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W E L C O M EW H I T E O A K

C O N F E R E N C E C E N T E R

F A m I ly R E T R E AT

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T a b l e o f C o n T e n T sW h y O f f e r a f a m i l y r e t r e a t ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

t y p i c a l e l e m e n t s O f a f a m i l y r e t r e a t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

W h y W h i t e O a k c O n f e r e n c e c e n t e r ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

s a m p l e p l a n n i n g s c h e d u l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

B u d g e t W O r k s h e e t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

a n i n v i t a t i O n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

633 Mobley Highway

Winnsboro, SC 29180

(803) 635-4685

(800) 723-7242 Ext. 5900

Fax: (803) 635-4453

Email: [email protected]

www.whiteoakconferencenter.info

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because strong families don’t happen by accident or piecemeal.

what promotes family unity? Is it the hectic schedule of school, karate

class, piano lessons, football practice, fast food at 7 p.m., and homework done

while collapsing into bed? Or is it “teenagers and kids versus the old people”

Ultimate Frisbee at a retreat center?

Is it the mad rush to get to church – dressed in Sunday best – on Sunday morning

– a family of five in three different cars because they’re on three different

schedules? Or is it the whole family casually ambling into a worship service

designed just for families, no volunteer obligations pulling on anyone for just

this week?

Is it a weekend of catching up on sleep, housework, and errands, all mixed in with

birthday parties and baseball games and sleepovers? Or is it a weekend of a

more leisurely schedule, meals prepared for you, no housework or errands, age-

appropriate activities for each of your

children, and dedicated time for

families to play, worship, and talk?

W h y o f f e r a f a m i l y r e T r e a T ?

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what if whole families from your church retreated together? Take

a weekend, plus or minus a day, to rest, relax, recreate, refresh, and all-around

rejuvenate – as families. Imagine the effect on family unity and church unity.

Family life today is so fractured with school, sports, church, work, and more.

“We’re just so busy!!” is the plaintive refrain. There’s little time, often, to simply be

together, to talk about the deeper issues of life without interruption, the tyranny of

the clock, the pull of television, the Internet, and those ubiquitous smart phones.

There is simply something special about getting away from the distractions of

daily life and focusing on one another. Something special about worshipping

together, playing Ultimate Frisbee, paddling the canoe around the lake,

assembling s’mores at a campfire, and generally zeroing in on fun, rest,

and genuine conversation.

strong families don’t happen by accident or piecemeal. A family

retreat – in which a church provides a retreat for families – offers an ideal setting

and schedule for building family unity…which in turn contributes significantly to

church unity.

White Oak Conference Center, in the woodland hills of central

South Carolina, is poised to help your church make such a

retreat happen.

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Worship for all of the family except preschoolers and younger.•

Age-specific teaching times, as needed for the number in your group and •

ages of children.

Age-specific activities. •

Free time for recreation – a mix of active recreation (canoeing, Frisbee, •

swimming, hiking, soccer, etc.) and restful recreation (movies, board games,

storytelling by a campfire, etc.). There should be some activities available

that whole families can enjoy.

Time for reflection – for families, and for individuals to talk with church staff/•

leadership/retreat leaders.

• Time to rest. Translation: no late night or early morning requirements, and time

in the afternoon(s) to rest. The goal isn’t to cram, but to unwind.

W h a T i s a f a m i l y r e T r e a T ?a T y p i C a l f a m i l y r e T r e a T C o n s i s T s o f a b a l a n C e o f T h e f o l l o W i n g e l e m e n T s :

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“

“

I think parents just sometimes don’t have the time, or don’t think to create

opportunities, to just hang out with their kids. Our retreat helped by

removing them from day-to-day stresses, taking them some place like White Oak and giving them simple tools, time, and opportunity to be with their kids. God

honored it, there’s no doubt.

– Keli Holbrook, minister to children at

Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Aiken, S.C.

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because:

we’re faith-focused.

White Oak Conference Center is a place specifically dedicated to helping •

people and churches grow in their faith. That’s been our mission since it was

established 30 years ago. This isn’t a neutral conference center that occasionally

hosts religious groups, but a place intentionally developed and dedicated to

Christian ministry and spiritual growth.

the location is central – and rejuvenating.

Eight miles off I-77 in central South Carolina•

A quiet, serene setting in the countryside•

Removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life – crucially, from telephones •

and televisions

the amenities are especially designed for retreats.

There’s space for:

large groups•

small groups•

informal gatherings, and •

plenty of nooks for one-on-one conversation. •

W h y i s W h i T e o a k C o n f e r e n C e C e n T e r T h e i d e a l s e T T i n g f o r y o u r f a m i l y r e T r e a T ?

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There are low-impact recreational offerings:

hiking•

bonfires•

board games•

lakeside fishing •

and more.

There’s space – places, time, and enough freedom from the technology leash – to

journal, rest, play, counsel, eat, reflect, meditate, reenergize, and even heal.

