Father/Daughter Retreat 2015

A few weeks ago, Balcones Springs held one of its favorite events of the season -- our annual Father/Daughter Retreat!

Each fall and spring, the Retreat holds Mother/Son and Father/Daughter retreats to give families a chance to bond in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, while also getting a taste of summer camp at Balcones Springs.

Guests arrived Friday night and immediately began the fun with a fishing contest! Next, a craft beer tasting and cocktail hour for the dads preceded a wonderful dinner, followed by a bonfire with s'mores and a viewing of one of the greatest camp movies of all time -- The Parent Trap!

The next morning, daughters enjoyed cartoons and cereal while our visiting dads had their comparable "newspapers and coffee" (though perhaps some of those cartoons as well). After breakfast, the day looked a lot like summer camp. Dads and daughters climbed the rock wall, took a ride on the screamer (a bungee swing at the rock wall), and played classic camp games like 3Ball and Nuke 'Em before building their own pizza rolls for lunch!

After lunch, our trampoline bungee, zipline, and archery ranges were all open for our guests to enjoy. We also had craft-making and cupcake-decorating, horseback riding in our arena, and face-painting for the daughters while the dads were again able to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail.

After dinner was the weekend's highlight--the Glow with the Flow dance! Dads and daughters danced the night away at one of our most famous camp dances, complete with light-lasers, disco balls, and of course, lots of glow sticks!

Finally, to close the weekend, after breakfast the next morning, dads and daughters harvested organic vegetables in our camp garden to put into take-home lasagna kits for mom.

Some comments from our guests include:

"Love the parties, great activities, Awesome rooms."

"Great Time as Always - Staff was wonderful & really enjoyed it & girls has a great time!"

"Everything was great. Staff was great, very helpful and nice. We will be coming back."

"Thanks Olivia for giving me the courage to go on the zipline! I want to come again next year!"

"Best Year so far!!"

Thanks so much for your kind words! We can't wait to see you next year and hopefully this summer at camp!

If these activities sound like fun to you, be sure to head over to Camp Balcones Springs and sign up to come play with us this summer!

Young Men & Women of Destiny

Every year, Balcones Springs welcomes the Young Men and Women of Destiny to our grounds for a two-day, one-night youth retreat.

Packed into the short stay are meetings, speakers, an ice cream social, a bonfire, Sunday morning worship, and a concluding Sunday brunch.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"I always enjoy this place. The staff are so friendly, and the customer service is GREAT!"

"The staff is exceptional; thank you!"

"I freaking love this place!"

"Every time we come you all are so helpful and polite to our kids; thank you for all your kindness."

"I always have a wonderful experience every time I come here; the staff is very professional and the food is excellent!"

Thanks for the kind words, Young Men & Women of Destiny! We look forward to seeing you again next year!

New Hope Baptist Women’s Retreat

We recently welcomed yet another women's retreat, this time, from New Hope Baptist, to Balcones Springs for a one-night stay.

Our guests spent time in meetings and enjoying a bonfire, though inclement weather unfortunately kept everyone inside for most of the stay.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"We had a lot of needs up front, and the staff was very gracious & accommodating!"

"I was so sick Friday night and the staff were so sweet by sending a basket w/crackers etc. Thank You!"

"Thanks so much for having us! We truly enjoyed our stay & your hospitality has been amazing!"

"Everything was so nice! I would love to come back here for our next retreat!! Cabins were clean, nice & comfortable. Thank you."

"Very 'homey' atmosphere. It was wonderful! We loved the cabins and the whole experience."

Thank you for the kind words, New Hope Baptist! We look forward to seeing you again soon!

St. Matthews Women's Retreat

We recently welcomed St. Matthews Episcopal Church to Balcones Springs for a weekend women's retreat!

Our guests found solitude and tranquility in our beautiful, isolated property, using much of their stay for worship, communion, and meetings. Fun was also had on the property, hiking trails, enjoying our wine bar, and watching a late-night movie.

Some comments from our guests include:

"Food & Staff were so lovely!!!"

"You were great!"

"Another great weekend with friendly staff, great food and lovely accommodations. Thank you!"

Thanks for the kind words, St. Matthews Episcopal! We hope to see you again soon.

Altria Group Company Retreat

Balcones Springs recently had the pleasure of hosting the Altria Distribution Group's Company Retreat--several days full of some of the most fun we've seen since summer camp!

