Important Things to Pack
When it comes to packing, some items are easy to forget but hard to go without. Here is a list of essential items to bring to your retreat:
- Passport/Driving License to Verify Your Identity
- Printed Reservation for Your Retreat Just in Case
- Your Phone With a Charger
- Cash or Credit Card
- Copy of Scheduled Activities
- Powerbank
- Earbuds
What to Pack for a Retreat?
1. Comfortable Clothes
When it comes to retreat packing, comfy clothes are number one, as it’s going to be impossible to rejuvenate your mind and body if you’re constantly thinking about being uncomfortable.
Retreats don’t require you to dress your finest, but rather, you and everyone else are there to grow and connect, so what you wear is not important. Pack yoga leggings, loose trousers, T-shirts, and activewear for any strenuous activities.
Other items of clothing to pack for your retreat are layers. While each retreat is different, it can sometimes be hard to find a temperature to suit all overnight participants. The weather temperature can also change throughout the day, so it's a good idea to bring a number of layers.
2. A Journal
Retreats can be transformative, and you may be surprised by the sentiments and emotions that surface during your time away. Having a journal and a pen on hand throughout your retreat will allow you to write down notes and questions as they emerge.
Journaling often encourages us to delve deeper within ourselves, giving us space to express what may be difficult to vocalize. Journaling is a great opportunity to look back on your retreat later down the line and can be a reminder of how much you have grown.
3. Headphones
While much of your time will be taken up by outdoor activities, workshops, classes, journaling, and socializing, there are periods of downtime during a retreat when you want to put on your headphones and be in a space of stillness. Whether you want to listen to your favorite playlist or want an inspirational podcast, you’ll be glad to have packed your headphones.
4. Comfortable Shoes
If you’re attending a nature retreat, you’ll want to bring a good pair of trainers or walking boots with you to keep you comfortable at all times. There’s nothing worse than going on a hike only to find out that your shoes aren’t waterproof and they cause blisters on your feet.
Before you travel, make sure your shoes are waterproof and comfortable to wear during outdoor activities.
5. A Water Bottle
An average person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day; however, this may vary during hot weather and when you’re doing physical activities. Outdoor activities such as taking a hike, swimming, or ziplining can dehydrate you quickly, so having your own water bottle to hand will encourage you to keep up the fluids and stay feeling fresh and hydrated throughout.
No matter what type of retreat you’re attending, you’re going to be active, and packing a water bottle will also save you from using plastic bottles.
6. Insect Repellent
Bugs are a common nuisance when spending time outside and when you are trying to enjoy nature. Bring a natural bug repellent with you on your hike or outdoor activity to avoid painful mosquito bites and pesky bugs. While repellents with DEET in them are good at keeping mosquitoes at bay, they aren’t great for the environment, so something natural with citronella in works as an effective alternative.
7. Disinfecting Wipes and Hand Sanitizer
Many times on a retreat, especially a wilderness retreat, you cannot immediately wash your hands. Disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizers are great essentials to have on hand. In the absence of soap, they keep germs at bay and clean your hands. Choose a spray sanitizer that may be used on surfaces instead of a gel sanitizer.
Group Retreats at Camp Tekoa
Camp Tekoa is a summer camp and conference center located in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, near Hendersonville. We provide clean and comfortable lodging accommodations, fun activities, and an extraordinary amount of adventures on site for your next retreat. Let us host your next group retreat this season.