Retreats

Retreats with Pres House are a great way to take a break from your normal routine and enjoy some time away from campus with friends! We eat, play, and make memories together while holding space for spiritual reflection and conversation. Whether you are brand new to Pres House or have been a part of the community for years, going on a Pres House retreat is one of the best ways to build relationships at Pres House.

Fall Retreat: October 12-14
Winter Retreat: February 20-22

Retreat FAQs

The registration fee for all Pres House retreats is $70. However, if you are a first-time retreat attendee, you will automatically receive a $10 discount. Scholarships are available if you cannot pay the full registration fee; contact Nii Addo before registering to request a scholarship.

All Pres House retreats are at Lake Waubesa Bible Camp, a 20-minute drive from campus. The rooms are dormitory style with bunk beds (2-4 people per room). There are two shared bathrooms with multiple sinks, stalls, and curtained showers. All the meals are cooked on-site and served family-style.

Here’s a typical schedule for a Pres House retreat! Please note: While we try to keep things consistent, each retreat has its own unique schedule and activities.

FRIDAY
5:15 pm ~ Meet at Pres House
6:00 ~ Arrive at Lake Waubesa Bible Camp
6:30 ~ Dinner
7:15 ~ Session 1
7:45 ~ Small Groups
9:00 ~ Free Time

SATURDAY
8:15 am ~ Breakfast
9:00 ~ Session 2
10:00 ~ Break
10:30 ~ Small Groups
12:30 pm ~ Lunch
1:30 ~ Free Time
6:00 ~ Dinner
7:00 ~ Session 3
8:00 ~ Small Groups
9:00 ~ Free Time

SUNDAY
8:15 am ~ Breakfast
9:00 ~ Session 4
10:00 ~ Closing
11:00 ~ Pack up and Depart
12:00 pm ~ Back in Madison
4:30 ~ Worship at Pres House

Retreats are generally organized around three activities: meals, sessions, and free time.

Meals are served family-style in the Main Lodge. They’re a great opportunity to sit with someone you don’t know very well and strike up a conversation as you pass plates!

During sessions, we engage in large- and small-group activities guided by the retreat facilitator(s). Every session is unique and structured around the theme for the weekend (see examples of past retreat themes below). At the beginning of the retreat, everyone is placed in a “family group” of 3-5 other students. You’ll spend some amount of time with your family group during every session.

Free time is … well, free time! There are lots of fun outdoor activities to choose from: hiking, kayaking, gaga ball, nine-square, sand volleyball, sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and more. We also bring board games and puzzles for those who’d prefer to stay indoors. Folks who need to study often use this time to hit the books together by the fireplace in the Main Lodge. Weather permitting (and depending on group interest), we’ll have a bonfire with s’mores by the lake after the evening session on Friday and/or Saturday night.

Here are some examples of past retreat themes:

  • “The Queer Joy of God”
  • “Called to Community: The Family of God”
  • “Earth Connections”
  • “Abundant Life: Really? Now?”
  • “Poetic Tools for Religious Imagination”
  • “As You Love Yourself: Rediscovering a Foundation of the Golden Rule in Faith and Mental Health”
  • “Soil and Sabbath: Creating Whole and Holy Rituals in Communal Space”
  • “Renewing Our Spirits”
  • Clothing:
    • Clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty (on Saturday afternoon, we have lots of free time to play outside)
    • Warm clothes for sitting/playing outside (weather permitting, we will have a campfire on Friday and/or Saturday evening)
    • Comfortable shoes
    • Check the forecast!
  • Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, etc.)
  • Personal items (medications, etc.)
  • Water bottle
  • Journal (if you have one)
  • You do not need to bring bed linens, a pillow, or a towel; the retreat center provides those. 
  • Please DO NOT bring alcohol, drugs, controlled substances, fireworks, firearms, or weapons of any kind (this includes pocket knives).

You’re not alone! There is free time on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon if you need to work. But we also encourage everyone to put down the books if they can. It’s important to make time for rest and play! Just ask Kevin (or anyone else who’s been to a Pres House retreat).

Register for Retreat

Registration for Fall Retreat will open in September. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Nii Addo.

Back To Top