Best Group Retreat Locations Near Albany

Check Out The Best Group Retreat Locations Near Albany, NY

Searching for a great group retreat location can be a real challenge. That is why we have put together a list of 5 of the best available in the Capital Region. Below you will find venues that are all unique in what they offer, but they are all venues that know how to host a great event, no matter what you are looking for.

So if you want to go glamping for a weekend, hire an entire summer camp to yourselves, stay in a spacious country lodge, or relax and kick back in a spa, you will find something in our list below that will tick those boxes.

We hope that no matter what you are looking for, you will find ideas and inspiration from the venues below to help you with your search for the perfect retreat center for your group.

Camp Schodack / Berkshire Retreat Center

Camp Schodack is a beautiful countryside venue in Nassau, New York. This retreat was founded in 1957 and has been family owned and operated for four generations. It’s rich history and beautiful landscape make Camp Schodack a perfect venue for groups looking for privacy and plenty of activities for their group.

There are over 40 acres of open fields and 60 acres of private forest for you to plan your retreat, and spacious indoor venue space for anyone needing additional space. No matter what your plans may be, Camp Schodack will make it spectacular. This secluded getaway offers spacious open fields as well as wooded trails for a nature-seeking guests. The venue also offers an outdoor amphitheater with seating for up to 500 guests as well as dining facilities with thew same capacity.

Find out more: https://berkshireretreatcenter.com/

Emerson Resort & Spa

Designed with the splendor of the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley in mind, open spaces and oversized windows expose stunning views and bring the beauty of the outside in. Enjoy spacious accommodations in the contemporary Inn or Adirondack-style Lodge, nature-inspired treatments at our award-winning spa, our signature restaurant, Woodnotes Grille, The Shops at Emerson, and the not-to-be-missed World’s Largest Kaleidoscope. Skiing, hiking, biking, tubing, fishing and outdoor concerts are just a few of the numerous nearby activities. Or, explore the eclectic and historical towns of Phoenicia, Woodstock and Saugerties. We can’t wait to welcome you back to the Catskills.

Find out more: https://emersonresort.com/

Handsome Hollow

This silvery-grey fox is 240 years old and once a working dairy barn. Not only will you have 4000 sq. ft of sweet space to soiree, a restored 18th century farmhouse to hang your hat in but Handsome Hollow sits on 93 acres of pristine wilderness. Explore endless trails, creeks, hemlock groves, maple forests, blueberry fields, springs, an old bluestone quarry and Big Fork Mountain.

Handsome Hollow is a truly rare place. The stunning, 93-acre property with fields, meadows, forests and mountain views, is the location of a restored 18th century barn. Also on the property, is a chic, stylishly designed, 120-year old farmhouse. Handsome Hollow is an idyllic, unforgettable wedding destination in the Catskills.

Find out more: http://www.handsomehollow.com/

Spillian

We welcome groups of friends, colleagues, family members for an all-inclusive weekend or a week at Spillian. Our chef and staff are on hand to make your stay utterly effortless! Relax, challenge yourselves and your imaginations, and revel in being together. Whether your dream is slow-paced porch-sitting punctuated with feasting and silly games in the library or an expansive weekend exploring the Catskills or a project together, Spillian embraces its visitors as family. Remarkable things happen at these gatherings!

We can host up to 18 overnight guests onsite, and can accommodate more daytime guests who are staying elsewhere for meals and any activities you’re dreaming. (We’re happy, by the way, to help you find additional lodging.)

And we offer virtually limitless choices  of special experiences, from spa services to guided adventures throughout the Catskills, informal workshops and cooking classes, wine and spirit tastings, and more, or simply the chance to read that great book you’ve been wanting to get to as you sit in front of the fire.

Find out more: https://spillian.com/

The Arnold House

If you are looking for a rustic country backdrop but don't want to compromise on great local food for your private event, The Arnold House on Shandelee may be just what you are looking for! We offer weddings & events year-round and can comfortably accommodate up to 200 guests. Located 2 hours north of New York City in the western Catskills, the Arnold House is a country retreat set on seven acres and nestled into the forest of Shandelee Mountain.

We specialize in rustic barn and outdoor weddings on our beautiful grounds, including ceremonies in our meadows and near our pond, but also offer cozy cold weather affairs with our roaring wood stoves and comfortable indoor seating. These events can be held in our Tavern, 1960’s Dining Room, Sun Room, BBQ Barn or outside in the meadows. Our goal is to work with each individual party to make sure we customize to taste, style and budget.  

