retreat activities for college students

, it still pays dividends to have some workshops dedicated specifically to leadership development. Take Deep Breaths Taking deep breaths helps to slow down the mind and heart rate, which can go a long way toward alleviating stress. Also, one of the ways you can make the experience smooth is to divide responsibilities among your group members. Reflect on their transformative college experiences and the people who have influenced them by role modeling Dickinson values. Connect with us on Twitter, How You Can Support 6 Core Student Needs Through Their Campus Jobs, 6 Essential Elements to Include in Your Orientation Leader Training, 5 Unique Exercises You Can Facilitate to Empower Student Innovation & Creativity. Pose a question to the whole group and have pairs discuss their responses with each other. Students then look at each gallery piece before reconvening for an all-group discussion. (Achieve), What is it we have and want to keep? Just as you deliberately welcome new guests into your home to make them feel comfortable, the club advisor or lead facilitator should take a moment to express how excited they are that everyone is gathered together whether virtually or in person. Transforming Negative Self-Talk Activity. Other leaders blindfold all the youth and tell them that one at a time they are going to be lifted on the board, which will be about 3 feet off the ground, and see if they can walk across the board from one side to the other. Consider asking questions such as How can this idea be combined with ________ to create a more complete or comprehensive understanding of _________? Then, students can discuss these questions in their small teams (or online breakout room) in order to learn more about one anothers experiences inside and outside the classroom. We did this at Presences latest retreat while standing out on the beach and ended up with some hilarious results! You can make this more challenging by offering clues or riddles rather than the names of items. These exercises aim to achieve the retreat's objectives, including boosting attendees' morale, team building, and motivating the group. Team sport is an excellent option for group retreats as participants can destress and have fun while keeping fit. Be sure to take plenty of pictures! Walk of Faith. Group agreements are a set of behavioral expectations that are co-created between the facilitator and the participants. execute an efficient retreat for their student organization. Ensure that you have prepared all the necessary gear, including food, water, shoes with good traction, and trekking poles. Typically, I do this through experiential group activities. Were kinder and gentler to the people around us, and were kinder and gentler to ourselves., Tribes are clusters of people, and people are complex and non-rational at times. The winner of a round then plays with the next group member. When not writing curriculum or working with students, youll find him enjoying a book, hiking or baking. % But rather than merely writing down or vaguely discussing your values, craft them into a word cloud. Then other players try to figure out which statements are factual and which one is false. Also, having a break between workshops that cover different topics lets students absorb the ideas of the last workshop before focusing on the next one. Even horrendous singers (like me) can get musical for this. These activities help them exercise physically, which builds their mental sharpness. This retreat can include times of contemplative prayer and studying Biblical examples of being heard by God. Many cruise lines offer corporate rates and retreat packages, so be sure to inquire about these options when booking. Sometimes, we as facilitators get so caught up in designing the activity that we forget the original purpose. On saying shoot, both players must make a sign at the same time. For more brainstorming ideas, I recommend checking out, Although every part of the retreat will likely help students gain new leadership skills. But pick your activity thoughtfully. We do so by slowing down our breathing so that we feel more of whats going on around us. Take that further by showing students how to make. Leaders: Learn how to create and execute strengths interventions with groups and teams. Winners can get bonus points for their grade on this activity or their in-class participation grade at the end of the school year. These retreats draw on Ignatian Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, which have been used by people of all faiths to help them examine their lives and begin to articulate a personal spirituality for themselves. There is no cost for attendance, however if your plans change . 2. Not only does this test their problem-solving skills, but it also helps them differentiate between the needs of the individual and the needs of the collective. Here is a template we made for your game: Alternatively, you can make your custom bingo cards with a free icebreaker Bingo card generator. About the author: Justin Terlisner (he/him) is a student affairs professional who focuses on helping students thrive through dynamic leadership education and inclusive supervision practices. To play a team sport, first choose the game. You dont need to be a budding Andy Warhol or Frida Kahlo to enjoy it. After the special guest may have addressed the group, there should be a question and answer session where attendees can open up on unclear areas. 