you can move onto the next step.
STEP THREE: MAKE A SCHEDULE
Once you know your purpose for the retreat and the subject matter, you can plan your schedule.
When it comes to building your schedule, there are essential questions EVERY GROUP at Thousand Pines needs to consider:
When it comes to building your schedule, there are essential questions EVERY GROUP at Thousand Pines needs to consider:
- How long is your event? Will you need overnight housing?
- How many meals will your group need?
- How often will you be meeting and what size of meeting space does your group require?
- What activities do you want to include?
HOUSING:
If you're planning an overnight event, it will be necessary to consider what kind of housing you will want.
In terms of housing, we have several types of accommodations available from rustic tent-style camping to modest mid-grade cabin options. We also have Leadership Housing available for those VIPs you want to treat to a special room.
Take a look at our Guest Group Information Sheet or our lodging page, so you can best pick which housing options will suit your needs, or give us a call to see what housing we have available for your specific dates.
In terms of housing, we have several types of accommodations available from rustic tent-style camping to modest mid-grade cabin options. We also have Leadership Housing available for those VIPs you want to treat to a special room.
Take a look at our Guest Group Information Sheet or our lodging page, so you can best pick which housing options will suit your needs, or give us a call to see what housing we have available for your specific dates.
MEALS:
Even if your stay with us is only a few hours, you will most likely want to eat a meal. While you may make alternative arrangements, you can always enjoy a delicious meal with us!
Thousand Pines has a reputation for serving great food at extremely reasonable rates. Included in your package will likely be a few meals depending on the duration of your stay. Our meal times are subject to change, but we typically serve Breakfast at 8:00, Lunch at 12:00, and Dinner at 5:30. We serve nutritious and well-rounded meals complete with drink stations, dietary options, and delicious desserts.
Custom options are available, and with proper coordination with our Guest Relations staff, almost anything is possible! Click here to learn more about our dining hall.
Thousand Pines has a reputation for serving great food at extremely reasonable rates. Included in your package will likely be a few meals depending on the duration of your stay. Our meal times are subject to change, but we typically serve Breakfast at 8:00, Lunch at 12:00, and Dinner at 5:30. We serve nutritious and well-rounded meals complete with drink stations, dietary options, and delicious desserts.
Custom options are available, and with proper coordination with our Guest Relations staff, almost anything is possible! Click here to learn more about our dining hall.
MEETING SPACES:
You'll most likely be planning several meeting times for your group and possibly even break-out/workshop sessions. For those you will need meeting spaces.
We have several meeting spaces available to meet the needs of your group. We have everything from large group meeting areas like Jensen Chapel (400 max) and our main Outdoor Amphitheater (500 max), to medium (100-150 max) and small (20-50 max) group spaces available.
Priority to the larger venues is based on the size of your group. Almost all of our meeting places have the option of amplified sound and multimedia presentation.
Whether you need a large area for general sessions, smaller spaces for break-out times, or just a place to have a fire and some intimate conversation, we’ll work to suit your needs.
Please take into consideration the mountain 10:00 PM sound curfew when scheduling your evening meetings.
Learn more about our meeting spaces here.
We have several meeting spaces available to meet the needs of your group. We have everything from large group meeting areas like Jensen Chapel (400 max) and our main Outdoor Amphitheater (500 max), to medium (100-150 max) and small (20-50 max) group spaces available.
Priority to the larger venues is based on the size of your group. Almost all of our meeting places have the option of amplified sound and multimedia presentation.
Whether you need a large area for general sessions, smaller spaces for break-out times, or just a place to have a fire and some intimate conversation, we’ll work to suit your needs.
Please take into consideration the mountain 10:00 PM sound curfew when scheduling your evening meetings.
Learn more about our meeting spaces here.
ACTIVITIES:
Once you get the fundamentals of your schedule down (Meeting times, Mealtimes, and Housing needs), you can start to add activities.
Now is an excellent time to consider the demographic you’re bringing up to camp:
Go back to Step One, think about what your group would desire to experience the most, and then add activities that will work best with your program. When you talk to our Guest Relations staff, see what options are available.
Also, check out the Activities section to get a feel for what we offer. As you put your group’s schedule together, make sure to plan activities that work with the rest of your program.
Now is an excellent time to consider the demographic you’re bringing up to camp:
- If you’re working with children, you’ll likely want tons of activities with lots of structure involved. Reserving the recreation fields for specific times might be a good addition here.
- If you’re working with teens, you will likely want venues and hangout options like the pool, skatepark, paintball, ropes course, Malt Shop, and Underground Rec Den.
- If you’re working with adults, you’ll likely want to plan for as many options available to foster relationship building. So you may want to have the Malt Shop and Coffee Shops open as often as possible.
Go back to Step One, think about what your group would desire to experience the most, and then add activities that will work best with your program. When you talk to our Guest Relations staff, see what options are available.
Also, check out the Activities section to get a feel for what we offer. As you put your group’s schedule together, make sure to plan activities that work with the rest of your program.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
After getting through the previous steps provided and putting your basic schedule together, there are some final details you will need to consider.
Additional add-ons you may want to consider are Communion, Baptisms, and venues like the McKee Prayer Chapel. You can include options like these for spiritual exercises that add a special touch to your custom program.
You may also consider the little details, such as drink stations, snacks between meals, special needs amenities, break-out rooms, health care facilities, and late-night activities.
We desire to meet all your needs to make your custom retreat an extraordinary experience. One of our Core Values is to “Say 'Yes' Whenever Feasible.” So go ahead, put us to the test. When you talk to our Guest Relations staff, feel free to request whatever you need to make your retreat a memorable success.
Additional add-ons you may want to consider are Communion, Baptisms, and venues like the McKee Prayer Chapel. You can include options like these for spiritual exercises that add a special touch to your custom program.
You may also consider the little details, such as drink stations, snacks between meals, special needs amenities, break-out rooms, health care facilities, and late-night activities.
We desire to meet all your needs to make your custom retreat an extraordinary experience. One of our Core Values is to “Say 'Yes' Whenever Feasible.” So go ahead, put us to the test. When you talk to our Guest Relations staff, feel free to request whatever you need to make your retreat a memorable success.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS
We also appreciate service groups to help maintain and improve the grounds and facilities. We offer a $59 per person, 2 night/5 meal Voluntary Service Retreat option (6-8 work hours, 30 person maximum).
We are here to serve in whatever way we can, so feel free to bring your ideas and needs to our Guest Relations team at 909.338.2705
We are here to serve in whatever way we can, so feel free to bring your ideas and needs to our Guest Relations team at 909.338.2705
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INTERESTED IN a Custom Retreat?
FILL OUT THIS FORM TO CONTACT OUR REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT
NOTE: THIS IS AN INQUIRY FORM NOT A REGISTRATION FORM
INTERESTED IN a Custom Retreat?
FILL OUT THIS FORM TO CONTACT OUR REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT
NOTE: THIS IS AN INQUIRY FORM NOT A REGISTRATION FORM
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359 Thousand Pines Road
Crestline, CA 92325 |
Day Time Phone
909-338-2705 |
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© 2022 Thousand Pines Christian Camp. Thousand Pines is a 501(c)(3). EIN: 35-2330805
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