Planning a Successful Retreat: Materials
The idea of a retreat, which is to withdraw from typical daily circumstances usually for education and relaxation, has been a part of our collective culture for as long as history itself. We innately know that we must spend time away from what we do, to break the monotony and to recover and start building new elements of ourselves. Modern retreats offer these benefits, and much more, with all manner of amenities to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Despite existing provisions, it can be helpful to think about which things to bring for planning a successful retreat.
Whether you’re looking at organizing a business retreat FL, a youth group retreat, or even a church group retreat, it’s important to have materials ready. These can be educational, entertaining, or simply relevant to the group you’re with. Before you start planning your next business retreat FL, be sure to read on to ensure you’ve got everything you need.
Here’s a look at some educational and entertaining materials which you may wish to share at your next retreat.
Generally Useful Materials
Before looking at materials specifically useful to the exact type of retreat you’re planning on hosting, there are some generally useful ones which are great sprinkled throughout the time there. These are usually inspirational materials, such as videos, speakers, or activities, and are meant to put all retreat-goers in the right frame of mind for their experience.
Inspirational Videos
Due to the nature of our perception, we can fall victim to a range of thought patterns which disillusion us from actively enjoying our daily lives. When this happens, we often will fall into a “funk”, so to speak, and it can take a great feat to pull us back out of this. This can be especially true for office workers, so if you’re running a corporate or business retreat FL, then read on.
Some of the most inspirational stuff on the internet can be found on Youtube, and more specifically, on the TED Talk channels. Technology, Entertainment, and Design (TED) Talks are short monologues from leading experts, as well as relatively normal folk, who wish to share their discoveries and experiences with others. Not only can these talks provide great ideas, but they can also lift us back up and put us back on our feet, something which may not be possible on one’s own accord.
Check out the Inspirational section of their website here, and bookmark a few inspirational talks to share over the retreat.
Team Building Exercises
If you’re hosting a retreat, then you will be hosting a large group of people, who can easily be split into teams. A common part of business and youth group retreats are team building exercises, although these can be relevant for anyone, as they help develop social skills as well as self confidence.
While there are some tried-and-true classics, many people know these already, and they may not have the desired effect. Instead check out this great article which has some fresh new ideas, as well as reimagined classic activities, to truly help develop your group.
Specific Materials
Here we will look at some specific materials which may be relevant to your business retreat, church retreat, and youth group retreat.
Business Retreat
While the idea of a business retreat is to have a break from the monotony of daily work life, there may be some value in bringing one aspect of work with you. When confined to an office with the same people day in and day out, people generally stop needing to be so creative. But when unleashed in a new environment with those same people, creative energy starts to flow like never before.
A business retreat is a great opportunity to pair up groups of staff that would otherwise be disconnected. This can be a great way to create a roadmap of the future, or come up with some new marketing ideas.
Church Retreat
When one thinks of a church retreat, they don’t often envision a playful celebration of communion with God, often we imagine a lot of sitting and listening. Although the nature of having a relationship with God in itself can be considered a creative act, so why not amplify that aspect?
Bringing plenty of art supplies as well as musical instruments to your church retreat can see collaboration and celebration flourish from all members. Be sure to organize some creative time outdoors, where inspiration lives, and to allow artists and musicians to lead one another.
Youth Group Retreat
Youth group retreats typically follow a formula which works wonders, but doesn’t leave much in the way of children actually being children. Games are an integral part of their development, and as much as they may frustrate us, there are many things which can be learnt through that platform.