3. One-word story is an interesting game for groups in a retreat. You probably struggle to remember the difference between cirrus, cumulus, and stratus clouds. But no peeking! Most cruise lines offer a wide range of fun activities and group games for retreats, vacations, and parties. Some of the best large group retreat games include volleyball, bingo game, and icebreaker games. (Preserve), What is it we dont have and dont want? Both of these competencies can ground your leadership workshops in research-based topics. Taking a group class can get your team to bond during a retreat. Have your group members set up a fire pit. Options - Outdoor Bball, Gaga, Meeting Room Game or movie, Gym (10-11) Charades: Group members take turns to describe an action or phrase with just gestures. Get articles with higher ed trends, teaching tips and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox. This group activity is fun and allows students to collectively learn. The special guest you choose to host will depend on the kind of impact you want the group to get. Also, add refreshments, including cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages for attendees who do not take alcohol. Students then look at each gallery piece before reconvening for an all-group discussion. No Smiling Challenge: One group member says things or acts to make other members laugh. Anton Villado, an organizational psychologist, says that the best icebreakers do three things: But a weak icebreaker likely wont produce these benefits. Got someone with woo? First-year Student Retreat Date: Saturday September 17, 2022, 10am-4pm Location: On Campus Outdoor Fall Fest . There are literally dozens of in-school activities for college students that can be used in the classroomyou can even ask students to create their own. Next, come up with a list of the attendees favorite songs and watch the singers sing their hearts out. is one great starting point. Why hold a retreat? Whats harder is picking or designing, who, what, when, where, and why of your retreat. Running a check-in activity can help facilitators understand if students are having a hard time focusing on the discussion or if theyre confused about the purpose of an activity. 2023 teambuilding.com, all rights reserved | Terms | Privacy, list of the best energizer games for large groups. Students must prioritize and rank those itemsfirst on their own, and then as a group. Shark Tank, College Style 3. . Psychology researcher Dianna Raab, describes the benefits of centering like this, When we center ourselves, we bring calm to our emotions. One great presentation method to consider is a gallery walk. Plus, this activity may serve as a test round for a future students Segway tour. Have a silent disco Source: Peerspace A silent disco is a unique breakout session idea that can give your attendees an energy boost without requiring a live band or party venue. Dr. Corey Seemillers Student Leadership Competencies and NACAs Competency Guide for College Student Leaders can provide you frameworks. Also, find out if you will need a license to fish in the location of choice. 50 fun work retreat ideas Here are 50 fun work retreat ideas to consider for your next retreat: 1. An art project is a fun way to spend time together and display individual qualities that make the group unique. You can use an open space like a local park. There is truly something for every age group here at Cho-Yeh. Scavenger hunts arent just for kids. From sharing lunch to taking a cruise, here are the most unique retreat activities and games for groups. When everyone is physically and mentally back from the break, you could use an energizer to prepare everyone to get back to work. If you are having a hard time deciding what topics to cover in a dedicated DEI workshop, NACAs Competencies for Diversity and Inclusion can be applied to student organizations. All items at the party were lemon themed. Or, to really mix things up, one team can represent student affairs staff and the other can be academic staff, who all shock the system by working together to score the most total points. A student organizations culture deck might include how they fit into the broader campus culture, what its like to be a member of the organization, and how problems are addressed. Ask students to prepare for a discussion by reviewing a course reading or group of texts and coming up with a few higher-order discussion questions about the text. It is essential to decide and be familiar with the destination. Now we're ready to talk about our 13 favorite team-building retreat activities! Get unique approaches to assessments from Prof. Jesse Stommel |, Help your college students connect and collaborate. Thanks to companies like Shutterfly, Puzzle You, and Collage, you can turn any photo into a puzzle. Many team-building activities incorporate such skills as active listening, questioning assumptions, giving clear directions, problem-solving or learning how to ask effective questions.. By accomplishing group tasks, students learn to listen, trust and support each other, while developing life skills such as communication and collaborationskills that cant be learned from a textbook, interactive or not. You can have a workshop dedicated to trust activities with an extensive. When everyone is physically and mentally back from the break, you could use an energizer to prepare everyone to get back to work. Pretend one team is your staff and the other is a round of budget cuts that you have to creatively survive. 