OVERVIEW
On the weekend of September 25-27, we will have a parish-wide retreat in the Piney Woods of The Episcopal Diocese of Texas’ Camp Allen (2 hours southeast of Waco). The retreat offers an opportunity for us to play, learn, and pray together over a weekend at camp!
This retreat is for all ages, which means that there is programming and activities for children and adults, as well as nursery care provided for ages 0-3 during retreat sessions on Saturday. The time away will primarily be about play and connection, with talks meant to encourage you in your faith and remind you that the grace of God is an invitation to play!
Below you will find all kinds of information about the retreat schedule, registration and housing options, and more about Camp Allen. If you have lingering questions, please reach out to Jenoa Sapunarich, jenoa@stalbanswaco.org. Camp Allen also has a great website if you’d like to find out more!
Two registration options available:
FULL REGISTRATION: This option includes lodging in the bunkhouses and all meals. Choose full registration even if you only plan to stay for 1 of the 2 nights or plan to participate in weekend events & meals, but will be lodging off-site.
DAYTRIPPER: This option is for those who plan to drive down to Camp Allen for Saturday only. This option includes meals for Saturday only, no lodging.
*Registration fees do not exceed $450 per family.
1. Campsite 4: Bunkhouses
We have reserved Camp Allen’s Campsite 4, which has 4 bunkhouses. Each bunkhouse has 2 bunkrooms (6 bunkbeds each, 12 beds) and shared bathroom and showers. You must provide your own linens/sleeping bags/pillows. When registering, you can request a bunk mate in the notes if you want to stay with a buddy!
2. Campsite 2: Bunkhouses
We’ve also reserved Campsite 2, which has 6 Treehouse Cabins and 2 Ground-Level Cabins. There are 4 Triple Bunk Beds in each cabin and shared bathrooms and showers. You must provide your own linens/sleeping bags/pillows. When registering, you can request a bunk mate in the notes if you want to stay with a buddy!
3. Navasota Hotel Rooms
If you prefer to stay in a hotel at night, there are several local hotels within a 20-25 minute drive of Camp Allen, including:
If you chose to stay elsewhere, please make your own hotel reservation at your desired hotel and also register for the retreat, adding a comment that you are planning on staying at a hotel. If you choose to stay at a hotel room, choose the day tripper rate when registering for the camp.
Nursery
Nursery care will be available for children 0-3 on Saturday from 9:00–noon & 1:00–3:00 PM.
Programming
We will have two main retreat sessions on Saturday. During each session, there will be children’s programming running concurrently for ages 4–tween. Youth are invited to join us in the adult sessions or serve as a children’s ministry helper.
In addition to the sessions, there are a number of child-friendly activities at Camp Allen available during free time, including: an outdoor pool, petting zoo, lawn games, walking trails, crafts, basketball court, horse trail or arena rides (additional fee).
FRIDAY, SEPT. 30
6:00–6:45 PM: Check in & get settled in bunkhouses
7:00–7:45 PM: Dinner
8:00–8:30 PM: Welcome
9:00–9:15 PM: Compline (optional)
SATURDAY, OCT. 1
7:30–8:00 AM: Morning Prayer (optional)
8:00–8:45 AM: Breakfast & daytripper check in
9:00 AM–noon: Nursery open (3 and under)
9:00–9:45 AM: Session 1 (Adult/Children)
10:00 AM–noon: Free time w/optional activities
11:45 AM–Noon: Noonday Prayer (optional)
Noon–12:45 PM: Lunch
1:00–3:00 PM: Nursery open (3 and under)
1:00–1:45 PM: Session 2 (Adult/Children)
2:00–6:00 PM: Free time w/optional activities
5:30–6:00 PM: Evening Prayer (optional)
6:00–6:45 PM: Dinner
7:00–7:45 PM: Session 3 (Adult/Children)
7:45–8:30 PM: Contemplative activity (optional)
9:00–9:15 PM: Compline (optional)
SUNDAY
8:00–8:45 AM: Breakfast
9:00–10:15 AM: Worship Service at Camp Allen Chapel
10:30 AM: Pack up and head back to Waco
Camp Allen is a year-round facility located about an hour northwest of Houston. With over 1,000 acres, the camp hosts everything from summer camp to spiritual retreats and conferences. You can learn more on their website by clicking here.
In the adult/non-family bunkhouses, bunkhouses are divided up by gender. Youth (13+) may stay in the adult bunkhouses with parental permission.
We will abide by our family bunkhouse policy in the family bunkhouses:
Bunkhouse Policy
Overview:
The bunk rooms share a bathroom and shower room. The bathrooms have individual stalls with locks. The showers are across from bathrooms through an entryway with curtained showers. We adhere to the Episcopal Diocese of Texas’s Safeguarding God’s Children policies.
Policy:
– All families with a child/children 12 and under who wish to stay in the bunkhouse will stay in a family bunkhouse.
– Bunkrooms will be shared by families (say, one family unit with one adult + mixed gender children sharing a room with another family made up of two adults + children). This setup allows for parents to stay with their children without dividing up by gender, it also avoids the issue of separating a child overnight from their parent if single-parent or only one parent attends retreat.
– Youth (ages 13+) may stay in an adult bunkhouse of same gender (at the parents’ discretion). Any teen in an adult bunkhouse will have at least 1 safeguarded adult in the shared bunk room. If we have enough teens sign up, we hope to have one bunkhouse for teen girls and one for teen boys, with two adult leaders in each.
In the family bunkhouses:
– There will be set times by gender for adults to shower (solo or with child/children). These times will be posted and shared.
– All clothing changes are to be made in bathroom stalls or during scheduled gendered shower slot.
– Children should never be alone in a bunkhouse without a parent present.
A more detailed packing list will be provided in the weeks before the retreat, but here is a list of the kinds of things you may want to pack:
– Bedding, pillow, & towel
– Toiletries
– Hiking/tennis shoes
– Bug spray & sunscreen
– Lounging around clothes
– Activewear
– Bible & Book of Common Prayer
– Journal
– Swimsuit/swim trunks and pool towel
– Novel, book of poetry, and/or sketch book
– Special snacks
– Favorite card game