It costs too much. I have basketball. I didn’t know the deadline was today. Huh? Retreat?
I get it. When I was a youth pastor and a campus minister, I heard them all too. But I believed in the power of retreats then, and I do even more now. And, as the retreats director at SpringHill Camps, I think a lot about how to design retreats that students will beg to go to, and how to equip youth pastors like you to overcome the obstacles and take your biggest group ever on a life-transforming weekend away.
So, here are my top ten tips, things I see working for the youth workers we partner with every weekend.
1. Never apologize. Don’t apologize to your students, their parents, or your potential volunteer adults for the cost or the time commitment. You believe in this stuff, that’s why you’re doing it. So, focus on what’s awesome about the retreat that you’re planning or attending, and forget pointing out the other stuff.
2. Plan ahead. I get it. You’ve got a lot going on too… but look at least six months out on your calendar and pick a date now for your next retreat. It shows people that it’s a priority for your ministry, and that you’re not a last minute schmuck.
3. Put it on the calendar. I’m amazed at how many churches and youth ministries have calendars on their websites with events from 2008 listed! Figure out who has the password—or hire a student to hack in—and get that thing updated. While you’re at it, tell the church secretary. We all know it’s the secretary who makes things happen.
4. Do a pre-visit to the location. Lots of camps and retreat centers (including SpringHill) would love to have you up for a visit. We’ll even put you up overnight and buy you breakfast. While you’re there visiting, post pictures on Instagram, shoot a 30-second selfie promo video in the sweetest thing they have and share it with your students and parents. You should be doing this no less than 6 to 8 weeks before your event. You will get excited, which will in turn get your students excited.
5. Decide why it matters and tell people. So many times we do stuff just because it’s what we’ve always done. But take a few minutes to think through why a retreat matters to you, your students, their parents, your youth ministry, and your church. Is this retreat about building community for you? Is it about jump-starting spiritual growth? Is it an outreach event? Decide what you’re going to focus on and make it a talking point with your pastor, parents and students starting today.
6. Put up posters [everywhere]. Seriously. Not just in the youth wing. Two-thirds of the fliers you send home with students will never make it to their parents. Most of your emails are going into their spam folders. And when you say tell your parents to put it on your calendar at home they are definitely hearing wha wha waah waah wha. So print out a poster (SpringHill provides customizable, printable posters for download on their website so you can print them today and put them up before Sunday), and hang them where parents will see them too.
7. Reward the first few students who register. You need someone to be the first person to register, so offer a crisp twenty dollar bill, some sweet swag from the camp, or a deep discount on the retreat itself. Once you get a few committed, you’re up and rolling.
8. Post the names of who is going. Its peer pressure in a good way. Students are so relational, you should totally let them see who else is going… in fact, make a big deal about it. Put their names on the screen, say them out loud during announcements, hang them on the wall, or post them on your [private] Facebook group. Critical mass will really get things moving.
9. Make it the biggest thing happening this year. There’s a reason every movie trailer that hits television says it’s “the blockbuster movie event of the season.” Studies have even shown that by just saying that, even lousy movies do better at the box office. I’m not saying you should plan a lousy retreat and call it something it’s not. Instead, plan an awesome retreat and don’t be afraid to call it that.
10. Talk about it often. You can’t remind students often enough. Remember, their brains are still developing, and repetition is key to retention. So tell them every time you’re together that their retreat is coming up. Say it on Sunday morning. Say it on Wednesday night. Say it on facebook. Instagram it. Tweet it. Are you catching on?
Do you have any proven tips for getting more students to attend a conference or retreat?