Find out more: http://www.thearnoldhouse.com/weddings

Athletic Retreat Venue - Albany, NY

Check out the amazing Sports facilities at Camp Schodack’s Berkshire Retreat Center

Located just 20 minutes from downtown Albany, Camp Schodack has been owned and operated by the Krouner family for 3 generations.

Located on 40 acres of open playing fields and sports facilities, the camp is surrounded by a further 60 acres of woodlands, all crisscrossed with running and hiking trails that are perfect for athletes or keen hikers to explore. The camp has a huge range of sports and activities available for groups to use, which are all complemented by wonderful facilities including large indoor and outdoor spaces, in addition to our huge dining hall and many other excellent areas you can make use of.

Operating as a summer camp from mid-June to mid-August means that the facilities are available for groups to use from May to mid-June and then late August through the fall into October.

Sports Facilities

The camp boasts an incredible range of sports facilities that are perfect for training and conditioning as well as recreational use. Spread over 40 acres guests can take advantage of tennis, basketball, soccer, volleyball, street hockey, archery, and more. There are 2 outdoor heated pools and for those looking for something more adventurous, the camp has a 5-sided climbing tower and zip-line, horseback riding, and a purpose-built go-kart track which is perfect for letting off some steam.

The entire property can be made available for exclusive use or shared by multiple groups, teams at the same time.

Find out more: https://berkshireretreatcenter.com/sports-and-athletics

Accommodation

The camp features a range of different accommodation types with the majority spread throughout 20 beautifully renovated cabins. All come with high ceilings and cooling fans as well as ensuite bathroom and shower facilities. Each cabin also features wooden decking with outdoor seating to make the most of the warm summer days and nights.

For those looking for something more private, there are a number of more intimate cabins that are perfect for couples or individuals. All come with private showers and bathrooms as well as queen beds and air-conditioning.

There is also the camps ‘Lodge’ building which features 4 bedrooms either side of a large, central common room. This building is great for groups of 3-30 and is perfect for sports teams or others that are planning to keep their guests together.

Find out more: https://berkshireretreatcenter.com/accommodation

Catering

One of the great features of the venue is the option for guests to have catered plans or to take a self-catering option. Having recently completed construction on a brand new culinary arts center, allows guests to prepare their own meals easily on-site.

If groups choose to take a catered plan then there are a number of options available that the events coordinator and chefs can put together after consultation. These can include hot meals, served buffet style, packed lunches for groups on the move or they can arrange for food trucks and other off-site catering options to be available.

The Camp’s main dining hall building can comfortably seat 500 people at once if needed. The room can be broken down into smaller dining areas and also features an outdoor patio that can sit up to 80 people.

Find out more: https://berkshireretreatcenter.com/sample-menu

Facilities

Alongside all of the amazing sports and accommodation at the camp, are the rest of the incredible facilities that are available for groups to take advantage of. Over the past 12 months, the camp has spent time and resources developing new areas that are sure to be a hit with guests. These areas include a brand new welcome center featuring smaller rooms available for more classroom-style teaching if required, as well as a large common room. There is the brand new fitness center and spin studio in addition to a games room featuring air hockey and table tennis.

Aside from the newest areas of the camp are the 500 seater amphitheater and 500 person playhouse, both perfect areas for accomodating large groups. There is the ‘Garden', which is a huge indoor basketball court and also the Rec Hall, a smaller indoor space that can accommodate 50-100 people.

Find out more: https://berkshireretreatcenter.com/new-gallery

Experience

Camp Schodack has been creating amazing summers for children and staff for over 60 years and in that time we have learned what it takes to make meaningful experiences for the people that stay with us. Whether you are looking to bond as a group, make the most of the sports and fitness facilities, or are just looking to escape to the countryside for a little ‘R & R’ then we know how to help.

Everyone that books with us get access to our core team who have years of experience working with groups of all kinds from high school and college athletes, wedding groups, and corporate retreats.

Find out more: https://berkshireretreatcenter.com/

Top Tips for Planning a Group Retreat

Tips For Planning A Great Group Event

Planning a High school retreat? A corporate getaway? A weekend reunion? No matter what the occasion for your event, below we have listed 5 great tips to help you along the way.

