By Sam Sack, Social Manager
Ask an MICC College graduate about some of their favorite memories, and chances are they’ll mention a retreat.
It’s the excitement of trying something completely new, laughing around a campfire, exploring a new town with friends, or bringing home a small keepsake to remember the experience. While every retreat looks different, each one is intentionally designed to help participants build confidence, strengthen friendships, and create memories that last long after the trip is over.
Throughout the College program, participants experience a variety of retreats that grow alongside them. Some are day adventures focused on teamwork and stepping outside of their comfort zones, while others are overnight experiences that encourage greater independence. Participants may find themselves navigating a ropes course, camping for the first time, preparing meals together, exploring a new community, or simply enjoying conversations around a campfire at the end of the day.
These experiences offer something that can’t be recreated in a classroom. Participants work together to solve problems, communicate through challenges, and support one another in unfamiliar situations. Along the way, staff often witness quiet participants stepping into leadership roles, classmates encouraging each other to try something new, and friendships growing stronger through shared experiences.
Retreats also provide meaningful opportunities to practice everyday life skills in a natural setting. Participants pack for their trips, organize their personal belongings, help prepare meals, share responsibilities, and adapt when plans change. These moments build confidence not because everything goes perfectly, but because participants learn they are capable of navigating new experiences with the support of their peers and staff.
One of the most meaningful parts of every retreat happens before everyone heads home. Participants gather to reflect on the experience – sharing what challenged them, what they’re proud of, and the moments they’ll remember most. Whether it’s completing a ropes course they never thought they’d attempt, sleeping in a tent for the first time, or discovering a new favorite place, each retreat becomes another chapter in their MICC journey.
The impact of these experiences extends far beyond the retreat itself. Time and again, graduates look back on these adventures during their graduation speeches, remembering not only where they went, but who they became along the way. The confidence they gained, the friendships they built, and the memories they created continue to shape their lives long after returning to campus.
At MICC, retreats are more than an opportunity to get away. They are an opportunity to grow, connect, and discover that some of life’s greatest learning happens when we step outside our comfort zones…together.
