Great Lakes Retreats
Au Sable offers weekend conferences and retreats for churches, youth groups, and community groups at the Great Lakes campus. The natural beauty of our location features trails, lakes, and ponds for group activities or individual meditation. In the winter, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, and broomball are favorite activities. In other seasons, visitors enjoy activities such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, running, biking, bonfires, hikes, canoeing and kayaking and meditation in nature.
Retreat Goals
To give guests an opportunity to meet God in a personal way through experiencing the beauty of His creation.
To help guests learn more about the earth, nature and all that God has created.
To achieve a greater awareness of everyone's responsibility as caretakers of this world.
Our staff is willing to assist in integrating these stewardship themes into your retreat program through activities such as guided nature hikes and devotionals focused on stwardship.
Facilities
Dormitories: Au Sable can house up to 40 people in three dorms. Guests must bring their own sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels.
Retreat House: The Institute has a smaller retreat house on Big Twin Lake that can house up to 12 people for self-contained groups.
Lodge: Au Sable has a lodge that provides an excellent setting for worship services, communal activities, and meetings.
Dining Hall: The dining hall serves healthy, hearty, family style meals. We ask that the retreat group provides volunteers to do dishes after each meal.
Recreational Opportunities
Au Sable offers an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. Recreational activities vary by season. Au Sable has miles of trails, a large open ball field, and beachfront property on Big Twin Lake. Winter activities include cross-country skiing on six miles of groomed ski trails, broomball, sledding, and ice fishing. Spring and fall activities include volleyball, canoeing, hiking, soccer, basketball, softball, running, biking and tennis. Our lodge has two fire places, a small kitchen and tables for board games.
Costs and Scheduling
Groups may schedule their retreat for the months of January and February. A typical retreat begins Friday evening and ends Sunday afternoon. If you would like to schedule a longer or shorter retreat, please contact Eric Bond for scheduling and pricing.
Eric Bond - eric@ausable.org - 231-587-8686
