… On a Men’s Retreat!
Have you noticed your man is more relaxed after he’s spent time with his buddies? Guys need time to just hang out without trying to meet someone else’s needs! And when they can celebrate hobbies together, that makes everything better!
Tips for Planning Men’s Retreats
Start with a theme. Center it around March Madness or a NASCAR race, hunting or fishing, bowling or baseball… A theme is a good way to break the ice and create opportunities for conversation.
Add in quality content. Devotionals abound for men in themes of sports, fishing, hunting, and work, as well as tips for being a great dad. Target one theme and let it be the springboard for everything else. Guys have to work harder at being relational, so set them up for success by fostering opportunities around a campfire and in small groups. Sometimes it can be less threatening to talk while working. Maybe that can happen while at a worksite for Habitat for Humanity or on a ropes course, doing team building exercises? Conversation skills can be learned in a shared environment that is non-threatening. And when guys connect, they find a support system that will help them navigate the rapids of life!
Add a location. Will it be tent camping, cabins, a conference center or a 5 star hotel? Each piece of the puzzle fits together to help determine the follow-through of the theme. Whether your retreat is for a whole weekend, or just a night of fun at the bowling alley, the location will equip you for the next question.
What about the food? Maybe the ladies would help prepare tasty treats to center around the theme? Steaming chili for a snowmobile outing or hoagies for a golf excursion? Or check on prices for catering from a local restaurant and figure that amount into your retreat expenses.
Will you carpool? Rent a bus? Shared transportation adds to the camaraderie of the adventure, and will figure into the bottom line. Tally all of your expenses together and assemble your advertising. How will you get the word out? Email, Facebook, flyers and posters all help. But most of all, the best PR is still word of mouth. When guys are passionate about their favorite team, do they keep it to themselves? NO! They tell everyone! So get them excited about doing “Guy Stuff” and let the macho roll!