I had the opportunity to plan and execute six off-campus retreats as a student and as a full-time employee at Loyola Marymount University. 

The First-Year Retreat takes 300 first-year students to Lake Arrowhead their fourth week of school. With the help of 60 student leaders, new college students can connect deeply with one another as they embark on a massive part of their life. Through intentional decor, skits, free time activities, leader training, and shared conversations, students can leave campus and have an opportunity to take a deep breath and check-in with themselves.  We have found that students that go on this retreat have a much higher retention rate of staying at LMU and finding community. Leading up to the retreat, I led weekly meetings with the leaders to ensure that the program was executed with precision and intentionality. Although it is one of the more massive events, students leave Lake Arrowhead feeling a sense of community at a time when many genuinely need it. 

 

The Kairos Retreat, on the other hand, is a smaller scaled event where only 50 students attend. We set up shop at El Capitan Canyon in Santa Barbara. The program highlights the beauty of the outdoors with main activities taking place in a white tent and outside on wooden tables. This quaint experience gave students an escape from their busy schedules and allowed them to reconnect with themselves and with nature. All meals on this trip needed to be catered. With a tight schedule of activities and programs, planning and organization played a crucial role in ensuring all activities went off without a hitch.