During the first day of their stay, Altria guests had many meetings, speakers, and workshops, but at night, the fun ensued! Nighttime activities featured a Cowboy Dance with a mechanical bull, armadillo races, a longhorn photo-op, line dancing (with guest instructors), an open bar, and a bonfire at our pond, complete with s'mores and funnel cakes!

The next day, our guests headed into another round of meetings and workshops. Free time in the afternoon came in the form of enjoying our traditional summer camp activities--the zip-line, skeet-shooting, archery, rock-climbing, our rock-wall "screamer," hiking, fishing, canoeing, paddleboating, frisbee-golf, basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, and football. That night, a fun, yet more low-key, evening ensued, featuring a slow motion photobooth from Spinning Leaf films, a firepit and s'mores, a movie under the stars, an open bar, and the "human" version of games like Jenga, foosball, checkers.

Some comments from our guests include:

"Food was excellent!"

"Thanks to your entire staff!"

"Wow - Awesome experience! Thanks!"

"Very beautiful property, very inviting staff , good food."

"Thank you! Ya'll were great! Will definitely come back!"

Thanks so much for choosing us to host such a fun few days of activities! We hope to see you all again soon.

Special thanks also to the following vendors who made this whirlwind of a retreat possible:
Birzer Photo
Clayton Gardner Band
CORT Event Furnishings
Live Oak DJ Shay Lesyk
Spinning Leaf Films
Spoiled Dove Entertainment

Episcopal Church of Good Shepherd

Alongside our guests from Southwestern University, we welcomed the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd for a weekend retreat.

Amidst meetings and time for worship, our guests experienced some of the best the Retreat has to offer--horseback-riding on our private trails, practicing yoga, and indulging in massages.

Thanks for visiting us, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd! We hope to see you again soon.

Southwestern University Executive Retreat

At the end of the past month, we welcomed employees of nearby Southwestern University for an executive retreat.

In between meetings, our guests enjoyed a relaxing cocktail hour, our top-rated cuisine, and a movie and bonfire under the stars of the Hill Country sky.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Super good!"

"Exceptional staff!"

"Well set up, great place."

"Great job - thank you!"

Thanks for the kind words, Southwestern! We enjoyed having you and hope to see you again soon!

Camp Texas Counselor Retreat

At the conclusion of every summer, the Retreat at Balcones Springs welcomes Camp Texas, one of the University of Texas at Austin's freshmen orientation programs. Leading up to that event, the soon-to-be counselors of Camp Texas visit us for their own retreat--becoming acquainted with our facilities and training to lead the freshmen in the coming summer. Such a retreat recently took place at Balcones Springs.

The weekend retreat consisted of classroom sessions, team-building games and activities, and general preparation for what is to come this summer at Camp Texas.

Thanks for joining us! We are so excited to see you again soon with the hundreds of new students you will be leading this summer!

Friends of Balcones Sparrowfest

Recently, we at Balcones Springs welcomed the Friends of Balcones Sparrowfest to our hill country property for a weekend retreat.

Although our guests spent a bulk of their time on field trips off-site, while on property, they took full advantage of our dining services, meeting spaces, and opportunities to enjoy bar and fireside s'more activities in the evenings.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Great Food! Great wine!"

"So good & luxurious, comfortable bed, so beautiful."

"We arrived late (8 pm) on the 1st day of check-in, the staff was so nice-they had leftovers for us. It was a fine dinner! And the staff even got us ice water. The cabins are comfy & homey."

"Everything is so nicely kept here! We were so comfortable. Thank you for everything!"

Thanks for such kind words, Friends of Balcones Sparrowfest! It was a pleasure hosting you, and we hope to see you again soon!

Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce

Even though most events at the Retreat span a weekend or several week days, we are also able to host groups for single-day events. Recently, the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce joined us for such a stay.

Using our facilities for meetings and enjoying breakfast and lunch from our top-of-the-line dining facilities, the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce was able to conveniently and scenically engage in business meetings amidst our quaint and relaxing atmosphere.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Perfect variety of food choices, snacks & beverages."

"Love the grounds and meeting room with fireplace!!"

"Great place, great service, great food! Thanks!"

Thanks for the kind words, Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce! We were so happy to host you.

If you have a one-day event need and are unsure of whether or not our facility will fit, don't hesitate to call! We would love to accomodate you and your group as best as we are able.

LF Manufacturing Retreat

After the beautiful and fun wedding, the Retreat shifted gears and welcomed the LF Manufacturing Retreat for a weekend meeting.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Food was very good! Thank you!"

"Outstanding facility and staff."

"Great Place- Loved it!"

