Dates: September 5-7
Adventure
Get outside, try something new, and make memories you’ll be talking about long after the weekend is over. Whether you’re rafting the Ocoee, taking on the high ropes course, jumping into a paintball match, or hanging out at our late-night parties, Fall Retreat is packed with moments you won’t want to miss.
Unplug
Life gets busy fast. Fall Retreat is a chance to step away from the constant noise of school, sports, schedules, and your phone so you can be fully present—with your friends, your leaders, and most importantly, with God.
Belong
Some of the best friendships in Radiate start at Fall Retreat. Whether you’re brand new or you’ve been around for years, you’ll find a place where you can laugh, connect, and be known. Our hope is that you leave with friendships that last well beyond one weekend.
Grow
Every part of the weekend is designed to help you take your next step with Jesus. Through worship, biblical teaching, quiet time devos, and small group conversations, you’ll be encouraged, challenged, and equipped to follow Christ with confidence when you head back home, to school, and into your everyday life.
- See our Fall Retreat FAQ below for our Refund Policy.
- Need financial assistance? Please print the Scholarship Form and turn it in to a Radiate Staff member:
Registration Details:
Base Cost: $175 ($145 Flash Sale August 2-3)
Activity Add-Ons (Select up to two):
- White Water Rafting: $45
(For 7th-12th grade only. Must be at least 7th grade AND 12 years old to raft.) - High Ropes Course: $30
- Paintball: $30
Waivers Due by August 27:
Are you Rafting? You’ll need a waiver for that!
If you signed up for rafting, you’ll receive an email the week before we leave with instructions for filling out your Rafting waiver online. Waivers need to be filled out with the correct time slot so we can’t send them out until we know who is coming and get them assigned to groups. Thank you for your patience!
*If you have already filled out a 2026 Radiate Medical Release for the HS or MS Mission Trips, or another Radiate Summer event, no need to do this one again. The Radiate Medical Release form must be notarized. Alaina, Joy, and Maria are available to notarize Radiate forms during office hours at the church or you can stop by the Radiate Welcome Desk to have your Radiate form notarized on Sunday mornings.
** Please be sure to bring Radiate Forms to the Radiate staff rather than the children’s staff. We want their staff to be available to help the children and parents who need assistance.
FALL RETREAT FAQ
1. Who can go?
Fall Retreat is for all Middle and High School students!
2. When and where is Fall Retreat?
We’ve been taking our students up to the Ocoee Ridge Camp in Old Fort, TN, on Labor Day Weekend for quite a few years now. So this year we’ll be heading up September 5-7. We roll out at 9 AM on Saturday morning and return around 12:30 PM on Monday. We have a great setup there for lots of lightly structured free time, evening parties and some awesome teaching from a speaker we bring in just for the weekend.
3. What do students do for the whole weekend?
We pack the weekend with morning and evening worship and teaching sessions, small group breakdowns after the sessions, late night theme nights (see above!), wave pool time, rec time to enjoy 9 Square in the Air, Basketball, Gaga Ball, or try out some of the extra paid activities like the High Ropes Course, and Paint Ball (these activities are paid add-ons and students can select up to two, including rafting). And last, but most definitely not least, White Water Rafting!! (Please note, 6th graders are not eligible to do White Water Rafting. If you are registering a 6th grader, do not select rafting as one or your activities.)
4. What’s the rooming situation?
We have large bunk rooms that we’ll be staying in. Please bring a sleeping bag and pillow. If you and a friend requested to be a roommate…we do our very best to make that happen! Students will room by gender/grade although some groups are so large they may be split into multiple bunk rooms. There will be chaperones/small group leaders staying in each room as well.
5. What about phones?
We know phones are a part of everyday life, but one of the best parts of Fall Retreat is the opportunity to step away from the constant notifications and distractions that compete for our attention. Our hope is that students will be fully present with their friends, their leaders, and what God wants to do in their lives throughout the weekend.
Students are welcome to bring their phones to Fall Retreat. However, each night at 11:00 PM (lights out), all phones will be collected by Radiate leaders and placed in a central charging station in each room. Phones will be returned each morning.
Please note that cell service at the retreat center is limited, so communication may be spotty throughout the weekend. Between the weak signal and a schedule full of activities, your student may not respond to texts right away—and that’s okay! We hope they’ll spend the weekend unplugging, building friendships, and being fully present in everything God has in store for them.
If your student is participating in whitewater rafting, we ask that they leave their phone at camp while rafting. Between water, transportation, and the nature of the activity, phones are easily lost or damaged. Radiate Students is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged devices.
We’ll be sharing photos and highlights throughout the weekend on our Facebook and Instagram pages. After the retreat, we’ll post a full gallery of photos so you won’t miss any of the memories.
We encourage every student to take advantage of this weekend as an opportunity to unplug, be present, build friendships, and make the most of everything Fall Retreat has to offer.
5. What if I have a school activity on Saturday?
If you have sports or other commitments on Saturday, there is an option to ride a bus up late to Fall Retreat that will leave Saturday afternoon or evening. Based on the consensus of when the majority of the late bus people can leave, we will contact you with the official leave time and plan, the week before the retreat.
Please note, if you’re planning to ride the late bus, you can choose ONLY 1 of the following activites: rafting OR paintball OR high ropes.
Please contact ajohnson@burnthickory.com if you have questions or need to use this late bus option.
6. How much does it cost?
Base Cost
Regular Base Cost: $175, Flash Sale Base Cost (August 2-3) $145
ADD ONS (You can pick up to two!)
White Water Rafting: $45 (for 7th-12th grade only. Minimum age is 12 years old.)
High Ropes Course: $30
Paintball: $30
Late Registrations will not be able to sign up for add-ons. Rafting may fill up and will be available on a first come, first served basis.
7. How and when do I sign up?
Check back here on this page on August 2-3 to take advantage of our Flash Sale! Sign up on August 2-3 and you’ll get $30 off the base cost (that equals a free activity!).
After the flash sale, base cost will remain at $175. Registration closes August 30. Any late registrations after August 30 will not be able to sign up for any additional activities like rafting and paintball.
8. Can I get a refund if something happens and we are no longer able to attend?
- Partial refunds will be given ($50 non-refundable) as long as someone on our waiting list can take your place up until one week out from the event departure date.
- No refund will be given after August 22, two weeks out from our departure, except in the case of an illness or family emergency.
8. What should I bring?
A complete packing list will be provided via email to attending students as we get closer to the event to help you make sure you get everything you need. A few super important things to bring:
- Sleeping Bag & Pillow
- Water Bottle-There are water bottle filling stations around the campus
- Bible, Notebook & Pen
- Toiletries, Clothes, Swimsuit (for girls: one-piece or tankini-two pieces must touch, no strapless; for guys: shorts should be at least finger-tip length), Sunscreen & Bug Spray
- Closed-toed shoes (old sneakers or water shoes) or shoes with a backstrap (like Chacos or Tevas) for Rafting (No Crocs)
- Snacks and/or card or cash (small bills) for snacks at the Radiate Cantina or the Ocoee Camp
- Your Medications