TEN STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL RETREAT
Planning a retreat, whether it is a weekend or a week can be complicated. Rainbow Lodge would like to help.
Here are some things to think about as you plan your retreat experience.
1) Be clear of the purpose of your retreat. Be able to state it in one short sentence.
2) Plan Ahead. People are very busy. Allow your participants time to hold the dates on their calendars. Depending on the time of year, you need to allow a minimum of 4 months lead time for even a one day retreat. If you are holding a week long event, you need to give people 10 to 12 months lead time.
3) Arrange for any presenters or speakers well in advance.
4) Arrange for the location of your retreat at least a year out. Rainbow Lodge books 2 years out!
5) Establish a realistic budget. Budgets should include (at least): Facilities costs, Meal costs, Program costs (including presenter honorarium/fees, travel expenses, extra lodging, printing, etc.), and don’t forget other items such as insurance, promotion and miscellaneous items. It is always good to add 5-10% for a cushion.
6) Analyze your program and determine obstacles you may need to overcome to have a successful retreat. You might want to consider: calendar conflicts, natural disaster, weather, and ways of overcoming any reticence on the part of potential attendees.
7) Be aware of the potential medical needs of your attendees. It is always good to have a designated first aid person on site. Determine if there is an AED on site and if someone will be there who knows how to use it.
8) Know of the special need of your attendees and communicate with the facility what those are. Pay special attention to dietary needs and food allergies.
9) Tour the facility prior to your arrival for your retreat. Nothing is better that seeing the site to determine how to best use the site for your program.
10) Communicate early and often with the staff at the retreat center so that all are working “on the same page” toward the success of your event.
Bonus thought: Make sure you are able to enjoy the retreat yourself! The better the planning, the better the chance of that happening.
