Students from the Peninsula, San Francisco and Sonoma County will come together Oct.. 17 - 19 for the annual North Coast Fall Conference Retreat in Occidental.
Surrounded by nature at Alliance Redwoods Conference Center, the three-day getaway is an opportunity to escape the exhausting routine of daily life, abandon the cell phones and join in community with good friends.
"It's so nice to step into nature, away from the noise, without any distractions and just be around people you really care about," said senior Emily Dimarco.
The typical retreat schedule consists of daily worship, personal small group discussions, exciting games, quality free time with friends, and the opportunity to connect with God through motivating guest speakers.
"The weekend is truly rewarding. This will be my fourth year attending, and I'm filled with excitement each time," said Dimarco.
The intention of the popular event is to offer students the chance to strengthen their faith, grow individually and bond with others.
"I learned a lot about myself, and I really enjoyed getting to know new people," said sophomore Kelly Zaino.
The conference is open to anyone who is interested in attending, and multiple scholarships are available upon request.
"Everyone is welcome and can receive something from this experience," said Intervarsity Team Leader Maria Finkbeiner.
Various subjects will be focused on throughout the weekend and each talk consists of a particular theme relevant to real life scenarios. Knowledgeable speakers will employ their wisdom through personal stories, several applicable biblical accounts and lead informative activities.
"You're given practical ways to lead your life. I came out of the weekend on such a higher level. I felt physically, mentally and spiritually rejuvenated. The talks really impacted me and put things into perspective," said Zaino.
This year's theme is "Images Of God." Students are encouraged to come hear stories about the Kingdom of God, and what it means to personally exercise your faith. Featured speakers for the conference include; Sandra Van Opstal, Chicago Urban Project Director and Urbana 2009 Worship Leader for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.
"I met some of my best friends there. It's a perfect opportunity to get to know really great people," said Junior Brent Jones.
Strong ties are formed as students are surrounded by supportive peers.
"You have the chance to share what's most important with one another, and focus on what truly matters-the people I've met are incredible," said Dimarco.
Memories are often created on this favorable weekend as students will have the chance to participate in several high energy demanding games, humorous skits, and enjoy one another's company during daily free time.
"It's a great place to relax, step aside from the hectic school schedule, and just hangout with friends and have a good time" said Dimarco.
Mealtime is also a prime location to re-fuel between each session, catch up with friends, and enjoy an alternative food choice from the school cafeteria or handy Top Ramen box. "The food was absolutely delicious," said Zaino.
The North Coast Fall Conference is an annual tradition within Intervarsity. The club extends the invitation to any SSU student interested in joining in on this unforgettable experience.
The cost of the retreat is $125. Students are strongly encouraged to sign up soon in order to be guaranteed a spot. The deadline to sign up is Oct. 9.
Conference attendants will be carpooling from the SSU campus around 4 p.m. on Oct. 17. The conference begins at 6 p.m. and ends on Sunday around 1 p.m.
Please contact retreat coordinator Joy Dickson at joy.dickson@sbcglobal.net for further information on attaining a conference scholarship, or stop by Intervarsity's large group gathering every Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Cooperage.
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