Give Your Youth Group a Place to Step Away, Reconnect, and Grow
A youth retreat that actually changes a group requires more than a meeting room and a few outdoor games. It needs a campus the students can treat as theirs for the weekend—away from hallways, phones, and the Sunday-night routine.
Orange Springs Retreat Center is a private, exclusive-use Florida youth group retreat venue in North Central Florida. We host church youth groups and student ministries of 60–200+ on 100+ oak-shaded acres bordering the Ocala National Forest, with a private spring-fed lake and white-sand beach. One group at a time. Always.
School class trips have their own pages: high school retreats and middle school retreats. This page is for church and student-ministry weekends.
The 2026 calendar is fully booked, with a waitlist for cancellations. New youth group retreats are being reserved for Fall 2027 through Summer 2028.
Key Venue Highlights
- 100% campus exclusivity. Your organization is the only group on site. No shared dining hall, lake, or meeting rooms.
- 100+ private acres. Spring-fed lake, white-sand beach, pool, fields, and outdoor gathering space reserved for your group.
- 60–200+ guests. Climate-controlled group lodging with 200+ beds, so students and leaders stay on one campus.
- On-site dining. Chef-prepared meals with dietary accommodations arranged in advance. No off-site restaurant runs.
- Meeting and worship space. Indoor rooms with AV for large-group sessions, plus breakout rooms for small groups and leader meetings.
The Advantage of Exclusive Campus Use
Youth directors spend months building a weekend meant to bring students together. The venue either protects that plan or chips away at it.
When your group books Orange Springs, you have the entire property. That removes the safety and scheduling problems that come with sharing a camp: another group on the waterfront, a competing sound system in the next building, or a dining hall you do not control.
Your team sets the rhythm:
- Worship, teaching, and spiritual reflection
- Leadership and team-building blocks
- Small groups and cabin conversations
- Lake time, fields, and evening campfires
- Free time that still stays on a private campus
We provide the campus, meals, and property support. Your leaders run the program. That is the model.
For goals, theme, leaders, parents, and follow-up, use Planning a Successful Youth Group Retreat: 10 Steps.
Outdoor Adventure & Recreation
Most recreation below is included with exclusive use of the campus and can be used throughout the stay. See the full available activities list and amenities overview.
| Category | On-site amenities & activities |
| Waterfront & beach | Private spring-fed lake, white-sand beach, swimming pool, lake inflatables, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. |
| Sports & fields | Open athletic fields, indoor and outdoor basketball, volleyball, and four tennis courts. |
| Evening & social | Campfire areas coordinated with on-site staff, open green space, and outdoor gathering areas. |
| Adventure (scheduled separately) | High and low ropes, climbing, and ziplines are arranged in advance with a facilitator and are not part of the standard included recreation list. Ask about availability when you request dates. |
Archery can also be arranged with on-site staff for groups that want it on the schedule.
Climate-Controlled Lodging Designed for Groups
Logistics can make or break a youth trip. Students, counselors, and chaperones stay on one private campus in climate-controlled lodging built for groups of 60–200+.
That keeps morning gatherings, meals, free time, and cabin conversations in the same place. Leaders are not moving students between a hotel, a rented hall, and a public park.
Flexible Indoor Meeting & Worship Spaces
Every youth retreat has its own rhythm. The campus includes indoor rooms that can handle large-group teaching and worship, smaller breakouts, and rainy-day program blocks.
- Main meeting rooms with AV. Screens, HDMI inputs, and seating for full-group sessions, video, and worship.
- Breakout rooms. Space for age-level discussions, leader meetings, or quieter program blocks.
- Indoor backup space. Covered and indoor areas for games and sessions if weather interrupts an outdoor block.
A multimedia room seats up to about 120. The dining hall seats 200+. Larger gatherings can use the indoor-outdoor gymnasium configured with a stage. Details are on the amenities page.
On-Site Dining
Feeding 60–200 students should not depend on restaurant runs or a stack of pizza boxes.
Meals are prepared on campus. Coordinators can plan menus in advance and flag allergies and dietary needs before arrival. Standard overnight packages include lodging, meals, and exclusive use of the property.
Sample all-in costs and fundraising notes are in the church and youth retreat budget guide. Current seasonal packages are on the 2027 Rates, Availability & Booking Guide.
Central Florida Location
Orange Springs Retreat Center is in Orange Springs / Hawthorne, just south of Gainesville, in a quiet setting that is still reachable by church van or charter bus.
| From | Approximate drive time |
| Gainesville (GNV) | About 40 minutes |
| Ocala | About 35–45 minutes |
| Jacksonville (JAX) | About 90 minutes |
| Orlando (MCO) | About 1.5–2 hours |
| Tampa | About 1.5–2 hours |
Address: 168 Camp Shalom Trail, Orange Springs, FL 32182.
Orange Springs is a CCCA member venue. Churches comparing private youth locations in Florida can start here, then use the 10-step planning guide to lock program details after the date is held.
When to Book a Florida Youth Group Retreat for 2027
An exclusive-use campus can host only one group per weekend. Friday–Sunday dates in fall and spring fill first.
Reserve the venue before you open student registration. Church and youth groups should treat 8–12 months ahead as the working window. The full calendar by group type is in When Should You Book a 2027 Florida Group Retreat? September through April often has more date flexibility and a 60+ minimum.
Who This Venue Fits
This Florida youth group retreat location is a fit when:
- Your group is about 60–200+ students and leaders
- You want the entire campus, not a shared summer camp
- Your team is bringing teaching, worship, and small groups
- You can reach North Central Florida by van or charter bus
It is not the right venue for groups well under 60, for a few families booking cabins, or for organizations that need the camp to run the entire student program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Orange Springs a good Florida youth group retreat venue?
Yes, for organized church and student groups of 60–200+ that want exclusive use of a private lakefront campus.
How many students can you host?
Exclusive-use bookings start at 60 guests. The campus is built for groups of approximately 60–200+ students and leaders.
Do we share the property with another youth group?
No. One group at a time. Always.
Are meals included?
Standard overnight packages include chef-prepared meals with lodging and exclusive use of the campus. See the rates and booking guide for current 2027 examples.
Is the ropes course included?
No. Ropes, climbing, and ziplines are scheduled separately with a facilitator. Lake equipment, fields, courts, the pool, campfires, and most other recreation on the activities page are included.
Can we still book 2026?
No. The 2026 calendar is fully booked. A waitlist is open for cancellations. New youth group retreats should look at Fall 2027 through Summer 2028.
Check 2027 Dates for Your Youth Group
If you know approximate headcount and a preferred season, that is enough to start. You do not need a finished theme or T-shirt design to ask about a weekend.
Bring estimated attendance, first-choice dates, and two backup patterns.
Call or text Mike Sokol at (561) 221-7773.
Email campshalomfl@gmail.com.
Visit orangespringsretreat.com.
Orange Springs Retreat Center | Florida Youth Group Retreat Venue for Churches & Student Ministries (60–200+)
One group at a time. Always. No shared spaces. No outside guests.
