Description: The Transitions Retreat is for college seniors as they prepare to head into the “real world.” The retreat addresses the transition from college to young professional.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: You will need to begin planning three months in advance to have enough time to find a speaker and facility. Advertising should begin as well and continue through one month before the event. During the week before the retreat, you will need to spend several hours preparing retreat materials and gathering snacks and supplies.
- Volunteers Needed: Volunteers are needed to cook lunch and dinner during the retreat.
- Supplies:
- Markers
- Nametags
- Small flower pots
- Potting soil
- Seeds
- Plug-in candles
- Ribbon
- Cardstock placards
- Resource list
- Retreat journals (in Help section)
- Bible
- Food (at your discretion — I often ask for volunteers to provide meals)
- Reserve the Space: The facility should have a meeting space, an eating space, and places for young adults to spend time in personal reflection.
- Ideal Group Size: Four to 10.
- Who is this for? College seniors.
- When is a good time for this? Saturday (9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
- Publicize the Program:
- Advertise on Facebook, through your bulletin, through personal invitation, and specific e-mails. Graduating seniors will appreciate the personal invitation and be more likely to attend if contacted this way.
Prayer for Program Planner: Blessed are you, Lord God, ruler of all creation. You know our hearts and our plans, and guide all that we do for your glory. Grant that this retreat will be for your honor and for the benefit of all your people. We ask this in the name of Jesus your Son. Amen.
Community Building: Gathering at the beginning of the event and during meals and activities provides an opportunity for participants to share their experiences, fears and hopes about their upcoming transition.
Make It Happen
Three Months in Advance:
- Set a date for your retreat.
- Find an inspiring speaker. The ideal candidate is someone who is not far beyond a successful transition from college to young professionalism.
- Reserve your retreat facility. The facility should have a meeting space, an eating space, and places for young adults to spend time in personal reflection.
- Begin advertising through bulletin announcements, asking specific college seniors with targeted e-mails.
One Month in Advance:
- Continue advertising and asking students to attend.
- Confirm your retreat speaker and share the notes about each session that you will has her/him to lead.
- Ask for volunteers to cook lunch/dinner.
Week of Retreat:
- Copy all retreat journals.
- Gather all supplies for activities (listed on retreat schedule).
- Gather necessary supplies for meals (or order food ahead of time).
- Find volunteers to cook and serve meals.
Day of Retreat:
- Follow schedule in the “Retreat Intricacies” file and use the “Retreat Script” found in the Help section below.
Ideas
- Create a Facebook group or some other type of online group where young adults can continue their conversation as they begin to experience the transition.
Help
