WEEKLONG RETREATS

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HOW IS LIGHTHOUSE RESPONDING TO COVID-19?

Safety and security of families living through childhood cancer and our volunteers continue to be our top priority as an organization. For the most up to date information on COVID-19 and serving on retreat please see our COVID-19 Response and Retreat Updates here.

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WHAT IS LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY RETREAT?

Lighthouse Family Retreat is a faith-based non-profit that serves families living through childhood cancer. We host restorative retreats and develop helpful resources for these families. Our goal is to create environments where retreat families can be served and experience rest, restoration, joy and find hope beyond a cure… a hope in God.

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WHAT WILL I DO SERVING AT LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY RETREAT?

Retreats are hosted and facilitated by volunteers (who we call Family Partners) and are highly relational environments for Retreat Families to connect, have fun and find rest together. Here are some of the things that volunteers do throughout the retreat:

 

• Facilitate daily children’s and student activities while parents are in small group

• Daily logistical set up and tear down for different programs and activities 

• Meal Teams: You will likely be put on a meal team to help prepare, serve and clean up breakfast and/or dinner while on retreat. 

• Serve Retreat Families by cleaning and decorating their condo, doing laundry (at certain locations), and other daily chores (great opportunity for all ages to serve)

• Host party for children one evening for parents to have a night out

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WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

Lighthouse retreats are hosted in resort and vacation communities along the Gulf Coast in Florida, North Carolina coast, and St. Simons, Georgia. These communities are vacation homes or condos. Volunteers stay in condos or houses with other volunteer families. Adults have their own room/ bed but children are not guaranteed a bed and may sleep on a floor. We ask you bring sleeping bags and/or air mattresses for children/students. Every family will have access to their own bathroom, and the common areas will be shared by other families. Retreat Families we are serving will have their own unit.

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Our St. Simons, Georgia location is setup like a hotel so each volunteer family will have their own hotel room and will not share with other volunteer families. At this location there is no kitchen or living room area in the rooms. There is a minifridge and microwave in all rooms. A family of four or less will have one room with two queen beds. Families with five people or more, depending on the number of adults and the age of the children, may receive an additional room with queen beds (we require an adult over the age of 18 to be in each room). All hotel style rooms have bedding and pillows.

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If you are bringing a student team, please plan to have your students bring bedding and a pillow for a twin sized mattress as the student cabins do not have bedding.

 

WHAT WILL I EAT?

All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are provided by Lighthouse, except one lunch on the first day, and one dinner where you will have a free night to get dinner on your own. You will need to bring additional money for those two meals only. We recommend bringing heavy snacks, like protein bars, jerky, trail mix, fruit etc. for in between meals or if you have particular dietary restrictions.

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At St. Simons location all meals are served in the cafeteria at Epworth by the Sea with the exception of one dinner which we will host under the tent. Epworth has a set menu each day, however they do provide a few options to choose from.

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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? WILL I NEED TO FUNDRAISE?

Lighthouse Family Retreat is a domestic mission trip where volunteers fundraise not only for their cost, but also to cover the program costs and costs of the Retreat Families which allows them to come for free. There is a $250 deposit due two weeks after registration that will go towards your retreat. 

• FUNDRAISING MINIMUMS

  • These are the minimum amounts that must be raised or personally provided in order to attend the retreat

  • $1500/per adult 18 and over, $500/per child under 17

• FUNDRAISING GOALS

  • On average, the minimums raised leave a $20,000 gap in the cost of each weeklong retreat. We know everyone’s fundraising capacity is different. Therefore, if you are able, we invite you to help us bridge this gap by setting a goal above your minimum. This helps make it possible for us to continue serving all families living through childhood cancer on retreat at no cost to them. (Suggested amount - $500 - $1,000 or more above your minimum to help us bridge the gap).

• BACKGROUND CHECKS

  • Background checks are required for each person 18 and older. Background checks cost $20 at the time of submission and your acceptance is contingent upon your background check being completed.

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WHAT DOES THE COST COVER?

The retreat cost covers all team lodging, meals, program and supply cost, as well as all food, welcome kits, parent’s night out, children’s party, etc. for retreat families.  All fundraising support goes to costs associated with putting on a retreat. It does not include travel expenses to and from retreat and 2 on-your-own meals during the retreat.

 

HOW WILL I BE PREPARED TO SERVE?

You do not have to have any specialized skills to serve on a retreat… just a heart and willingness to serve! You will have a volunteer leader over your retreat who will host trainings and connect with you before retreat. You will also receive emails and training videos to equip you to serve in the different environments on retreat.

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HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO SERVE BY MYSELF? 

Adults 18 years or older can attend a retreat by themselves. Exceptions are made for student groups, which require a 3:1 student to adult (over 21 years of age) ratio.

 

HOW WILL I KNOW WHOM I WILL BE SERVING?

Groups are paired with a Retreat Families to serve for the week. You will receive the information about what family you will be serving at the first day of orientation at the retreat. Groups will also be divided into teams to prepare meals, facilitate children’s groups, and logistical set up.

 

WHEN AND HOW CAN I APPLY TO SERVE?

You can apply by visiting the "Attend a Retreat" tab on our website homepage and selecting "I want to serve on a retreat". 

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QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

Contact us via email at help@lighthousefamilyretreat.org or by phone at 404.590.5338