Youth Fall Retreat
September 26-28, 2025
Bonita Park

*REQUIRED FORMS*

Together we will learn what it looks like gravitate toward God and the path that leads to life! All 6th through 12th grade students are invited. For 2025 confirmands, this is a required trip.

COST

The cost for the weekend is only $150 (scholarships available) and covers all the fun including lodging, food, program, ropes courses, paint ball, pool parties, campfires, and more (bonitapark.com). The cost for 6th grade students and 2025 confirmands is only $75. We love chaperones – the cost of the trip is waived for all volunteers!

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 9/26/25, LEAVING 5:30PM

  • Departure time from Faith Lutheran is 5:30pm.

  • Dinner will be provided as we leave, $3 suggested donation for dinner.

  • Have your online FLC Medical Release Form filled out

  • Turn in your Bonita Park Release Form

  • Final payment of $150 cost for the retreat (or scholarship arrangements) is due no later than Friday, September 26th. Cash or check can be given to Kathy O’Connor in the church office or Jennifer Wilson. Please make checks payable to Faith Lutheran.

SUNDAY 9/28/25, RETURN 5:00PM

  •  After lunch at Bonita Park, we will depart for home.

  • We will have students call home in Socorro to update parents on our arrival time.

THINGS TO BRING

  • Bible and Pen/pencil

  • Sleeping Bags or Sheets and Blankets

  • Pillow

  • Towels

  • Personal Toiletries

  • Flashlight (extra batteries)

  • Comfortable and Sturdy Shoes (must be closed toe for ropes course and zip line)

  • Plastic Bag to place dirty or wet clothing

  • Jacket (it gets cold at night)

  • Sunscreen 

  • Long and Short Sleeve Shirts

  • Reusable Water Bottle

  • Medication

  • Please note: Cell phones do not work well at Bonita Park

  • (optional) Extra spending money for the Camp Store

  • Faith Lutheran MEDICAL RELEASE FORM (filled out before we leave)

  • Bonita Park Release FORM (filled out before we leave)

THINGS NOT TO BRING

  • Camping or pocket knives

  • If you bring electronics for the bus ride up and back, we ask that they be put away during the retreat

  • Alcohol/drugs, energy drinks, other obvious items

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFO

ABOUT THE RETREAT

Are you moving toward God or drifting away from Him?

There are things and people in this world that we instinctively gravitate toward, factors that draw us in. But our natural desires draw us away, causing us to drift in a direction we shouldn’t go. We all have sinful desires, but God desires to rescue his children. If we want to gravitate to the path that leads to life (Matt. 7:13–14), our desires must change, which means our hearts must change. And only God can change a heart (Ezekiel 36:26). When we repent and turn to Jesus in faith, we begin to surrender our desires to God and live in such a way that others will notice. This study will dig into human nature, God’s grace, and the importance of following Jesus daily.

The theme verse is from James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”