Benefits of a Retreat

Looking for advice in planning your next retreat? We found a great article on Community Tool Box to help you! It begins:

WHAT IS A RETREAT?

A retreat is a type of group getaway in which the members of that group take time to form bonds with one another, contemplate their purpose and motives, and work on one or more specific goals.

People often mistake any group planning or training meeting for a retreat. Retreats are not supposed to be held at your office or any of the usual places your organization or initiative may use for meetings. Retreats often involve an overnight stay and are usually held at a retreat center where your members can take some time to enjoy nature, talk with one another, think about your organization or initiative, and have fun. Some unstructured time should be set aside in the retreat schedule to allow members to do their own thing, think, and relax.

WHY ORGANIZE A RETREAT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION OR INITIATIVE?

Retreats can be useful for your staff, members, volunteers, or board of directors. Some of the benefits of retreats are that they can:

• Eliminate the outside distractions of your usual daily setting
• Build enthusiasm and commitment among your staff or members
• Cultivate a casual mood
• Create a sense of shared experience and bonding to help people work better together
• Set aside some uninterrupted time to solve key problems
• Allow you to step back and re-examine goals, objectives, and activities.

Retreats are a wonderful way to replenish and rejuvenate in the company of your peers. If you're thinking of planning a retreat, let us know! We would be happy to help you!

Lori and Jake's Wedding!

Lori and Jake celebrated their love with grace and style. The whole family contributed to their special day, helping to decorate and pull together detailed elements. They used a rainbow of colors throughout their wedding, and played off the rustic, barn-like setting at Hidden Valley. Pops of red could be seen on their wedding cake, reception tables, and in their guestbook. 

Lori's mom also made over 100 jars of jam to give away as favors. When added to the rest of the decor, the homemade gift created a sweet, personal, country feeling for the day.

The rustic theme was carried over from the ceremony to the reception area. With burlap adorned tables and bright flower bunches in vintage tin cans, the overall effect was naturally beautiful!

Time and time again, we are impressed by the creativity of our couples. A perfect example of this is our archway that leads to the wedding circle. Lori and Jake decided on a natural, floral arrangement to

 enhance the surroundings of the oaks. 

The wedding circle was truly an enchanted space. Crystal strands hung from the oak trees to create sparkling light during the ceremony. In a moment of tenderness, Lori's father escorted her down the aisle. It was just the beginning of a beautiful day filled with love, laughter, and warmth.

For their reception, Lori and Jake chose our good friends at Bekker's Catering for a family style feast! They brought a skilled team of servers to provide top-notch service for the guests. As friends and family gave speeches and shared well wishes, the newlyweds could be caught enjoying the fun together.

 They carried the home-made, country setting into the cake display by creating a bakery scene full of pies and sweets! It was a gorgeous, rustic set-up with every fruit pie imaginable!

Congratulations, Lori and Jake! We wish you endless years of happiness as you start your life together. 

Thank you to all of the vendors whose hard work made this special day possible:

Catering: Bekkers Catering: 

Transportation: Sun Diego Charter Co

Golf Cart Rental: Escondido Golf Cart Center 

Photography: Kate Colosi

DJ: Rigor de Leon 

Cake: Crimson Cake- Alicia 

Kids' Fun at Hidden Valley Retreat!

Hanging out in the Children's Garden

Family reunions, summer camps, group retreats; no matter the occasion, kids love Hidden Valley! With 10 acres of private, natural space, kids have plenty of room to explore. Young ones can splash in the pool, throw frisbees on the built-in frisbee golf course, play board games in the Main House, walk through the Children's Garden, perform skits on the stage, and much, much more! There are bugs and butterflies to be discovered, fresh, juicy fruits to be tasted, and marshmallows to be roasted. Your kids will adore their time at Hidden Valley!