F.A.Q.

WHO IS WINTER RETREAT FOR?
WINTER RETREAT IS FOR ALL STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN GRADES 7 – 12.
(PLEASE DO NOT BRING CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT PART OF YOUR YOUTH MINISTRY OR INFANTS.)

WHEN IS WINTER RETREAT?
THERE ARE THREE WINTER RETREATS AVAILABLE, SO YOU CAN PICK THE WEEKEND THAT FITS BEST INTO YOUR CHURCH’S SCHEDULE, OR CHOOSE BY WHICH COMMUNICATOR YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM. (SEE DATES ABOVE)

WHERE IS WINTER RETREAT?
BONGIORNO CONFERENCE CENTER
430 UNION HALL RD, CARLISLE, PA.

HOW MUCH DOES WINTER RETREAT COST?
Cost includes: Accommodations (2 nights), food (5 meals) and retreat events. 
$159 per person (group):
• $89 Deposit due at initial registration
• $70 Balance due at check-in

$259 (individual):
• $159 Deposit at initial registration
• $100 Balance due at check-in

**all deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable

ARRIVAL TIME
FRIDAY AT 6PM.  CHECK-IN IS FROM 6PM-7:15PM. PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE.

DEPARTURE TIME
SUNDAY AT 12:30PM - AFTER LUNCH.

FREE TIME
SATURDAY AFTERNOON WILL BE OPEN FOR A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, BOTH STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED.  AVAILABLE ON THE CONFERENCE CENTER GROUNDS ARE:  BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, FOOTBALL, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. *OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR ARCHERY TAG. PLEASE MAKE SURE EACH STUDENT HAS SUBMITTED A SIGNED ARCHERY TAG WAIVER - STUDENTS CANNOT PLAY WITHOUT IT. TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT REGISTRATION FOR $10, OR ON-SITE AT WINTER RETREAT.

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
ALL GROUPS MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR THE RETREAT. WEEKS 2 AND 3 USUALLY SELL OUT. PRE-REGISTRATIONS WILL BE HANDLED ON A FIRSTCOME/FIRSTSERVED BASIS.

CONFIRMATION
YOU WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION VIA EMAIL FOLLOWING THE PROCESSING OF YOUR ONLINE REGISTRATION.

DEADLINES
ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DEADLINE, IT IS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE TO REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS WE ANTICIPATE ALL RETREATS TO SELL OUT.  REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL OUR MAXIMUM NUMBER IS FILLED FOR EACH WEEKEND.

CHAPERONES
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH GROUP REGISTERING TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE CHAPERONES FOR THEIR TEENS.  EACH GROUP MUST REGISTER ONE MALE LEADER, AT LEAST 20 YRS. OLD, FOR EVERY 1-10 GUYS THEY REGISTER, AND ONE FEMALE LEADER AT LEAST 20 YRS. OLD, FOR EVERY 1-10 GIRLS THEY REGISTER. AT LEAST ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE LEADER MUST ACCOMPANY EACH GROUP, REGARDLESS OF GROUP SIZE. REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT THE ADEQUATE NUMBER OF CHAPERONES WILL BE CHARGED THE INDIVIDUAL RATE.
IT IS OUR DESIRE TO HOUSE CHURCH GROUPS TOGETHER WHEN ATTENDING RETREATS.  DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE HOUSING UNITS, AT TIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO HOUSE CHURCHES IN MULTIPLE ROOMS AND BUILDINGS AND PDYN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DO SO.

CLEARANCES 
IN COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE BILL 435, OUR OFFICE WILL NOW REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING THREE ITEMS FOR EVERY LEADER THAT WILL ATTEND WINTER RETREAT. THESE REPORTS MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO RECEIVE, SO PLEASE RECRUIT YOUR LEADERS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE SUBMIT COPIES OF THESE COMPLETED CLEARANCES WITH YOUR REGISTRATION:

1. PA STATE POLICE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
2. PA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CHILD ABUSE CLEARANCE
3. FBI CRIMINAL HISTORY & FINGERPRINTING OR A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT AFFIRMING CHAPERONE IS NOT DISQUALIFIED FROM SERVICE

LEADERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO STAY ON CAMPUS WITHOUT THESE CLEARANCES ON FILE. IF YOU NEED HELP OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW CLEARANCE LAW PLEASE CONTACT US!

MEDICAL RELEASE
EVERY STUDENT ATTENDING WINTER RETREAT IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN ONLINE PARENTAL/MEDICAL RELEASE FORM. THIS MUST BE DIGITALLY SIGNED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. THEIR ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL THESE FORMS ARE RECEIVED.

ALL LEADERS SENT BY CHURCHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STUDENTS UNDER THEIR CARE. PLEASE BE AWARE OF ANY MEDICAL NEEDS/LIMITATIONS, MEDICATIONS, ALLERGIES, ETC. FOR YOUR STUDENTS. IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO ASK PARENTS TO EMAIL OR PRINT A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS.

WHAT TO BRING
BIBLE AND NOTEBOOK, BEDDING, TOWELS, PERSONAL ITEMS, AND WARM CLOTHING. DRESS WILL BE CASUAL THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.  BE PREPARED FOR COLD WEATHER!

WHAT NOT TO BRING
ELECTRONICS (IPAD, HAND HELD GAMES, GAME SYSTEMS, ETC.) SKATEBOARDS, FIREARMS, FIREWORKS, CANDLES, TOBACCO, NARCOTICS, ALCOHOL, ETC.

EXTRA MONEY
THOSE ATTENDING THE RETREAT MAY WANT TO BRING EXTRA MONEY FOR OFFERINGS, LATE NIGHT SNACK BAR, MERCH, ETC.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE YOUTH DEPT AT THE PENNDEL MINISTRY NETWORK BETWEEN 8AM-4PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT 717.795.5921 OR EMAIL MALBANESE@PENNDEL.ORG.