How to Plan a Retreat for Middle Schoolers

Main Goal: Determine Ahead of Time: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, & HOW for the event.

WHAT do you want to accomplish as the leader? Then, what do you need to make that a reality?

WHAT do you need to cover your church from liability? Background Checks for all Adults, Permission Slip for all participants. "No Slip, No Trip."

WHAT to eat and how much food to bring? Use this standard youth ministry food chart: The quantities are accurate. You can get your menu planned ahead of time and buy the quantities or ask each of the students to bring certain items on the list. Hint: Help students get an average amount of food, first time through the line, then once everyone has been served, make a call for anyone who wants seconds. 

WHAT activities to do? Talk with the students and other adults to determine if they have any ideas, but it will mostly be up to you. So have a variety of games: Athletic games, Brain Type Games, Gross food Games, and Random Chance Games (sample games). 

WHAT do you do in Chapel Services? Could include Welcome and Announcements,  Icebreaker, Worship, Biblical Message either from the front or in small groups. 

WHAT to Bring? List Here

WHAT to give all participants? Retreat Guidelines, Notes, & Schedule. Everyone should be able to have their own copy (inside could include: Arrival, Free time, Dinner, Late Night Activity, Lights Out, Breakfast, Chapel, Lunch, Group Games, Free Time (not too much, or have an "activity" so they will have something "to do"), Dinner, Chapel, Etc.) Determine what time you will get back to the church and give yourself extra time, otherwise parents who are waiting for you will only wait Once.... Then You will be waiting for the next 7 years. Because they can't really know for sure when you will actually get back.

WHERE are you going to have the event? Do a pre-trip check. This is a Must for anything you are creating by yourself. It helps you know if the venue is safe, what to do at the event, how to promote it, how to direct students once the group arrives, and you get to see what the facility/area resources are and what the terrain is like, so that you can determine what kind of activities to do. You can also use Google Maps to see what kinds of activities are close, but nothing beats checking it out first-hand. In the Bible, Moses did a pre-trip check when he sent the 12 spies into the promise land... if that helps convince your board to let you go ahead of time.

WHY This is one of the main things, you want to promote to the families & the church. When people see why you are going, they will be more likely to send their student, Give scholarship money, Celebrate your return, and Validate the youth ministry's reason for existing.