Rest & reset
Midterms and group chats never stop. A retreat is permission to put the phone down, sleep, and remember you're a person, not a productivity machine.
Big Bear
Yosemite
Ensenada
Beach Baptism
RETREATS & TRIPS · SOCIALS at Watch Altars
Get awayto comeback changed.
Some of the deepest friendships and clearest moments with God happen off-campus — around a campfire, on a mountain trail, or serving across the border. From weekend retreats to mission trips, these are the journeys that mark a year.
OPEN FOR SIGN-UP
Spring Retreat — Big Bear · Apr 11-13•
Ensenada Missions · Jun 21-27•
Yosemite Backpacking · May 2-4•
Spring Retreat — Big Bear · Apr 11-13•
Ensenada Missions · Jun 21-27•
Yosemite Backpacking · May 2-4•
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” — Mark 6:31
The view is better when you climb it together.
8 trips this year0
Trips & retreats this year
0+
Students who came away
0
Baptized at the Shores
$0
Avg. weekend cost (scholarships ready)
01 · WHY GO AWAY
Jesus kept pulling people away to come back ready
Distance does something a dorm room can't. Stepping out of the routine creates space to breathe, to be known, and to hear God more clearly.
Real friendship
Forty-eight hours away builds bonds that forty Friday nights can't. You leave with people who know your story — and your camp-coffee order.
Hear from God
Away from the noise, in worship under the stars, students consistently say it's where faith got real — and where big decisions finally became clear.
02 · FOUR KINDS OF JOURNEY
Pick the kind of getaway you need
Weekend Retreats
Two or three nights at a mountain or beachside camp — worship, teaching, free time, late-night talks, and s'mores. The classic way to start or end a school year together.
Best for
- First-timers who want the full experience
- Building friendships fast
- A spiritual reset mid-quarter
Mission Trips
Cross a border or a city line to serve alongside local churches — building, teaching kids, running clinics, and sharing hope. You'll come back with a bigger view of the world and of God.
Best for
- Students ready to give, not just receive
- Hands-on serving & cultural humility
- A faith that travels
Adventure Trips
Backpacking Yosemite, climbing in Joshua Tree, surfing at dawn. For those who meet God best on a trail — challenge your body, quiet your mind, and worship the Creator in His creation.
Best for
- Outdoor lovers & the adventurous
- Smaller, tight-knit groups
- Worship without walls
Silent & Solitude
A guided day or overnight of quiet, journaling, and unhurried prayer at a retreat house. No agenda but presence. For the burned-out and the spiritually hungry alike.
Best for
- The overwhelmed & over-scheduled
- Deepening a quiet, listening prayer life
- Discerning a big decision
03 · THIS YEAR'S TRIPS
Where we're going
OpenApr 11-13
6 spots leftJun 21-27OpenMay 2-4
WaitlistDec 28-31
OpenFeb 15
OpenMay 31
04 · THE CALENDAR
Tap a highlighted day to see what's happening
April 2026
SMTWTFS
Selected day
Pick a date
Highlighted days have a trip or retreat. Tap one to see the details and sign-up window here.
05 · A WEEKEND, HOUR BY HOUR
What a retreat actually feels like
Friday 4:00pm — Load up & roll out
Meet at Price Center, claim a seat on the bus, playlist on, snacks shared. The trip starts the moment the wheels turn.
Friday 8:00pm — First night worship
Arrive, settle into cabins, gather for worship and a welcome message. Hearts begin to soften before bed.
Saturday 9:00am — Teaching & small groups
A morning session followed by cabin groups — honest conversation over coffee about what God is stirring.
Saturday 1:00pm — Free afternoon
Hike, kayak, nap, play cards, or just sit by the lake. Rest is part of the plan, not an interruption to it.
Saturday 8:00pm — The night that sticks
Extended worship, prayer, and space to respond. For many students, this is the moment everything shifts.
Sunday 10:00am — Send-off & home
Final session, commitments, group photo, and the long, quiet bus ride home — changed.
“The bus ride home is always the quietest — in the best way.”
07 · PACKING GUIDE
Check it off before you go
0/8 packed
Warm layers & comfy clothes
Sleeping bag & pillow
Bible, journal & a pen
Toiletries & towel
Hiking shoes & water bottle
Meds & sunscreen
ID / passport (missions)
An open, expectant heart
08 · PREPARE YOUR HEART
How to get the most out of going
Come with one question for God
Before you leave, write down one honest question you're carrying — about your future, a relationship, a doubt. Bring it with you. Retreats have a way of meeting us right at the question we were afraid to ask.
Plan to actually unplug
Tell your group chats and family you'll be slow to reply. Silence the notifications. The point of getting away is to be present — to God and to the people right in front of you.
Say yes to the awkward stuff
Sit with new people. Share in your small group even when it's scary. Stay for the optional prayer time. The breakthroughs almost always wait on the other side of a small risk.
Make a plan for coming home
Mountain-top moments fade fast in the valley of midterms. Before you leave the retreat, decide one small habit to carry home — and ask a friend to check in with you on it.
09 · FROM PAST TRIPS
Moments worth the drive
10 · WHAT STUDENTS SAY
“I almost didn't go.”
“I signed up alone and terrified. By Saturday night I was sobbing in worship surrounded by people who now feel like family. Best decision of my freshman year.”
LM
Lauren M.
Big Bear Retreat · Revelle
“Ensenada wrecked me in the best way. I went to serve and came home realizing how much I'd been given. I see my whole life differently now.”
JT
Josh T.
Ensenada Missions · Warren
“On the Yosemite trip I got baptized in a freezing alpine lake at sunrise. I'll never forget the feeling of starting over with God up there.”
RK
Rachel K.
Yosemite Backpacking · Sixth
11 · GRAB YOUR SEAT
Big Bear bus — tap an open seat
A little fun preview of reserving your spot. Open seats are outlined; tap to claim one.
Driver
Selected: none
12 · GOOD TO KNOW
Trip questions, answered
Do I have to be a Christian to come?
Not at all. Many students come exploring, with questions and doubts intact. You're welcome exactly as you are — there's zero pressure, just an open invitation.
What if I can't afford it?
Cost never determines who gets to go. We offer need-based scholarships and flexible payment plans on every trip — just ask, confidentially, when you register.
What's the safety setup?
Every trip is led by trained, background-checked staff and student leaders, with first-aid certified crew on adventure trips, emergency plans filed, and parents/guardians kept informed.
Can I come if I don't know anyone?
Yes — most people do at first! We intentionally place solo sign-ups in welcoming cabin groups. You'll know plenty of people by the bus ride home.
13 · RESERVE YOUR SPOT
Don't think about it too long
Trips fill up fast and the ones who hesitate usually regret it. Lock in your spot — a leader will follow up with details and any scholarship help you need.
“He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” — Psalm 23:2-3