Retreat Centre

New Stone Fire Pit

Check out our newly created stone fire pit. A local artist and past YouthBuilder, Mark Anderson, designed and built the fire pit using stones from a local quarry. Nothing compares to the feeling of sitting around this fire pit with a raging fire burning on a cool fall evening.

Beaver River Spring Thaw

 The weather warmed rapidly in the Blue Mountain Area. March and April brought lots of rain and snow melting. Behind the Clarksburg Retreat the Beaver River was running wildly through the forest.

 

Christmas Eve - Peaceful & Beautiful

Window Upgrade

The windows of both the main floor and second floor of the retreat centre were replaced this fall. The 1974 windows had finally had their day. What a difference new windows make!

      

Porch Renovation

You'll love the upgrades made to our porch this summer. New columns, railings and pattern concrete surface.

Porch Renovation Stages

The Cabin is Done!

After many hours of labour and love, the cabin was completed by it's creator...Jack Wright. When we began dreaming about a simple cabin for students and leaders to get alone and be renewed...we never thought the cabin would look and feel so beautiful.

Why would we invest time and energy into creating such a place?? Well, we believe a leader needs to take intentional time to free themselves from all of the pressures of life and allow their soul to be refreshed by focusing on what's most important. In it's simplicity and beauty the cabin is a place where renewal can happen.

The cabin is now available for booking.

Summer Upgrades and Developments

It's been a busy summer with having a group of students living and training on site. Part of the students' work involved keeping the Retreat Centre looking great. Thanks to the handy work of Rodney Hess, we have new landscape walls built around the front porch of the house and facility. They will soon be the home of some beautiful new gardens.

Also, we began the building of our first solitude cabin. This work of art is completely designed from cedar logs freshly cut this summer from Whisky Harbour in the Bruce Penninsula.
The purpose of the cabin is for people who would like to get away and take some time to free themselves from all of the pressures of life and allow their soul to be refreshed by focusing on what's most important. The cabin should be available for booking in the new year.

Summer is Here at Last!

At last, the snow is gone and the long awaited warmth is back. Although the winter is beautiful in our area of the province...it doesn't compare to the smell of the lilac trees and freshly cut grass.

With the warm weather here to stay the harbour is filling up with boats and people fishing. Many don't know that the retreat centre is just minutes from Thornbury harbour. It is an impressive harbour nestled in the side of Georgian Bay. The Bay is fantastic for fishing, swimming and sailing. We love to sail. We were just out sailing the other day in 15 knot winds with crashing waves. Wow! You'll have to come and see for yourself!

Over the summer, the retreat centre is the home for a group of young adults training for a year of volunter service with a program called YouthBuilders.

Now is a good time to start thinking about booking the facility for a fall retreat or off-site training day. The fall dates fill up fast so don't delay. Have a great summer!

Winter Retreats

It seems like people love to do winter retreats. This winter we have been booked solid with many youth and young adult weekend retreats. Once the snow came on the second week of January...the reality of winter settled in.

Most of the groups this winter have been from the North Toronto area and Kitchener. Many groups love the option of heading to Blue Mountain to take on the hills or going down the snowy trails to the Beaver River.

This winter there were a few more upgrades to the facility. We completely renovated our dining area and relocated it to the lower floor directly across from the kitchen. The new walls, paint and fire place have added a warm feel to the dining experience. Everyone has loved the improvements.

The snow has continued to fall creating a winter wonderland. If you ever want to get away to a place that is breathtakingly beautiful and close to all sorts of fun...call and book the Centre for Student Leadership.

519.599.2143
www.thecsl.com