The Fall Retreat is coming up soon! Another special weekend to make memories and explore our faith together! If you have any questions about the retreat, please call or email. I am sensitive to the fact that this might be your child's first experience away from home and want to reduce any stress or anxiety for parents and children.
Here's what you need to know...
Cost: $155 ($150 for a second middle school sibling)
Departure: 5:00 p.m on Friday, 10/4 meet at Rotunda to load bus and depart (Note: We will not be stopping for dinner on the way up. Bring your own snack on bus.)
Return: 1:30 p.m on Sunday, 10/6 at Rotunda
What to bring: NOT YOUR CELLPHONE or ANY ELECTRONICS. (There isn't much cell service anyways.) Helpful packing list here. Please do not send a ton of snacks and candy with your child. There is ample food provided at camp. (Please note that the kids typically don't shower the entire weekend which eliminates potential problems so it's all good!)
Money: Kids need to bring their own cash for the extra activities noted below. There is candy and drinks available to buy at camp and Timber-lee gear for sale in the shop.
Activites: Animal farm, archery, boating, chapel, climbing, campfire worship, hay rides, leather shop, laser tag, night hikes, night paddle, star gazing, zipline, trail rides, and more! Our group will participate against the other youth groups in the Harvest Bowl Saturday morning which involves a variety of fun and games.
*Some activities offered may be cancelled due to weather. Some activities such as zipline and creation walk require sign ups on Saturday. Zipline is $12 and trail rides are $17. There are also some charges at the leather shop.
Worship: There will be 4 contemporary worship services throughout the weekend. The kids fully participate in worship with the praise band as well as listening to the speaker. We follow each worship service with small groups led by the adult chaperones. These are the opportunities for their faith to be stretched!
Sleeping arrangements: Boys and girls are in separate heated cabins with indoor bathrooms and twin bunk beds. Adult chaperones of the same gender stay in the same cabin. Child Protection Policy rules will be followed.
Meals: Timber-lee has great food and will serve hot buffet style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is enough variety to satisfy picky eaters. If your child has food allergies please indicate that on the registration form.
Adult Chaperones: Chaperones play a very special part in the retreat as they are a surrogate parent, spiritual leader, rule enforcer, social director and general encourager and listener. Chaperones do not pay the registration fee. Chaperones must attend the entire weekend but may drive up and back from camp rather than take the bus (including their own child).
We typically only need 5 total and I promise to be fair if we have more interested than we have spots available. Please consider what is best for your child when considering whether to chaperone or not. Some kids need the space and others need their parent along. Prayerfully consider and indicate on the form if you'd be willing to take on this much appreciated role or if you are willing to do the Winter retreat instead!
Permission and Medical Release form: Will be emailed separately upon receipt of payment.
Illness: If your child becomes ill while at camp, you will be called to come and pick them up. Every attempt will be made to obtain a refund but there are no guarantees. Likewise if they become ill before departure, we will again attempt to obtain a refund from Timber-lee. Most importantly we want them to be safe and comfortable.
Payments: You can pay via credit card through PayPal or check. Payment must be received at church by 9/15 if paying by check. Refunds are not available after 9/15. Please contact Laurie regarding financial assistance.
There are no partial weekends available through Timber-lee. If you child has a conflict for part of the weekend, you will have to drive them home or to camp and pay the full registration fee.
We encourage friends to attend but their parent must register them separately so just send them the link to this page!
This will be a wonderful weekend of growing in our faith and in our relationships with each other!
Laurie Meissner
Interim Director of Middle School Ministry
630-363-7470
lmeissner@firstpreswheaton.org