Retreats

Throughout every Village student's time on campus, we strategically plan for special times of adventure and discovery that take students off-campus to encounter places and moments of history, community, and deepening.

Beginning in sixth grade, these retreats are designed to help students bond through fellowship, hear the truth of Christ, and discern God’s leading in their lives, all while helping them biblically process the unique challenges they are currently facing. These relationship-building retreats range from overnight trips in sixth, eighth, ninth, and twelfth grade to day retreats in seventh, tenth, and eleventh grade.

5th Grade: Washington D.C.

For over 30 years, Village Christian students have been traveling with American Christian Tours to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Fifth-grade students and their parents have the option to join their classmates for this spring trip, which is the capstone of their elementary experience.

While in D.C., we visit Capitol Hill, the Smithsonian Museums, the Bible Museum, and Arlington National Cemetery, as well as the various memorials and monuments. Additionally, we travel to the Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown to study the foundation of our country which correlates with the fifth-grade social studies curriculum. This trip gives our students the opportunity for an in-person, hands-on experience which will provide a framework for their future studies. The sites we visit and the people we study are examined from a biblical perspective, and the educational program leaders provide Big Ideas (which are often character traits) through which to filter our thinking.

Along with its educational and spiritual value, this trip provides a tremendous opportunity to develop a deeper community before our students – and their parents – head off to middle school. Years later, many will point to this trip as one of their most memorable and meaningful experiences at Village.

6th Grade

The 6th Grade Retreat is a three-day trip to Hume SoCal in the San Bernadino National Forest focusing on journeying with the ultimate hero, Jesus Christ. During the retreat, students will hear as well as discuss the Word of God, experience group games, build new friendships, worship together, and more. For more details on the 2023 retreat, click here.

7th Grade

The 7th Grade Retreat is a one-day retreat built around the idea of deepening relationships with God and one another through celebration, bonding, and breaking away from the normal to focus upon Christ.

8th Grade: The March

The March: Journey from Civil War to Civil Rights is a distinctive trip that allows our 8th grade students to engage with history. To walk the paths that men and women walked before, fighting for freedoms, for rights, for those people who are marginalized in society, and for beliefs that they held dear. Our goal is to allow students to wrestle with the tough realities of history, asking the questions: What do I see? How does it make me feel? And what am I going to do about it? While asking these questions we are firmly rooted in the foundation of the Christian faith and who God has created us to be.

Some of the highlights of our trip are: Memphis, Shiloh, Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery, Tuskegee University, and Atlanta. As the culminating experience of the Middle School Adventure, we hope that students are challenged to adventure further, to leave their mark on the world around them, to believe and be passionate about the things that matter, and to use their voice. Each of us is created by God with gifts and abilities and we hope that as students are on The March that they begin to see the beauty of God’s creation and work to protect His creation in the world.

9th Grade Retreat

The transition from Middle School into High School is a big moment, and the Ninth Grade Retreat is primed to mark it with memories to last a lifetime. The retreat takes place in the beautiful mountains of Crestline, CA at Thousand Pines Camp. We are looking forward to having our guest speaker lead us into a space of worship where we get to know and enjoy God while discovering our identity in Christ. In addition, students will experience zip-lining, rock wall climbing, group games, and a delicious malt at the snack shop. We cannot emphasize enough how crucial this bonding experience is for our ninth grade class, so don’t miss out! For details on the 2023 9th grade retreat, click here.

10th Grade Retreat

10th Grade Retreat: The 10th great retreat at VCS is a single-day retreat experience in the spring semester. Following the 9th grade retreat, which focuses on the Christian’s identity in Christ—the 10th grade retreat focuses on dealing with doubts and doubting your doubts while following Jesus, since Jesus is always infinitely trustworthy. This retreat typically involves a fun experience in Los Angeles off-campus followed by gospel-hearted fellowship with devotionals, discussion, prayer, and a return to campus by the end of the school day.

11th Grade Retreat

The 11th grade retreat at VCS is a single-day retreat experience in the spring semester. Following the 10th grade retreat, which focuses on the dealing with doubt, the 11th grade retreat focuses on dealing with anxiety by seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:25-34). This retreat typically involves a fun experience in Los Angeles off-campus followed by gospel-hearted fellowship with devotionals, discussion, prayer, and a return to campus by the end of the school day.

12th Grade Retreat

The 12th grade retreat at VCS is an overnight retreat experience in the spring semester. This retreat serves as a final opportunity for focused fellowship of the senior class, along with a final encouragement towards a faith that follows Jesus for life. This retreat typically involves travel, lodging in cabins, gospel-hearted fellowship, worshipful singing, biblical preaching, sermon discussions, and great opportunities for fun with friends in the beauty of God’s nature.