By Mike Sokol, Owner, Orange Springs Retreat Center · CCCA Member | November 2026
Short Answer
Schools return to Orange Springs Retreat Center for its exclusive-use campus, flexible programming, comfortable accommodations, great food, and all-inclusive retreat options. With no other groups sharing the property, organizers can focus on their students and their programs. Returning schools include UF Honors H-Camp, Miami Arts Studio, Ransom Everglades, Renaissance Charter, and G-STAR, and Lake Minneola High School.
Orange Springs Retreat Center — At a Glance
| Location | Orange Springs, North Central Florida (bordering Ocala National Forest) |
| Campus | 100+ private acres with spring-fed lake and white-sand beach |
| Group size | 60–200+ guests |
| Lodging | 200+ beds in climate-controlled cabins |
| Price (September 2027–April 2028) | 2 nights/3 days all-inclusive: $255 per person (60–99 guests) or $205 per person (100+ guests). Longer stays available. |
| Retreat model | Exclusive use — one organized group on campus at a time |
| Availability | Now booking September 2027–Summer 2028 (fully booked through August 2027) |
At Orange Springs Retreat Center, we are proud to welcome schools and university programs that return year after year. These returning relationships reflect something we work hard to provide: a private, welcoming environment where students can connect, teachers and organizers can focus on their programs, and the entire campus belongs to one group.
One group at a time. Always.
Returning Schools
Over the years, Orange Springs has had the privilege of hosting returning groups such as:
- University of Florida Honors H-Camp: Five consecutive annual retreats from 2022 through 2026, with its 2027 retreat already reserved.
- Miami Arts Studio (MAS): Returned for their fifth class retreat at Orange Springs in October.
- Renaissance Charter: Returning for their third annual class retreat at Orange Springs in 2027.
- Ransom Everglades School: Finished their third annual senior class retreat at Orange Springs in August, with a fourth being planned for 2027.
- G-STAR: Returning or their 3rd year this spring, Star is an Art Academy that has chosen Orange Springs for their annual school trip.
- Lake Minneola High School: May 2027 will be their 5th consecutive high school band camp!
Each program brings its own traditions and objectives. Our role is to provide the facilities, hospitality, and flexibility that allow organizers to create the experience they envision.
What Visiting Schools Are Saying
After their first of 5 retreats at Orange Springs, one school organizer shared on a 5 Star Google Review:
“We hope to make this a tradition for years to come. Staff was pleasant and accommodating and the camp is beautiful with lots of activities to keep everyone busy..”
-Lori Pedraza 2022
For our team, comments like these are especially meaningful. Our goal is not simply to host a successful retreat, but to provide an experience that schools look forward to repeating.
1. One School. One Campus. No Competing Schedules.
When a school reserves Orange Springs Retreat Center, it receives exclusive use of the entire 100+ acre campus—including lodging, dining, meeting spaces, and recreational facilities—for the duration of its stay. That means no unrelated groups sharing the dining hall, no competing reservations for recreational facilities, no other organizations using the lake or beach, no conflicting schedules for meeting spaces, and no outside retreat groups sharing the lodging areas.
For teachers, administrators, and chaperones, this makes planning and supervision more straightforward. For students, it creates an environment where their school community can enjoy the property together. Whether the program involves 60 students or 200+ participants, the experience is designed around one group’s needs.
No other groups. No shared facilities. No competing schedules.
2. A Setting Where Students Can Connect
Some of the most meaningful moments of a school retreat happen outside the classroom—a conversation beside the lake, a team-building challenge, a basketball game between classmates, or an evening campfire.
Orange Springs offers more than 100 acres bordering the Ocala National Forest, with a spring-fed lake and white-sand beach at the heart of the property. Students can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, sports fields, an indoor gymnasium, campfires, and team-building activities, alongside dedicated spaces for meetings and workshops.
3. Familiar Facilities Make Planning Easier
Organizing an overnight school trip involves lodging, meals, student supervision, activities, meeting space, and dozens of logistical details. Returning to a familiar venue simplifies that process.
At Orange Springs, organizers have access to:
- Climate-controlled cabins with accommodations for more than 200 guests.
- A dining hall seating 200+, allowing large groups to eat together.
- Meeting and presentation spaces, including a theater-style meeting room.
- Indoor and outdoor recreation for different schedules and weather conditions.
- An exclusive-use campus, so organizers can coordinate activities without competing with other groups.
Because everything is on the same property, schools can build their schedules around their educational objectives rather than coordinating transportation between facilities.
4. Great Food Is Part of a Great Retreat
Meals matter, especially when serving 100 or more students. Executive Chef Kevin and our dining team prepare meals for visiting groups, with advance arrangements available for special dietary needs.
Students and chaperones gather in one dining hall and share meals between scheduled activities. For organizers, having meals prepared on-site removes a significant logistical responsibility. Learn more in our post on how Orange Springs serves 100+ guests without sacrificing great food.
5. Every School Creates Its Own Retreat Experience
Orange Springs does not operate a single, predetermined school retreat program. Schools bring their own goals, traditions, and schedules.
A senior class may focus on friendship and reflection. A student leadership group may prioritize workshops and team-building. A university orientation program may use the retreat to help incoming students build relationships. Our job is to provide the setting and flexibility that make those different experiences possible. Returning schools can preserve the traditions that worked well while adjusting their programs for each new group of students.
6. Planning Your Next School Retreat
Orange Springs Retreat Center welcomes organized school and university groups of 60–200+ guests for overnight retreats, senior class trips, student leadership programs, and orientation experiences.
Located approximately 35 minutes from Ocala and 40 minutes from Gainesville, the campus offers climate-controlled accommodations, chef-prepared meals, meeting spaces, and outdoor activities on one exclusive-use property.
Now Booking: September 2027–Summer 2028
Our calendar is fully booked through August 2027. A waitlist is available for earlier dates.
Whether you’re considering your school’s first visit or continuing an established tradition, our team looks forward to welcoming you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a school retreat cost?
A 2-night/3-day all-inclusive retreat is $255 per person for groups of 60–99 and $205 per person for groups of 100+ (September 2027–April 2028). Longer stays are available. See the 2027–2028 rates and availability page for full details.
What is included?
Lodging, chef-prepared meals, exclusive use of the entire campus, meeting spaces, and recreational activities and equipment, including lake activities, sports facilities, and the gymnasium.
Can schools customize their retreat schedule?
Yes. Orange Springs provides exclusive use of the entire campus, allowing school organizers to develop schedules around their own educational goals, traditions, and activities. Schools can combine workshops, meetings, recreation, meals, and group gatherings without competing with other retreat groups for facilities.
Where can I learn more?
Related pages: How to Plan a High School Retreat · Senior Class Overnight Venue in Florida · University of Florida Honors H-Camp · How Orange Springs Serves 100+ Guests Without Sacrificing Great Food · Rates & Availability
Orange Springs Retreat Center
Website: orangespringsretreat.com
Rates & Availability: View 2027–2028 dates and rates
Call or text: (561) 221-7773
Located just south of Gainesville, Florida, Orange Springs Retreat Center offers Group Retreat Rentals, Fall & Spring School/Church Camp venue, Adult Camp, and an ideal Summer Camp Location. What separates us from other retreat venues is true exclusivity:
One group at a time. Always.
Recognized as a Top Choice on Retreat Discover’s “Best Florida Retreat Centers 2026” list, Orange Springs is also featured at the top of Christian Camp Pro’s guide to Youth Camps and Retreat Centers in Florida, which highlights exclusive-use venues for youth, men’s, and women’s retreats.
Check out how Orange Springs Retreat Center was featured in the New York Times!