And, of course, we have a myriad of accommodation and dining

options, customizable to your group – from formal banquets to campfire

fare to short order café offerings, and everything in between. Whatever

your dining desires are, we can accommodate. (see inset for details)

excellent and experienced service-focused staff: Our goal is

to exceed your expectations as we help provide the setting, tools and logistics

for an excellent retreat.

And high-energy options:

swimming•

field games•

a ropes course•

boating •

and more.

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READ RETREAT PLANNING KIT

DEFINE PURPOSE/GOALS

CHOOSE FACILITY/DATE (Book or contract with facility)

Reconfirm housing, meeting rooms, meal times, equipment needed, etc.

Send schedule to retreat center

Give final numbers of people attending and confirm equipment needs.

Meet with camp host at site. Finalize arrangements.

PLAN OTHER PROGRAMS

Confirm Speaker

Confirm special music and song leader

Plan other program: workshops, select workshop leaders, recreation,

free time activities.

Plan schedule, send to program people

Confirm travel for program people

Confirm schedule and program with program people

Draw checks for honorariums

Packets made up: schedules, note paper, maps, etc.

Meet with speaker/s and other program people before the retreat for

prayer and review of purpose and objectives.

MAKE BUDGET (See worksheet)

PROMOTE

Choose promotion team. Plan personal invitation strategy.

Publish brochure

m a s T e r p l a n n i n g C h e C k l i s T

6-12 months

6-12 months

6-12 months

3-4 Months

3 weeks

1 week

On Arrival

6-12 months

6-12 months

6-12 months

1-3 months

1-3 months

2-3 weeks

1 week

2-7 days

On Arrival

6-12 months

3-4 months

2-3 months

2-3 months

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Distribute brochure

Send PSA’s or other advertisements to newspapers and radio stations

Arrange for announcements in Bulletin

Other

ORGANIZE REGISTRATION

Registration Coordinator appointed

Registration form and information completed and printed.

Registration open. Begin setting up housing assignments.

Registration day organized

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP

Prepare evaluation form

Choose people to follow-up on spiritual commitments and make further

contact with people who are new to group.

Compile information from evaluation forms

NOTES:

1-2 months

1-2 months

3-6 months

2-3 months

2-3 months

1 month

2 months

1-3 months

End Retreat

End Retreat

End Retreat

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Program:

Speaker ....................................... $ ___________

Musician ...................................... $ ___________

Other .......................................... $ ___________

Travel:

Speaker ....................................... $ ___________

Musician ...................................... $ ___________

Other .......................................... $ ___________

Promotion:

Brochure ...................................... $ ___________

Other .......................................... $ ___________

Miscellaneous: .............................. $ ___________

TOTAL ...................................... $ ___________

Divide by Minimum Number of People expected $ ___________

*Add per person charge of Conference Center $ ___________

**Your total Charge per Person $ ___________

b u d g e T W o r k s h e e T

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* Find out from the retreat facility what is or is not covered in their per person charge.

If you have to pay extra for any equipment or services you will want to figure this into your program charge.

** If you are concerned about keeping the cost so low so that everyone in your group can afford to attend, you might want to consider adding a couple of dollars to the total price for everyone who can afford it. Then use the extra money as a sponsorship fund to help those who really do need some financial assistance.

If you have more people attend than your minimum estimate, you will have some money left over for next year’s deposit and promotion.

“When it rained that Saturday and the outdoor plans we had fell through, the White Oak staff opened rooms for us, offered a movie and popcorn, and made all sorts of accommodations for us. They were just great!

– Keli Holbrook, minister to children at Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Aiken, S.C.

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633 Mobley Highway | Winnsboro, SC 29180 | (803) 635-4685 | (800) 723-7242 Ext. 5900 | Fax: (803) 635-4453

Email: [email protected] | www.whiteoakconferencenter.info

A Note From Tim Hughes, White Oak Conference Center Director

From our family to yours:

White Oak Con ference Center is more th an a retreat center to us; it ’s our home. We’d like to invite the families from your c hurc h to visit and make this – for just a few days – their home away from home and cata lyst for rest, renewa l, and growth. Come relax, and learn. Let the White Oak staff feed you. Leave your household c hores behind for a blessed two or three days. Slow down and unwind. Listen to some good teac hing designed just for your family. Have a blast on the rec field, at the pool, at the lake, around the campfire. This place is here just for you. And we are here to serve you as you seek the Lord and a ll his good plans for your family.

Be our guest!

Tim, Sophia, Seth, Jake, Josh

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633 mobley HighwayWinnsboro, SC 29180

(803) 635-4685

(800) 723-7242 Ext. 5900 fax: (803) 635-4453

email: [email protected]

www.whiteoakconferencecenter.info

WOCC Booklet F/B Covers.indd 4 10/31/11 12:04:34 PM

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