Our team has had years of experience planning group events for all sizes and occasions. We have hosted weddings, ran summer camps, planned weekend getaways, and some pretty epic birthday parties. In all the years we have been putting on events in different professional capacities, we have learned a thing or two about the most important parts to consider.

Whether you are planning an event right now or just thinking about planning an event in the future, we hope that you find our ideas here useful when it comes to putting your plans in motion.

Timetables and Scheduling

“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry” is how the saying goes…You can plan, plan, plan, but may need to be ready to change everything at the last minute! Depending on the location of your event you need to make sure that your plans can go ahead successfully, come rain or shine.

This means finding our way in advance about the facilities available to you at the place you have hired. Do they have indoor spaces for you to use if it rains? If so, how many people can you comfortably fit inside? Do they have PA systems in place for you to address your group? Are they helping you plan your event or do you need to bring your own staff? Is it accessible for guests with mobility issues? Is everything easily signposted? (this is especially important if it is a large venue such as a summer camp where things are very spread out).

These are just some of the questions you should be asking your venue ahead of time.

Stretch Your Budget

No matter what sort of event you are planning, you are sure to have some budget constraints. There are always limits to what you can do but there are also ways to stretch your budget.

Food and drink are often one of the biggest costs for any group event. You can help keep your catering costs down in a number of ways: Ask your venue if you can provide your own alcohol or if your guests can do BYOB. For food, you could supply your own catering that you can purchase cheaper ahead of time. You could ask to have fewer food options for your guests on the menu, therefore lowering the overall cost of catering (this will help the venue as they can cater more specifically to your group). Or you could simply cook yourself…grab a BBQ, throw on a comedy apron and you’re ready to go!

Know your audience

You can spend your time putting together the greatest weekend ever, only to find that the people you have attending don’t really love the activities that you are putting on or that your venue has available.

One way to get around this is to mix up your schedule with choice periods where guests can fill their time doing activities that they choose to do (this also helps take the pressure off you to fill every minute). You can also promote and highlight certain activities by sending out sign up sheets ahead of your weekend. By getting guests to sign up ahead of time, you will be able to know what activities are going to be popular and can plan the rest of your weekend around this.

If you are planning to split your guests into teams for the weekend, tell them to bring certain colored tops ahead of time. This allows you to mix groups up based on colored shirts and also helps to mix up groups so that people meet new people.

Food, glorious food!

We already mentioned above how to stretch your budget by looking at different catering options. However, getting the food right is as important as any other part of your planning. From our experience, guests will tell you straight away if they do not like the food! This can be especially true of any guests with dietary restrictions. So be upfront with the venue about allergies but also dietary requirements. Vegetarians don’t just want to eat mushrooms all the time!

Speak with your venue ahead of time and make sure that you are happy with the menu options available. Most venues will be happy to provide sample menus for you ahead of time. Furthermore, if you know that your guests want certain foods on the menu, tell the venue’s coordinator that this is what you want. Usually, chefs will be more than happy to provide food that they know the guests are going to love.

It is important to remember that you cannot please everyone! No matter how hard you and the venue plan the menus together, someone is always going to want something that isn’t available!

Opening and Closing Ceremonies

Having a large or small group come together for a weekend event can be a wonderful bonding experience. It is important to help facilitate those moments to bond through occasions where you bring everyone together.

Holding an opening ceremony or event is a great way to set the tone for your weekend. Similarly, bringing everyone together again at the end to recognize the time you have spent together can really bring home what a great experience the weekend has been.

Finally, you can make time to recognize people at the the end of the weekend with awards or acknowledgments or potentially do this at the end of each night, around a campfire. Nothing closes a day better than roasting marshmallows and sharing stories over a fire.

At Camp Schodack's Berkshire Retreat Center, we work tirelessly to provide all of our guests with amazing experiences no matter what the occasion or how long they stay with us. Please get in touch with a member of our team at camp@schodack.com and we will be happy to talk to you more about how we can host you and your guests with us.

Best High School Retreat Locations In New York

Amazing High School Retreats

Trying to find the perfect location to take a large group of young people can be a challenge. We have searched far and wide across the state of New York to bring you a list of 5 locations that cater to school groups, with the aim of bringing you a selection that we hope offers ideas and inspiration.