2 Getting-to-Know-You Icebreaker Games for College Students 2.1 Alphabet Freeze 2.2 Who Are You? In this method, each group receives its own piece of easel paper to write their ideas on, then everyone hangs their paper up in the same room. Cooking together can help your team recognize leadership dynamics, prompt you to discuss beloved cultural traditions related to food, and challenge you to problem-solve together. Remember. Have students put each goal in a quadrant then assign due dates. Set a time limit (five-to-ten minutes) for each group to create a short skit tied to course content, based on the items in the bag. Two are true, while one is a lie. Play an Icebreaker Game. Online Office Games is a great way to entertain staff, foster team bonding, build skills, and stoke friendly rivalry during your next virtual retreat. The player who starts the game first will say a word. Bingo makes an excellent choice of retreat games for large groups. Perhaps you can use a recent picture of your team, a memorable selfie from a student event, or a talented student photographers amazing campus snapshot. This retreat gives participants an opportunity to enjoy the results of news and developments in every academic department, as well as a sense of the state of sabbaticals, and a view of the college future as presented by the faculty and the dean. For one, the icebreaker might ask students to share information that is too personal too quickly, resulting in students being more closed off later in the retreat. Chris Merlo: Open-ended questions don't take any planning. And theyre essential during staff retreats, which typically aim for all these benefits. Ask any first-year experience or orientation office, and theyll surely vouch for the fact that teaching skills to students early improves retention and development outcomes. For example, fishing, taking a tour, karaoke, and playing bingo. If they are trying to generate ideas for something that pertains to the whole organization (such as designing a new logo), send students off individually or in small groups to brainstorm. The lunch can also be as simple as snacks accompanied by refreshing drinks. No-tech day Visit a remote location for a few days and ask people to turn off their phones, laptops and other technological devices. <> 3. Good Deeds Chain. Many destinations of interest offer complimentary or low-cost tours, and there are also apps that provide free guides. Head to the woods, the mountains, the beach, the park, or if youre not near any of those any spot youre eager to explore by foot. Many sports, including football, volleyball, and handball, are great for teams. You may not have to worry about bringing so much food if the booked campground has restaurants for guests. Sports Trivia for College Campus. She previously worked for Hillel: the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, where she engaged students in co-curricular programming at Cornell University and The University of Pittsburgh. Each student on the inside is paired with a student on the outside; they face each other. Sara Keinath, Youth Leadership Educator at Michigan State University explains the value of team-building activities for students: Guiding group members through intentional games can help them improve their communication skills with each other, which will transfer to their work or club projects later. Each team is then instructed to come up with questions about the topic that will be discussed. from start to finish, including setting up a timeline, reaching out to co-sponsors, negotiating a contract, are available to them on campus is only the beginning. Students are asked to develop as many answers to the question as they can by considering all political, social, economical and psychological angles. They're collaborative activities that help develop critical thinking, writing, and media literacy skills. Once students have set their goals, they can get ideas flowing to meet those goals! Rather than watching and debriefing full talks during your retreat, assign a different video to each team member a few days ahead of time. Arrange random objects on your deskanything from paper clips to an umbrella to jewelry (aim for about 25 objects in total). Theyre frequently set, tracked, and re-evaluated. Two truths and one lie: A player will make three statements. Here are answers to questions about group retreat activities. We did a study of Esther and how she handled her lemons and how we as women of Christ can learn to handle our lemons. But be sure to set aside time for each team member to reveal which song they picked and why. A retreat is an enduringly popular ancient practice of Christian spirituality. ! Give each woman a journal to record prayers and write down how God heard them and answered. Part of the joy of this activity comes from feeling an overall sense of appreciation and recognition from your teammates. After five minutes, have students share their picture with the larger group if theyre comfortablea fun way to help students feel like part of one interconnected community, particularly in the back-to-school season. The retreat then becomes a recommending activity/body, not just a source of ideas. The Chaplains' Office also offers a number of retreats available to alumni. Combine two pairs and have a group of four accomplish the same task. Activities that require more emotional risk should be left for later, when students feel more comfortable sharing increasingly personal aspects of themselves. If