Blog | Should Your Youth Group Host Its Own Retreat or Attend a Large Conference?

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Youth ministry leaders often face a pivotal decision: Should we create and host our own student retreat, or should we join a larger conference put on by a denomination or national ministry organization?

Both paths offer unique opportunities for spiritual growth, relationship building, and fun—but each also comes with its own challenges. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help your church decide what’s best for your students and leaders.

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Hosting Your Own Retreat

✅ Pros

• Tailored to Your Students
  You know your students. Their personalities, spiritual maturity, inside jokes, and unique needs can shape the entire weekend. From the theme to the worship setlist to breakout topics, everything can be custom-fit.
• Stronger Relationships Within Your Group
  Spending an entire weekend together with just your group helps build deeper connections between students and leaders. There’s more shared downtime, fewer distractions, and greater opportunity for personal discipleship.
• Flexibility in Budget and Schedule
  You can pick a location and budget that works best for your context. Whether it’s renting a retreat center or doing a DIY-style retreat at a local camp, you’re in control of the cost and calendar.
• Leadership Development
  Hosting a retreat gives student leaders a chance to step up—leading worship, teaching sessions, planning games, and more. It’s a great training ground for ministry.

❌ Cons

• High Planning Demands
  Putting on your own retreat requires lots of work—finding a venue, booking food, arranging speakers and worship, managing registration, planning safety protocols, etc. It can burn out staff and volunteers without careful delegation.
• Limited Perspective
  Sometimes students (and leaders) benefit from hearing voices outside their church. Hosting your own event can create an echo chamber where students hear only from the same few people they always do.
• Fewer “Wow” Factors
  Larger conferences often come with professional-level production, nationally known speakers, and a big-crowd energy that small retreats can’t replicate.

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Attending a Large Youth Conference

✅ Pros

• Big Moments & Energy
  There’s something powerful about worshiping with thousands of other students. The high-energy environment, creative media, and dynamic speakers often make a huge spiritual impact.
• Exposure to the Larger Church
  Big conferences help students realize they’re part of something bigger than their local youth group. It can be deeply encouraging to see other teens from different backgrounds chasing after Jesus together.
• Less Work for Leaders
  Most of the planning, scheduling, and content creation is handled by the host organization. Your team can focus more on relational ministry and less on logistics.
• Great Resources
  Large events often include access to helpful content, training for leaders, breakout sessions, and spiritual next steps students can take after the event.

❌ Cons

• One-Size-Fits-All
  A big event can’t cater specifically to your group’s needs. Some messages may miss the mark. Some students may feel lost in the crowd.
• Cost
  Large conferences can be expensive once you add registration, travel, lodging, and meals. That might price out some students unless you raise support or subsidize costs.
• Less Group Bonding
  Ironically, spending a weekend together at a big event can sometimes result in less connection within your group. Students may wander off, stick with just a few friends, or focus more on the show than on each other.

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So What’s Best for Your Group?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Here are a few questions to ask:

• Do we have the leadership capacity to host a retreat ourselves?
• Are our students ready to benefit from a larger, more diverse experience?
• What are our goals for this event—fun, connection, spiritual breakthrough, leadership development?
• How much time and money can we realistically invest?

You may find that alternating between the two options works best. For example, host a retreat one year and attend a big conference the next. Or supplement your local events with occasional road trips to large gatherings.

No matter which path you choose, your students will benefit when you lead them with intention, prayer, and a desire to point them toward Jesus.

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.”
— Hebrews 10:24-25