What is the secret to a killer fall retreat. Not games, not the speaker, certainly not the food! No, it is time spent with each student. Each year before the retreat I would make sure each volunteer set up an appointment with the student during the weekend.
I asked our volunteers to connect for about thirty minutes alone with each student in the small group/cabin before they weekend was up. This is what makes the weekend killer for the kids. Most students rarely had time with adult alone aside from their parents. And often not even with their parents!
- If it were me I would ask some of these questions to get started:
- What is going on in your life right now?
- What were you hoping this weekend would be like?
- (If they are a beliver) What has God been doing in your life lately?
- Are there somethings you wish were different?
- How are your relationships with friends and family?
- Is there anything else you want to talk about?