you would rather have someone else besides yourself or a student lead a centering exercise for your group, your institution may have a mental health counselor, social worker, or religious minister who can offer their expertise and ideas. The Plan 1) Lodging Where are you going to stay for your retreat? Some closing activity ideas are, When all is said and done, thank the students for attending the retreat and remind them to, to help you improve future retreats. We will provide van transportation for students from the IC Campus Center at 8:45am and return to campus at 5:30pm. So, how can you lead retreat activities without everyone begging for a nap session at the end? Invite campus departments and student-led groups to set up booths or games & activities to help promote their organizations in a fun, lively atmosphere. It probably wont boost your institutions retention rate nor emphasize deep-seated values, but having fun can be noble goal in and of itself. Download Now: 45+ Team-Building Activities. In a prioritization matrix, the horizontal axis represents urgency while the vertical axis represents importance. Setting goals for yourself, especially as a teenager, can be a challenging and intimidating task. Here are some icebreakers that you could use: A retreat is a great time to review the student organizations mission, vision, and values. Hosting a respected guest to address the group is an excellent way to motivate team members. First, you need to rent and set up a karaoke machine. Course type: Online (synchronous or asynchronous), in-person. Distance from Univ. Statements can be tailored to your discipline such as what if everyone lived to 150 for a developmental class or what if there was no such thing as evolution for a biology class. Its a lot of work to put together a transformative retreat experience, but its all worth it in the end when the student leaders achieve their organizations goals and thrive within the campus community. Wrap up this process by using. About the author: Jodi Tandet (she/her) is Modern Campus's Content Marketing Strategist. This is a great way for students to show off their leadership skills, presentation skills and creativity. Teams of students must then categorize these objects on a piece of paper or sticky note, even when no obvious connections exist. You should also check in with your office of diversity programs or multicultural affairs to tap into their expertise. Student Center and Campus Activities, the Recharge & Connect Retreat aims to connect people to each other and the world around them through the use of structured . However, if your group is on a tight budget, then you can camp on a public or dispersed campground. Participants are given a time limit to design and create an item of clothing out of a newspaper, which requires group brainstorming and delegation of tasks. The general purpose of a retreat is for participants to take time to pause and step outside of one's daily routines and practices, in order to reflect, rejuvenate, and gain new perspectives on one's relationships and life. Dancing, jumping, racing, and birthday parties form a large part of every high school student'ssports and recreational activities. 4. Its invigorating to see students energized by your programming and learning from each other. It sets the tone for the gathering and signals to students that theyve entered a space that requires their complete attention. Students form two circles: an inner circle and an outer circle. The activities you choose for your retreat will go a long way in determining how much fun attendees have. Consider volunteering with an organization that youd like to establish a long-lasting partnership with or one that directly benefits students and their needs. Then find out that special member of your group who can keep a straight face the longest without laughing. %PDF-1.5 Content Expert at teambuilding.com. Wed love to know! The first player to complete the entire board or an entire row vertically, horizontally, and diagonally wins. High-energy songs can also work beautifully to get everyones energy up at critical times, while softer tunes can be played in the background during brainstorming sessions. Prior to the retreat, ask each member of your team to tell you one song that they feel captures their personality, hits upon their professional goals, or speaks to their emotions regarding their work or your students. Divide students into teams of six to eight, and supply them with newspaper, tape and scissors. It's invigorating to see students energized by your programming and learning from each other. Creating connections in your classroom will ensure your students are engaged. When a teenager feels comfortable in a situation . Trivia can remind your team of vital facts while keeping things light and fun. Jennifer Gonzalez, Another problem might be that the icebreaker. But, Ive found that most people arent sure of when or how to express genuine compliments that venture beyond surface-level remarks like, nice shirt!, great hat!, or I loved your program idea!. Bible Jeopardy: Save Image: Shutterstock You Will Need: A piece of paper to write the clues A bowl Use different color markers for each family member . An interesting idea is to turn the joke-telling into a game called Try Not To Laugh. In this game, the designated comedian will tell jokes and do funny acts to make other attendees laugh. Help your college students connect and collaborate. No problem. The Students of Color Retreat