Beach Retreat

View pictures from our2007, 2006, 2004 and 2003 beach retreats.

To check out the place beforehand, see our pictorial tour of the facility.
Find directions, complete with maps and pixs, on how to get here.

Who? - Senior high youth only, classes 2012 (incoming frosh) thru 2008 (recent grads) and their advisors - ratio recommended per church is 1 "mature" adviser/chaperone per 6 youth (negotiable).

        Cost - if you register by August 5 - $40 per person       (date is when your letter is postmarked)
                                               August 25 - $50 "       "
                                             September 5 - $55 "       "
                      You arrange your own transportation (we are given only 3 passes for every 15 people, so carpool). This money is due when you register. Refunds may be available - i.e. if enough persons are registered. There will be no refunds in the event a hurricane closes down the facility (park rule). Our plan - except for a hurricane - is to go ahead with the retreat, rain or shine. We have space for up to 120 persons, depending on the ratio of males and females. A registration form will be sent in the "MAD MEMO," as well as the June District mailing to pastors. It is also posted on this site to print off and send in. (Have we given you enough links to the registration form?)

Accommodations - barracks style housing, with 15 beds per room, each person bringing their own linens or sleeping bag (bring your own pillow). If it is hot, we recommend sheets, as the dorms can get quite warm. The facility is within walking distance of the beach on the ocean side, and the pier on the bay side. There are many hiking and biking trails within the park. If you have room to bring a bicycle, you may (remember a lock & chain). Take a pictorial trip through the facility to see how nice it is.
A big kitchen, with a walk-in fridge - is provided, but we (the MadYouth cabinet will make these arrangements) will bring our own utensils and food, and be our own cooks. Note - you will be asked t When you arrive at the State Park, you would first stop here and identify yourself and ask for the youth camp. Late night arrivals would need to get instructions from us as to what to do when these are closed.

When you arrive at the State Park, you would first stop here and identify yourself and ask for the youth camp. Late night arrivals would need to get instructions from us as to what to do when these are closed.

o help clean-up or even cook.

Arrival - See the directions page for how to get here (note: we're in Youth Camp I, not II as in previous years). See Google Satellite map of the facility. Come Friday evening (before midnight) or Saturday morning (after 7am) - the price remains the same for both. Please tell us in advance when to expect you. We learned from previous retreats here not to set an arrival time on Friday evening, with some west-shore groups waiting until 8pm to leave home in order to avoid bay-bridge traffic.

A team of folks on the east side of the Chesapeake are involved this year, working with the district youth cabinet in planning and set-up (for whom we are very thankful!!!). See the directions page for more info on what to do when you arrive. Gear will need to be out of the dorms no later than 11 am on Sunday (check-out time), though departure time from the park itself may be later.

Note: In 2003, hurricane Fabian was well out at sea on the weekend we were here - September 5-7. However, the surf was rough, with powerful rip tides. To learn more about rip tides and what to do in rough surf conditions, click here. Always swim responsibly!

Here is a (tentative, and from last year)
Schedule
(such as it is)
for our time together. Remember, were on "beach time."

As you can see, there is plenty of free time to enjoy the ocean, beach, trails, and other recreation possibilities within the park - without leaving it for the duration of the retreat (i.e. there will be no trips to nearby Rehobeth etc.).

We'd strongly encourage youth groups with advisors/chaperones, rather than individuals, participate (unless there is no one else from your church interested - we'll work with you, however, to tie you in somehow). As we said, parking in the youth camp area itself has limits. We get passes for only so many vehicles, so not everyone can drive. Drivers - contact us to receive a parking pass (tell us how many are riding in your vehicle. Carpoolers have priority for passes.). Please pay attention to our guidelines for youth at district activities (i.e. abide by the rules).

If families wish to make camping reservations for the weekend with Cape Henlopen State Park (in their campground, not the youth camp area) or motel arrangements outside the park, you are certainly free to do so. However, remember that this is a youth event. Certain portions of the retreat might be open to more than youth (like Sunday morning worship), but this has not yet been planned by the cabinet. Note that camping reservations for the park are done online, and weekends fill up quickly.

After Labor Day, the State Park employs no lifeguards at its main beach. Though vacationers still pack the beach - which we share with them (we don't have it all to ourselves) - on September weekends, swimming is "at your own risk." Your registration form includes a release form that needs to be signed by a parent or guardian (or by you if you are 18 or older) before you will be allowed to enter the water. If this is not signed, you cannot swim. We did have a trained beach-front life guard (one of our chaperones) along last year, and possibly will again this year, but responsibility is still "at your own risk."

- The dorm rooms each have 2 ceiling fans, though if it's a hot weekend, the dorms will be hot also. In that case, bed linens would be preferable to sleeping bags. There aren't too many electrical outlets in each room, and the fuses may not be able to handle many fans, but... We hope not to spend much time inside.
- Our encouragement remains - Please wear appropriate swimwear. If outfits are too revealing, we may ask you to wear a t-shirt over it. Modesty is encouraged. Yes, this is the beach, but we are not just any people. WWJD?

See a 360° panoramic view from the top
of the observation tower (left)
at Cape Henlopen State Park