Outdoor Adventure Camp and Group Retreats in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania

The centre runs two kinds of retreat: its own themed retreats on site throughout the year, and bookings by outside groups who bring their own programme and use the facilities. Summer camps run for children of all ages, and every camp includes bible study, team building activities, hiking, nature exploration, a low ropes course, a high ropes course for older age groups, and waterfront activities including swimming, fishing and boating.

Team building is the core bookable activity for groups. A facilitator leads your group through a series of low ropes or high ropes elements designed to build trust and strengthen interpersonal skills. The low ropes course is all ground level — whale watch, spider's web, trust falls. The high ropes course is reserved for those older than 16 and includes a climbing tower, zip-line, catwalk and flying squirrel. Groups often wrap up with a discussion, and past guests have noted that scripture and gospel principles can be brought into that wrap-up.

Day use is available too, with a dining hall, stages, low and high ropes courses and boating. The site is used for businesses, weddings and all types of events as well as camps and retreats.

The setting is the other draw. The property covers 750 acres of northern hardwood forest with two lakes, small streams, hiking trails and a lake beachfront. A nature centre covers the trees, plants and animals of the area, and guests are encouraged to walk the grounds. The Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania are the backdrop, and the centre runs a fall programme for visitors who want to see the leaves.

Accommodation is spread across several building types rather than one hotel block: a Retreat Lodge with a full bathroom and bunk beds, an Adventure Site with rustic cabins and a detached bath house, a Spring Center used for events, promotions, retreats and meals, and smaller house-style options including the Gatehouse and the Chalet. Cabins have been described by past guests as decently updated and homey, and the dining hall as fantastic, with volunteer cooking staff.

This is a Christian camp, and faith is part of how it runs — summer camps include bible study, and the centre describes its purpose in those terms. Groups of other kinds are hosted too, but the tone of the place is set by that.

What's included

- Use of the 750-acre site with two lakes, streams, hiking trails and lake beachfront - Accommodation in the Retreat Lodge, Adventure Site cabins, Spring Center or a house setting such as the Gatehouse or Chalet - Meals in the dining hall, cooked by volunteer cooking staff - Team building sessions with a facilitator on the low and high ropes courses - Waterfront activities: swimming, fishing and boating - Hiking and nature exploration, including the nature centre - Bible study and group sessions as part of the camp or retreat programme - Day use facilities including dining hall and stages for events

What's not included

- Travel to and from the camp - Personal expenses - Any activities or excursions arranged off site - Anything not agreed with the centre when the booking is made