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wilderness

Wilderness is an unconventional retreat for men in youth ministry. It isn't a conference with seminars, classes, or merchandise booths. It's a time of solitude in beautiful Colorado at the heights of the Rocky Mountains to be near God and to hear His voice. It's a five-day retreat for youth ministers designed to rest their souls and rejuvenate their spirits. Wilderness 2013 is October 10-14 at YMCA of the Rockies: Snow Mountain Ranch.

For questions contact or call him at 417.781.2273

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Wilderness is an unconventional retreat for men in youth ministry. It isn't a conference with seminars, classes, or merchandise booths. It's a time of solitude in beautiful Colorado at the heights of the Rocky Mountains to be near God and to hear His voice. It's a five-day retreat for youth ministers designed to rest their souls and rejuvenate their spirits. Wilderness 2013 is October 10-14 at YMCA of the Rockies: Snow Mountain Ranch.

For questions contact or call him at 417.781.2273

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Registration for 2013 is online only.

Cost

The cost of Wilderness is $465 before May 31st, $490 after May 31st and $525 after October 1st.

Wilderness registration is now online and you can either pay online with a credit card or by mailing a check.

Travel

If you are planning on driving to the YMCA of the Rockies, please aim to arrive between noon and 5PM on October 10th.

Important

Please plan on arriving somewhere between the hours of noon and 5PM.   Please plan on leaving Monday, October 14th no earlier than 1PM.

 

Register for Wilderness Today

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What to Bring

  • Casual clothing (it does get cold at night and in the morning)
  • Appropriate Seasonal Outerwear
  • Sturdy Hiking Shoes
  • Bible and Pen
  • Toiletries
  • Journal
  • Water Bottle
  • Please, please bring soap (and use it…campfires don’t smell that great when you’re not at one.)

Optional

  • Camera
  • Daypack
  • Sleeping Bag (adequate linens are provided)
  • Board Games
  • Flashlight
  • Fishing Gear (you will have to buy a fishing license to fish at the reservoir)

Things to Consider When Packing

  • You will likely be hiking, so a good pair of comfy shoes or hiking boots will be needed.
  • At night it will get cold. Please bring appropriate clothing.
  • At elevation you get sunburn quicker, bring sunscreen if you would rather not resemble a lobster, or at least a hat.
  • At elevation you also will become dehydrated much faster than normal. Bring a water bottle and fill it frequently.

Other Important Info

There are many different activities that the YMCA of the Rockies- Snow Mountain Ranch offers at an additional cost to you. For a list of the additional recreation options please visit the YMCA of the Rockies.

If you have asthma or something similar please bring any medications you may need due to the high elevation.

 

Schedule
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Thursday (10.10.13)

3:00 p.m. Arrive at the YMCA of the Rockies.
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Worship
8:00 p.m. Discussion Groups
10:00 p.m. Hangout

Friday, Saturday and Sunday (10.11.13-10.13.13)

8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Solo: journal, pray, read, reflect, meditate
Noon Lunch will be served buffet style in the rustic log dining hall
12:30 p.m. Free Time (you can go fishing, hiking, take a nap, rest, read, talk, rock climb, disc golf, etc.)
6:00 p.m. Dinner
6:45 p.m. Worship & Discussion Groups
9:30 p.m. Hangout

Monday (10.14.13)


8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Discussion Groups
10:00 a.m. Dismiss
   

 

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Wilderness is…

  • 5 days in the Rocky Mountains
  • Discussing things that matter most in life and ministry
  • Rest, solitude, slowing, listening to God
  • Depth of Brotherhood

At Wilderness you won’t find crowded convention halls, seminars on everything you haven’t plugged into your program, or a bunch of booths with people trying to get you on their database so they can send you all their junk mail.

Wilderness is a retreat for youth ministers and youth workers. It’s about digging into the heart of why you do what you do. Its about passion more than programming. It’s about following God’s call on your life and finding the strength to follow His lead.

At Wilderness, you will experience:

  • 5 days in the beautiful wilderness of the Rocky Mountains near Winter Park, Colorado (just about an hour and a half from Denver Intl Airport).  It has a pristine wilderness, pine forests, mountain streams and meadows, and there are peaks of 12,000 to 14,000 feet.
  • Time away from the office, phone, internet and emails, committee meetings, deadlines, and pressures
  • Time to be alone in the wilderness–seeking God and His desire for your life and ministry
  • Rest in the solitude of the wilderness while hiking, fishing, or simply discovering a quiet place to think and talk with God
  • Interactive discussions with others in ministry on issues that matter most
  • Plenty of hiking trails for the tenderfoot as well as for the adventurous boulder hoppers looking for a challenge. There are several overlooks with different difficulties no matter your age, fitness level, or experience.
  • Mountain River Fishing – Bring your own gear and buy a license in Denver on your way up.
  • Log cabins complete with bathrooms and bedding
  • Great food with special meals like the Wrangler’s Breakfast (you don’t want to miss this).

The Dynamic

More important than the setting is the dynamic we want to create in small group relationships. Each participant will be assigned to a group of 6-7 other youth ministers with one mentor/facilitator. Your small group will spend time each day working through some important life issues. The mentor’s role will be to lead discussions (not lectures and seminars) about things that matter most.

The Discussions

Mentor/Facilitators – All of our mentors meet the following criteria:

  • Active in ministry
  • Have a heart for youth ministry
  • Understand the importance of one marriage for life
  • Have life and ministry experience of 6 to 10 years greater than any member of their small group

Mentor/Facilitators will also follow up with each member of their small group in the following year to touch base, encourage, and add another layer of accountability to their life and ministry.

Spiritual Disciplines – You will be given the opportunity to experience and put into practice many of the following spiritual disciplines:

  • Slowing
  • Journaling
  • Prayer
  • Solitude
  • Silence
  • Meditation
  • Worship
  • Seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit

DISCLAIMER: WILDERNESS is not meant to serve as a counseling center.

 

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