Abstract

Retreats are a way to gather your staff and/or participants in a relaxed setting to share ideas, reflect on experiences, discuss service issues, learn new skills, and work on team building. This practice provides several suggestions for implementing an effective retreat, including advice on how to organize and define the goals of a retreat. Includes sample agendas, examples of ground rules, and a retreat feedback form. Excerpted from the Corporation for National and Community Service's Handbook for Continuous Improvement.

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Issue

Retreats are a valuable resource, but much of their potential can be wasted if they are planned ineffectively. Retreats should always be a forum for learning and working together that supports program activities in the field.

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Action

Consider the following when implementing a retreat:

• Define the desired outcome of the retreat.
• Determine who needs to attend in order to accomplish the desired outcome.
• Decide whether you will use a facilitator to help plan the agenda and manage the retreat.
• If you use a facilitator, decide whether s/he should be from outside the organization or inside the organization.
• Once you know how many people to invite and the type of space you need, identify a facility that can accommodate your requirements.
• Visit the facility if you are not familiar with it to verify the accommodations.
• Develop an agenda for the meeting and determine whether you want the attendees to do any work prior to the retreat.
• Schedule some "fun" or "down" time for attendees to reflect and just enjoy being together.
• Hold retreats that last longer than a day at the beginning of the week. Participants will be much more focused if they have had the weekend to relax.
• Reconfirm details with the facility a few days before the retreat.
• Arrive early the day of the retreat to set up the room.
• Ask everyone to complete a Retreat Feedback Form at the end of the retreat.

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Citation

Corporation for National and Community Service. Handbook for Continuous Improvement, "Tools and Practices," and "Participant/Staff Retreat," pp. 1-12.

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Outcome

Properly implemented retreats can create a setting that encourages communication and strengthens bonds as well as give you a better understanding of your participant/staff needs.

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Source Documents

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