A few tips from your friends at Lakeview to make planning a staff retreat feel doable (and worth it).
Tip #1 – Start With Your Why
Staff retreats are about more than checking a box. They give your team space to reconnect, refocus, and remember why you’re doing ministry together in the first place. Yes, everyone is busy. And yes, there will always be reasons to postpone a staff retreat.
Take a minute to name why your team needs this time, then put it on the calendar before something else fills it…
Tip #2 – Change the Zip Code
A new setting removes the “office rules” and gives your team permission to brainstorm, laugh, and talk honestly. Lakeview hosts churches from our fellowship all year long, not just in the summer. Let us take care of the details, from meals to room refreshes to setup and teardown, so you can focus on your why.
Tip #3 – Schedule Fun
If you don’t plan time for fun, it’ll be replaced by another well-meaning discussion that somehow takes the entire afternoon. Make space to connect in ways your staff normally wouldn’t. At Lakeview that could mean blacklight dodgeball, crate stacking, escape rooms, and friendly (but intense) game of cornhole.
See our standard and upgraded activities at https://lakeviewcamp.net/retreats/#activities
Tip #4 – Remember, it’s a Retreat not a Conference
Remember, it’s a retreat. You don’t want staff members to leave feeling like they need a few days off to recuperate from the demanding schedule you kept. Plan large blocks of time and focus on the most important things.
Lakeview exists to serve churches in our fellowship by offering a retreat space where your team can focus on what matters most. Contact us to learn more and see what dates are available.