Fall Youth Retreats

Breakaway, Quest and Crossing are the fall youth retreats for Minnesota churches that take place at Trout Lake Camps in central Minnesota. Breakaway is for Senior High and Quest is for Junior High and Crossing is for both Junior and Senior High. Each retreat is designed to be evangelistic in nature, meaning that the gospel will be clearly presented during the weekend and students will be given the opportunity to respond. Activities are designed so that non-church kids feel completely comfortable and have a blast! Students register for and attend this retreat with their youth group. It's a great opportunity for kids to become familiar with other students and leaders in their group.

September 30-October 1 Quest I
October 7-9 Quest II
October 14-16 Breakaway I
October 21-23 Breakaway II
October 28-30 Crossing

New this year, Jr. High and Sr. High campers that are not connected with a youth group can attend our last fall youth retreat, Crossing I, as an individual.

Listed below is 2011 details. As 2012 details are finalized we will update the information.

Theme

Every year there is a retreat theme that encourages campers to grow in their faith with Jesus. The 2011 theme is you were BOT (bought) at a price based from 1 Corinthians 6:20. We will look at roBOTs and see how they are made with a specific purpose, they can malfunction and they are made to serve whoever created them. It will be an incredible weekend you won't want to miss.

Speakers

Mark Kraakevik (Quest 1 & 2 - Jr. High)

Although he is a Colorado native, Mark's family also lived in Iowa and Chicago when he was young. They moved back to Evergreen, CO, in 1982 and he graduated from Evergreen High School in 1987 (Go Cougars). He graduated from Bethel College in St. Paul, MN in 1991 (Go Royals) and received his Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary in Englewood, CO in 1994 (Go Bookworms). Since 1992, he has been a youth pastor in Iowa, Minnesota and Colorado. Mark and Heidi returned to Colorado in 2001, and are enjoying living in the community and raising their family here. Mark and Heidi have two daughters. His lifetime goal is to love God and to enjoy Him forever, and to share this passion with everyone he meets. Unlike most people, Mark loves speaking in front of crowds, which he does as often as possible. He loves motivating his friends and family to uncommon acts of love and service through creativity and humor. Mark also loves jazz and winter. He is afraid of snakes, bears, and the ocean -- which is weird in light of his Scandinavian heritage.

Brian Sumner (Breakaway 1 & 2 - Sr. High)

Brian started skateboarding in Liverpoole, England at 13 yrs old. By 15-16 Brian had won contests and appeared in magazines around England. He ended up visiting and eventually moving to America around 16 years of age living with a few pro skateboarders. Brian was skateboarding for Tony Hawk's brand "Birdhouse" and some of the other biggest brands in skateboarding. Soon he was a full-fledged pro skateboarder taking part in world tours, skate videos, interviews and had his own boards, shoes, pants, tech decks and more. Brian had accomplished his dream. Through some life changing experiences Brian enountered Jesus Christ in 2004 and has been using his gift of skating for The Lord over since.

Jared Carlson (Crossing - Jr. High and Sr. High)

Jared serves as the senior pastor at GracePoint Church. His ministry opportunities have taken him to 19 countries on four continents, speaking at mission and pastor's conferences, as well as churches and camp retreats. He earned his Masters in Theological Studies from Bethel Seminary and he enjoys spending time with his wife and new baby daughter. He plays sports of all kinds, likes backpacking and eating Chipotle.

Worship Leader

Bensonwells (Quest 1 & 2, Breakaway 1 & 2)
Ryan Paul, the songwriter and frontman, started Bensonwells as a solo project in high school but quickly realized the value of creative minds. Their first album was released independently and made a mark on the Minneapolis music scene. God has called them back to their roots and put worship on their hearts. The recently released a worship album. Learn more at Bensonwells.com.

Josh Dekker (Crossing)
Josh has been a lover of music since getting his first guitar in 7th grade. Since then, he has gone on to combine his love of music with his passion for Jesus through leading worship at places like Bethel University and Eagle Brook Church. Josh is well connected with some incredible musicians in MN and is always able to put together a band that can rock out while passionately leading their audience in authentic worship.

Important

Registrations for all retreats can be mailed no sooner than the posted date in the registration packet (Sept 15, 2011). Remember, these retreats fill very quickly, so get your registrations mailed as soon as you are allowed. For more details regarding registration view the registration packet.