Retreat Sample Schedule
Planning a retreat means managing lots of details from logistics to decorations. Often the schedule gets overlooked or slapped together at the last minute. As a speaker, here are some sample schedules that I've seen work well for weekend retreats.
The most common mistake I've run into is forgetting to plan time for:
- registration and check-in, and
- transitions (especially when the transition requires a location change).
Use these sample schedules to get your creative juices flowing. Adapt them to fit your group and location.
Retreat Sample Schedule: Friday Night - Emphasis on Teaching
- Dinner on your own
- 4:00-7:00 pm - Registration
- 7-7:30 pm - Icebreakers / Meet & Greet
- 7:30-8:00 pm - Music & Announcements
- 8:00-9:00 pm - Teaching
- 9:15-10:00 pm - Small Groups
Friday Night - Emphasis on Fellowship
- 4:00-5:30 pm - Registration
- 5:30-6:30 pm - Dinner
- 7:00-7:30 pm - Icebreakers / Meet & Greet
- 7:30-8:00 pm - Music & Announcements
- 8:00-8:30 pm - Teaching
- 8:45-9:30 pm - Small Groups
- 9:30-10:30 pm - Snacks & Fellowship
Retreat Sample Schedule Saturday - Emphasis on Teaching
- 8:00-8:45 am - Breakfast
- 9:00-9:30 am - Meet & Greet
- 9:30-10:00 am - Music & Announcements
- 10:00-10:45 am - Teaching
- 11:00 am - Noon - Small Groups
- 12:15-1:15 pm - Lunch
- 1:15-5:00 pm - Free Time
- 5:00-6:15 pm - Dinner
- 6:30-7:00 pm - Music & Announcements
- 7:00-8:00 pm - Teaching
- 8:00-9:00 pm - Small Groups
Saturday - Emphasis on Fellowship
- 8:00-8:45 am - Breakfast
- 9:00-9:30 am - Meet & Greet
- 9:30-10:00 am - Music & Announcements
- 10:00-10:45 am - Teaching
- 11:00 - Noon - Small Groups
- 12:15-1:15 pm - Lunch
- 1:15-4:30 pm - Free Time
- 4:30-5:30 pm - Open Q&A with Speaker
- 5:30-6:30 pm - Dinner
- 6:30-7:30 pm - Teaching
- 7:30-8:30 pm - Small Groups
- 9:00-11:00 pm - Movie & Snacks
Saturday - Emphasis on Rest
- 8:00-10:00 am - Breakfast
- 10:00-10:15 am - Music & Announcements
- 10:15-11:00 am - Teaching
- 11:15 - Noon - Small Groups
- 12:15-1:15 pm - Lunch
- 1:30-2:15 pm - Teaching
- 2:30-3:00 pm - Small Groups
- 3:00 - onward - Free time
- 6:00-8:00 pm - Dinner & Free Time
Retreat Sample Schedule Sunday - Early Departure
- 7:30-8:45 am - Breakfast
- 9:00-9:45 am - Music & Worship
- 9:45-10:30 am - Teaching
- 10:45-11:30 am - Small Groups
- 11:30 am - Departure
Sunday - Late Departure
- 8:00-9:45 am - Breakfast
- 10:00-10:45 am - Music & Worship
- 11:00-11:45 am - Teaching
- Noon -1:00 pm - Lunch with Small Group
- 1:00-1:30 pm - Concluding remarks
- 1:30 pm - Departure
Please email me and let me know how this worked for you or ways you changed and improved it.
Basic Retreat Planning
Women’s Retreat Survivial Kit
7 Things to Remember When You Invite an Event Speaker
More resources for Ministry Leaders
Photo by Arthur Poulin on Unsplash