Plan a Men's Retreat That Builds Brotherhood
A men's retreat takes men out of their daily routine and into an environment where real conversations happen. When planned with purpose, a weekend away can forge bonds and spiritual breakthroughs that last a lifetime.
Overview
Men's retreats typically run from Friday evening through Sunday morning at a camp, conference center, or cabin rental. The programming mixes structured teaching (a guest speaker or series of sessions) with recreational activities (fishing, hiking, sports, campfires) and unstructured time for conversation and rest.
The most effective men's retreats strike a balance between depth and fun. Too much teaching and men disengage. Too much recreation and the spiritual purpose is lost. The sweet spot is 3-4 teaching sessions across the weekend with generous time between for activities, meals, and organic conversation. Many men who would never open up on a Sunday morning will share deeply around a campfire on a Saturday night.
Logistics revolve around venue selection, transportation, food, and cost management. Many men are reluctant to attend retreats, so pricing and promotion matter. Offering a scholarship fund removes the financial barrier, and personal invitations from other men are far more effective than mass emails.
Planning Timeline
4 phases to keep you on track
4 months before
- Select and book the retreat venue (compare camps, lodges, and conference centers)
- Set the dates (typically a fall or spring weekend)
- Secure the speaker or teaching team
- Set the registration price and create a scholarship fund for those who need assistance
2 months before
- Open registration and begin promotion
- Plan the weekend schedule — sessions, meals, activities, free time
- Coordinate food — catering, cooking crew, or venue-provided meals
- Plan recreational activities based on the venue's offerings
2 weeks before
- Close registration and finalize the headcount with the venue
- Assign cabin or room groups to encourage mixing across age groups
- Print schedules, name tags, and any session materials
- Coordinate transportation — carpools, church van, or bus
Day of departure
- Meet at the church for carpool coordination and departure
- Arrive at the venue, check in, and settle into rooms
- Open with a group meal and an introductory session
- Set the tone: phones away, be present, what happens here stays here
Volunteer Roles
4 roles to fill for a successful event
Retreat Coordinator
1-2Plans and manages all logistics — venue, food, transportation, schedule. Serves as the primary point of contact throughout the weekend.
Small Group Facilitators
4-8Lead small group discussion times after each teaching session. Must be comfortable guiding honest conversations.
Food and Kitchen Team
3-5Plan and prepare meals (if not venue-provided). Handle grocery shopping, cooking, and kitchen cleanup.
Activity and Recreation Leaders
2-4Organize recreational activities — sports tournaments, hiking groups, fishing, or team challenges.
Budget Considerations
Key expenses to plan for
Venue rental: $500-3,000 for the weekend depending on location and amenities
Food and supplies: $20-40 per person for the weekend
Speaker honorarium and travel: $300-2,000
Activity equipment and supplies: $50-200
Printed materials and name tags: $20-50
Transportation (fuel, van rental): $100-400
Promotion Ideas
Get the word out effectively
Have men who attended last year share 60-second testimonials in Sunday service
Emphasize the activities and brotherhood, not just the teaching — many men need the fun factor to say yes
Create a buddy system — ask every man who registers to personally invite one friend who has never attended
Offer early bird pricing to drive early registrations
Share a behind-the-scenes look at the venue on social media to build excitement
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from others so you don't have to learn the hard way
Mistake
Over-scheduling the weekend with back-to-back sessions and no downtime
Solution
Leave at least 2-3 hours of unstructured free time on Saturday. The best conversations happen during the margins, not during the sessions.
Mistake
Pricing the retreat too high and losing the men who need it most
Solution
Offer a tiered pricing model or a scholarship fund. Announce it discreetly so men can request assistance without embarrassment.
Mistake
Assigning rooms by friend groups instead of mixing the group
Solution
Intentionally mix room assignments across ages and connection levels. This is where new friendships form. Pair newer men with established ones.
Success Metrics
How to measure if your event was effective
Registration and attendance as a percentage of active men in the church
Post-retreat survey scores on the overall experience (target 4.5/5 or higher)
Number of men who attended for the first time
Observable increase in men's ministry participation in the months following the retreat
Number of new relationships formed (ask in follow-up survey)
Related Event Planning Guides
How MosesTab Helps
Event Management
Create the retreat event with registration, payment collection, and forms for dietary restrictions, roommate preferences, and emergency contacts.
Online Giving
Collect registration fees and scholarship donations through a dedicated fund. Track payments and outstanding balances per registrant.
Communications
Promote the retreat, send logistics emails (what to pack, directions, schedule), and follow up after the weekend with photos and next steps.
Volunteer Management
Recruit and manage kitchen crew, small group facilitators, and activity leaders with clear responsibilities and schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about planning a men's retreat
20-60 men is the sweet spot for most churches. Smaller than 20 feels thin; larger than 60 makes it harder to create intimacy. If your church is larger, consider running two retreats or capping registration.