Each of the retreats we have listed below is in a unique location, offering something that other school retreat centers do not. Further more they all have overnight accommodation and offer a range of activities or pursuits that sets them apart from each other.

So whether you are looking for beautiful scenery, tons of activities, plenty of accommodation or all of that and then some, we think that you’ll find something here to fit the bill.

Berkshire Retreat Center at Camp Schodack

Nestled in 100 acres of privately owned woodlands and playing fields is Camp Schodack. Throughout the summer it hosts hundreds of children at its Summer Camp which has been operating for over 60 years. Before and after the summer it welcomes groups of all kinds to rent and use the facilities available. These include beautifully renovated cabins and private accommodations that can house up to 500 people, as well as a large Dining Room with on site catering and a whole wealth of activities.

We are perfectly equipped to do with large groups of young people and are the perfect locations for high school retreats, school athletics groups and religious or spiritual getaways. Our dedicated, on-site team will work with you before you arrive to create a program of activity that works for your group and will be on hand throughout your stay to make sure that your group has everything they need.

Find out more: https://berkshireretreatcenter.com/

Mt Gilead Conference Center

Welcome to Mt. Gilead! We are a Christian summer camp and retreat center located directly behind Camelback Ski Mountain in the heart of the Pennsylvania Poconos. Our retreat center operates between August 15th to June 15th (our summer camp occupies our summer months)! We offer team building activities such as high and low ropes courses, archery and even riflery for groups between 12 and 110 people. With a large basketball court, swimming pool, huge gaga court, volleyball court, soccer field, fishing & boating pond, hiking trails and beautiful indoor meeting spaces.

Mt. Gilead makes a great venue for church, school and non-profit retreats. Our group pricing is one of the most affordable in the Pocono Mountains and can be seen lower on this page. If you need a location for a group under 110 people, use our contact form on this website to get in touch with us and we will get you a custom estimate right away

Find out more: https://www.mtgileadretreat.com/

Radiant Living School at Yoga Farm

In the fall of 2018 we transitioned from a corporate/for-profit model to a nonprofit charitable, 501c3 organization; called ‘The Radiant Living School’. Our curriculum is taught at Yoga Farm, in area schools, online, and in organizations and businesses in our region. Our Radiant Living curriculum cultivates vibrant physical health, emotional balance and mental clarity, healing the root causes of suffering, and returning individuals to the stunning recognition of their own worthiness, magnificence, and the purity of their own goodness.

Two beautiful private gorges full of waterfalls run down the north and south borders of this 65-acre farm. The farm has a 30-acre organic hay field, 25 acres of mixed hard- and soft-woods, and lush pastures for livestock. A flock of peacocks and peahens live with us, as well as a few dogs. Yoga Farm members have access to our hiking trails, gorges, our pavilion as well as our yoga and meditation classes.

Find out more: https://www.yogafarm.us/

School of Rock

School of Rock is a music school for all skill levels, ages, and musical aspirations. With students ranging from toddlers to adults, School of Rock is where music students grow into real musicians. Throughout the year, School of Rock offers music camps and workshops perfect for musicians of all skill levels who play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals.

School of Rock's music camps offer an incredible selection of experiences from beginner music camps to intermediate and advanced sessions. Our music camps often include performance boot camps, artist-themed camps, songwriting and recording, and more—there's a camp for every interest and skill level. Most music camps end with an epic live rock show performed by the campers. Check the School of Rock location closest to you for upcoming music camps and clinics that teach students not only how to play music, but also music theory, songwriting, and Rock 'n' Roll appreciation.

Find out more: https://www.schoolofrock.com/

Lake Clear Lodge

Meandering spaces in playful, healing woods and clear waters. Naturally luxurious and 4 generations of authenticity. Secluded artisan lodgings, foods from the heart, and magical activities in one transformative sense of place. Where traveling is more about connecting than visiting. 
You don't have to go anywhere; you can paddle, hike, bike, fish, and experience unique activities right on our property, from History of Beer Workshops to Cooking Classes. Enjoy spectacular sunsets and fall foliage right on our property.

Our strategic location between Saranac Lake/Lake Placid and Tupper Lake makes it effortless to explore some of the Adirondack's best activities. Within a short drive through blazing fall foliage you can explore The Wild Center, a historic downtown, the Olympic Village, and so much more.

Find out more: https://www.lakeclearlodge.com/