After studying at the University of Florida, Mike worked in advertising for just two years before he purchased the land his parents had used for their 8 week children’s summer camp.  Mike then founded, in 2002, a full time Florida Retreat Center in that he named The Orange Springs Retreat Center.

At that time, Mike began an ambitious renovation campaign that included building a ropes course with both high and low elements(including duel ziplines!!), adding a new dock, porches on all 12 buildings, adding meeting spaces for lecturing during seminars, and developing a menu with his chef more conducive for adult group retreats.

Since then, the effort payed off as Mike Sokol now caters to a constant flow of weekend and weeklong retreats from Corporations, Churches, Fire Cadet Training, Seminars, Sorority Weekends, and just about any organization looking for a place to host their Florida retreat. He is always happy to help groups book their next retreat at the Orange Springs Retreat Center.

Although the Orange Springs Retreat Center does not design the programs for our retreat groups, Mike is always happy to help retreat group leaders as they organize there many different types of group retreats. Feel free to ask for him by name!

Shelley and Big “D” Sokol have been involved in camping since 1971, long before Mike ever dreamed of running a Retreat Center. They also enjoy coming out to the Orange Springs Retreat Center on occasion to either meet the different groups or just take in the serenity of this beautiful Florida retreat Center for themselves. Big D is now over 95 years young! He still enjoys walking up and down the dirt road that leads into the Orange Springs Retreat Center. When Shelley and Big D are around to meet the different groups, they are full of pride in what their son Mike has created over these last 15 years!!