Mennonite/Brethren Jr. High Retreat
September 26-27, 2025
Join Jr. High groups from area Mennonite and Brethren churches for two days of worship and fun! Experience great games and camp activities, enjoy time with friends, and more!
2025 Theme: The Courage to Love
Speaker: Elizabeth Eby
Music: Joel Ross
About the speaker:
Elizabeth Eby lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia, having stayed in the area after graduating from Eastern Mennonite University and its graduate program The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Having studied both Bible and Peacebuilding she is passionate about drawing people into relationship with others and God's whole world around them. Elizabeth currently works at Mennonite Mission Network connecting international service workers with prayerful support from various churches and individuals. A lover of theater, writing, and all things creative, Elizabeth has written, directed, and acted in plays locally and self-published a children's book titled Dilly Derpson's European Adventure. She currently attends Immanuel Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg.
Lodging will be in rustic cabins. Cabin assignments will keep youth groups together (by gender), and two adults will be assigned to each cabin. Cabins are not climate-controlled, so pack for the weather.
Registration and payment for the retreat is to be done through your church group, not on an individual basis. Contact your youth leaders to find out what your church is doing.
General Information
Info for leaders
Leaders from each church group are expected to:
- Complete the registration form for your group (below) by Monday, September 8 to let us know your church is participating. A $180 deposit should be sent to Highland when you sign up.
- Send a group roster before Tuesday, September 16, including notes on any dietary restrictions for anyone in your group. Your groups' numbers are considered final after Monday, September 22.
- Collect completed information and consent forms from your youth.
- Collect medical forms from your youth and look after any health needs during the retreat. (Here's a sample form you can use if your church doesn't have their own.)
- Bring enough sponsors so that youth of each gender are well supervised. Feel free to collaborate with other church groups!
- Pay the balance for your group at the time of the retreat (a total of $60 per person covers food, lodging, and activities). To streamline the process of paying during check-in at Highland, we request that each church group presents ONE final payment to Highland for the balance of their retreat bill; any payments you collect from individuals in your group should go to your church or to a group representative who can then pass the total along in a lump sum to Highland.
Group Registration Form:
Please include your best estimates of the number of people who will be in your group. A more specific roster can be sent to info@highlandretreat.org closer to the event.