Thanks for the kind words, LF Manufacturing! We hope to see you again soon.

Schmidt/Ferrell Wedding

The Retreat at Balcones Springs recently had the pleasure of hosting a beautiful January wedding with the Schmidt and Ferrell families. The wedding weekend was beautiful and fun--a delightful experience for both our guests and the Retreat staff.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Wedding Planner was AMAZING and did such a great job! As well as the staff. Thank you for making my sister's wedding absolutely beautiful."

"Eric [the wedding planner] was great! All of the staff that we approached with any issue or request were very attentive & fulfilled our requests."

"Awesome! Fun! Friendly! Magically Delicious, save a cabin for my retirement."

"Everything was beautiful, we can't wait for a reason to come back."

Thanks for the kind words! We loved hosting your families for this beautiful and special day, and we hope to see all of you again soon!

Texas Exes Retreat

In mid-January, the Retreat welcomed Texas Exes from the University of Texas at Austin for a two-day retreat.

At the end of every summer, the Retreat hosts Texas Exes' UT freshman welcoming camp "Camp Texas." Although the weather was much colder and the activities a tad less fun (sadly there was no need to cool off in our famous Lake Ted), we loved hosting this organization for its winter meeting.

We can't wait to see you this summer! Thanks for sharing your wonderful organization with us.

Nature Conservancy Retreat

A few weeks ago, Balcones Springs welcomed the Nature Conservancy to our property for a winter executive retreat. Our guests fit right in on our beautiful Hill Country property, taking advantage of our scenic facilities and everything the Retreat has to offer.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Had a fantastic executive team retreat here this month; facilities were so comfortable and organized for our tasks, and the food was AMAZING. Hospitality here is obviously a priority - we really loved it. If you're going during winter, ask for a meeting room with a fireplace!"

Thank you for the kind words! We hope to see you again soon, and we're glad we could keep you warm!

TCU Sophomore Retreat

Balcones Springs recently had the pleasure of hosting Texas Christian University's Sophomore Retreat over one of the coldest weekends this winter. Despite the frigid temperatures, our guests were able to snuggle up in cozy cabins and still enjoy all of the fun that the Retreat has to offer.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Staff was friendly and helpful and did a great job of accommodating my special dietary needs (vegan)."

"Thank you so much for your service and care for us. Loved the camp and facilities."

"This is one of the nicest places I have ever stayed in. Everything exceeded expectations."

"Awesome. I loved the food, the atmosphere, and the grounds, and the staff was really nice too!"

"Overall the stay was amazing! Great place!"

Thanks for the kind words, TCU! We hope to see you all again soon, and hopefully in much warmer conditions!

University of Texas Coordinators Retreat

In the beginning of January, the Retreat hosted the University of Texas Coordinators Retreat for a long weekend of meetings amidst our Hill Country facilities.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"The facilities were perfect for our meeting needs."

"Very tasty food. The food was wonderful."

"Excellent facilities and service, thank you. I look forward to returning."

"Very nice people! Above all the staff was pleasant, positive and helpful."

Thanks for selecting us to host your retreat! We are glad you enjoyed your stay, and we hope to see you again soon!

Boubel Family Reunion

The Retreat's most common guests tend to be brides and grooms or corporate employees of some sort, but we are also the perfect place to host a family reunion, and we especially love getting to share in these joyful events with our guests.

At the beginning of this past month, the Retreat was fortunate enough to host the Boubel family for its reunion. Our guests were able to relax and catch up with one another, be it over a delicious meal, horseback riding, canoeing, or simply taking in the beautiful Hill Country views. Thanks so much for choosing to bring your family to Balcones Springs! We hope to see you again soon.

If you are interested in hosting a family event, like a reunion or birthday party, at the retreat, please don't hesitate to contact us! Even if we tend to host larger gatherings, we would love to accommodate your specific event needs!

2015 Counselor Reunion

The Retreat at Balcones Springs rang in the new year by welcoming back its 2014 summer camp staff for the annual camp counselor reunion! Counselors and leadership staff from far and wide visited the retreat for a fun-filled three days of games, horseback riding, sports, catching up with friends, and of course, the top-notch food of Camp Balcones Springs!

It was great to see all of our summer staff and to start thinking about what God has in store for camp this coming summer. Our camp team is currently on the road, recruiting staff for the 2015 season. If you're interested in learning more about our summer camp programs, check out our camp website at Camp Balcones Springs! We have one, two, and three-week camp sessions for campers ages 6-18.