Kidnap Retreat: Preparation

Since retreat facilities are often booked up solid, especially in the Fall, it is important to plan this event far enough in advance to secure reservations for the camp or retreat center to be used. The surprise works best if the location of the retreat is fairly close to the public event (although I've had young people patiently and without question let me drive them 30 minutes "out of the way" without question). Often an area has a number of resources that have not been explored or used by a particular group. Service organization often have or know of camps and retreat centers, as do "Y"s and other churches. The best surprise retreat I have done used a partially abandoned luxury hotel a few minutes outside of town that was owned by a local church. Just exploring that facility was major entertainment for our group.

As a part of the preparation, arrange for other counselors for the retreat. Also, someone, perhaps the other counselors or perhaps youth committee members or parents of youth that will undoubtedly be going need to be recruited to gather the youth's overnight bags while the public activity is going on.