Higher Things Retreats serve to provide congregations, their leaders, and, especially, their youth opportunities to work, worship and play in between our annual conferences. Our retreats and related events offer liturgical worship, faithful Lutheran catechetical sessions, and excellent opportunities to unwind and have a little fun with other Lutheran youth. Like Higher Things Conferences, at our retreats we believe that worship, work, and play are best done when they are not mixed with each other. At Higher Things Retreats, when we work, we work and when we play we play and when we worship we worship. Higher Things offers three events which you can bring to your city:Higher Things Lock-ins
Lock-ins are designed to offer an overnight event where Lutheran youth may connect with other youth from neighboring churches to worship, study the Gospel, and have some fun too. Lock-ins typically feature a single teacher catechizing on a Gospel-oriented theme. They are planned locally and invite neighboring churches to the host congregation. They last about twelve hours, beginning on a Friday evening and lasting through Saturday morning. These events offer opportunities for Lutheran churches and youth to connect with others in their area. Lock-ins serve to direct youth to our annual conferences, the cornerstone and highlight of our organization.Higher Things Retreats
Retreats offer a larger event during the months between our annual conference, where youth may actively be engaged in catechesis, worshiping within the liturgy, and connecting with other youth. Retreats often span 2-3 days and feature multiple teachers catechizing the youth around a common theme. They are regional events, connecting Lutheran churches from a larger geographical area. Higher Things Retreats closely resemble our annual conferences, serving as abbreviated opportunities for youth to work, worship and play with other Lutheran youth. Retreats also offer follow-up opportunities to our annual conference.Higher Things Extreme Retreats
Extreme Retreats take the typical retreat and add a special twist to it. Often this unique twist takes youth outside of the typical retreat environment and places them outside into the elements. An Extreme Retreat features the same liturgical worship and faithful catechizes as regular Retreats, but takes the fun and play of a retreat and combines it with the great outdoors. Extreme Retreats can involve such things as camping, canoeing, hiking, scuba diving, snow skiing, or even rock climbing. While offer a follow-up opportunity to our annual conferences, an extreme retreat offers extra fun activities for youth to interact with other youth.