will take place on January 28, 2023 at KHouse in Ithaca, NY. These activities are also great as icebreakers or retreat exercises. The player with the highest points wins the game and deserves the winning prize. Telling jokes is a simple and entertaining activity you can do at a retreat. Maybe a bike ride. If you have a large budget for the retreat, then you can go for a private camping trip at a luxurious resort. Dont forget to, What are some of your favorite retreat activities? Start by setting up stations or posters in a few locations around the classroom (like on the walls or on tables). can provide you frameworks. Check the weather forecast to be adequately prepared for the weather condition. Learn how we can help get your students involved. Some common activities are dances, community service events or movies. Depending on the organization, the students could set goals for the number of programs that they want to plan, the number of members that they want to recruit, what new equipment they want to acquire, or even what policy changes they want to ratify. For online classes, students can complete this activity in breakout rooms. Another twist is to not inform of every one of this activity beforehand. We also have a list of the best energizer games for large groups. 1 0 obj Hopping on for a tour near your campus will allow you to see your community in a new way, especially if you have a professional guide to teach you about the towns history and future. I suggest one of my favorites, used by Presence to great success: OKRs. Virtual Scavenger Hunt 2. Its easy to forget to build breaks into the schedule. Do your research on the kind of fishing you are doing, which can affect your choice of gear. Divide the class into teams and present them with a problem related to your course material. While the theme varies, the message is always the same: "In Jesus Christ, the son of God made man, who died and rose from the dead, salvation is offered to all, as a . Simply spring it on them, just before presentation time, so that theyre challenged to get creative in utilizing whats around them. Of course, researchers have proven that physical exercise increases mental sharpness. Give chronological numbers to the players. Team Word Builder - Using a stack of index cards, break the family into teams and give each member the same number of cards (minimum of five). Practice public speaking and presenting skills through leading interactive activities for the entire group. After a few minutes, encourage one or two members in each group to defend their position amongst a new group of students. 4:00 PM Free Time/Camp Store, Cabin, Game in Meeting Room. For online courses, instructors can make use of Zoom rooms to organize teams or groups. We provide a variety of retreat themes that include dramatic skits, meaningful activities, and music, making every retreat a unique and Catholic experience. There are several variations on this, such as building a pyramid with paper cups, but the idea is to promote communication and collaboration in a leadership exerciseand provide a little incentive as well. Download 45+ Team-Building Activities for College Courses and build community in any classroom. An experience that allows teachers and their students to connect and grow together, surrounded by the beauty of the Southern Rockies. Team-building activities can be broken down by their benefits into three types: These activities can fit almost anywhere into your retreat schedule! However, the discussion does not have to be too formal. Divide students into small groups and have them rotate between each station together, performing some kind of task like sorting their observations into categories. Divide the class into teams of up to ten people and provide each team with a goodie bag filled with random items. Jennifer Gonzalez broke down a few reasons why. If a tribe is united only by agreement, as soon as times change, agreement has to be reestablished., Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie The Danger of a Single Story, Show a people asone thing, as only one thing, over and over again and thatis what they become. Join more than 10,000 educators. Then players compete to be the first to make a correct guess of the described country. A player who exceeds the time limit leaves the game. Popular Retreat Locations. The housing, meeting spaces, recreation . After a few minutes, combine rooms to form groups of four. The Social Justice Toolbox, Diversity Toolkit, and Diversity Activities Resource Guide have facilitation directions for several activities related to social identity, power, privilege, and oppression. Split up into teams, plop down with puzzles, and let the race begin! Gather all of the song choices into a retreat playlist and play it during breaks. When their time is up, a participant from each group presents their list and explains the logic behind it. Ask any first-year experience or orientation office, and theyll surely vouch for the fact that teaching skills to students early improves retention and development outcomes. There doesnt need to be a particular order to how students speak, but they are encouraged to respectfully share the floor with their peers. Many retreat centers offer educational activities. A few ideas for a Great College Retreat are: A Prayer Retreat, Community Development Retreat, Service Project Retreat, Book Study Retreat, Wilderness Retreat, The True Vine Retreat, etc.

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