Good times atop the mountain: 2022 freshmen retreat

Every year, Carroll College Campus Ministry offers first years a chance to escape the hustle of their busy lives and travel into the beauty of creation for the weekend. The three-day first-year retreat gives new students the chance to build bonds with each other and grow closer in their relationship with God. Like many before it, this year’s retreat was a powerful weekend of friendship, prayer, and togetherness.

The weekend started with a boat ride across Seeley Lake to an isolated peninsula, home of the famous Legendary Lodge which has been the traditional location for the event for years. The students quickly got settled and moved right into the activity. A favorite event at the recreation area was “Ga-Ga Ball,” in which players try to strike others below the knees with a soccer ball until only one remain.

This event was followed by the first of the discussions, which allowed students a chance to explore some of the deeper aspects of their short time at Carroll. They also met in small groups with their peers, headed by upperclassmen, peer ministers, and volunteers. After this insightful event, students, staff, and volunteers headed over to the main lodge for dinner. 

Meals were an especially social time during the retreat, as new connections were made and friendships were strengthened. After dinner, they held a second round of discussion, before immediately transitioning into an epic outdoor dance. The pinnacle of the event was undoubtedly when Father Marc was seen doing the worm. The dance ended after a few hours, and so did the first day of the retreat.  

Day two of the retreat began the next morning with breakfast and a 0.8-mile hike up the mountain at the back of the peninsula. It is not an easy climb. With many narrow, snaky trails that slither to the top of the mountain, it took about 45 minutes to reach the summit.

Eventually, the entire group made it to the top of the mountain for Mass. The peace and reflection of the service were a welcome change for many students. While atop the mountain, students were also offered the chance to contemplate and pray in complete silence while reflecting on the natural beauty of creation. 

Mass was followed by a climb down the mountain, which was also a challenge for many students, though it was reported as considerably faster than the climb up. Once students returned to the main lodge, they had lunch and went swimming.

Thomas Louie, Oregon first year studying communications and marketing was the first to swim across the lake.

Lunch and impromptu swimming were followed by another set of talks, after which students spent a total of 45 minutes in silence. Many students found the silence to be incredibly profound and maintained this silence even as they returned to the meeting area.

After this deeply touching event, students engaged in a long recreation time. Most retreat-goers spent their time fishing, canoeing, and swimming in the lake. During this time, many people were dunked and thrown from the dock. 

After a wild afternoon of activities, students went to their final lecture before dinner, during which Father Marc captivated his first-year audience with his message about love and intimacy. The talk was followed by dinner, after which students headed down to the bonfire for a night of campfire songs and bonding. The night concluded when it was discovered that Thomas Louie had gone night swimming around midnight.

The third day rolled around with a final message and a round of applause for the generous hosts at Legendary Lodge. With that, students crossed the lake on boats once more and traveled back to the mainland and the buses waiting there. They traveled back to campus, feeling a stronger sense of unity and a deeper sense of appreciation for each other.

The first-year retreat is an important tradition at Carroll College and had a profound effect on today’s first-year class. Just as the upperclassmen volunteers were excited to return to the Lodge, Campus Ministry hopes to see many of this year’s first years at next year’s retreat.