Top Ten Retreat Centers - New York

Top Ten Retreat Centers in New York

Here is a list of the best Retreat Centers in New York as compiled by our team with a combined 50+ years of experience hosting groups and events of all sizes.

We know that every retreat is different from the rest and so every group has their own unique and individual needs. For this reason, we have picked ten retreat centers here that all offer amazing facilities combined with some of New York’s finest scenery and yet are all completely different from each other in some way.

No matter what type of event or retreat you are planning, we are confident that you will find ideas and inspiration from the venues we have shared below.

Takeover an entire summer camp - Camp Schodack

Our facility consists of over 100-acres with beautifully renovated cabins and private housing, sports fields, outdoor adventure activities, and private woods. We are conveniently located just 2.5 hours from both NYC and Boston and just 15 miles outside of Albany.

The list of activities available is seemingly endless, featuring tennis, go-karts, basketball courts, climbing towers, waterslides, and zip-lines. You will never be short of things to do come rain or shine!

Our cabins all have their own private bathrooms and showers and we can accommodate up to 500 people. Our Kitchen and Dining Hall are fully equipped – we are ready to cater your event or help you bring your own caterer if you prefer.

Find out more: https://www.schodack.com/facility-rentals/

Enjoy a silent escape - Springwater Center

Located an hour south of Rochester, New York, Springwater Center offers silent meditation retreats and year-round guest visits in a beautiful and spacious facility on 212 acres of country land with streams, meadows, forests, a pond, and miles of walking trails.

There are no rituals, required beliefs, or assigned practices.

The essence of retreat at Springwater is being together in the simplicity and openness of silent awareness. Attending moment-to-moment to what is happening within and without, in a spirit of wonder, curiosity, and discovery.

Find out more: https://www.springwatercenter.org/

Be mindful by the lakeside - Ashbury Retreat Center

Located on stunning Silver Lake in Western NY, our retreat center, offering a variety of facilities, is the ideal location for all types and sizes – from small, more intimate gatherings to larger retreats. For decades, Asbury has been a place where lives have been forever impacted.

Asbury operates year-round offering a variety of facilities to accommodate your group, from hotel-like with private bathrooms to seasonal lodges. Asbury Retreat Center is the ideal location to enjoy time with your group, relaxing by the lake, swimming in the heated pool, or gathering by the campfire.

Find out more: https://asburyuny.org/

Enjoy a holiday house for women - Wiawaka Center for Women

Wiawaka Center for Women is a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to enriching the lives of women. We do charge for services but much of our programming is funded through donations.   Our season generally runs from mid-June through Labor Day where we offer day visits, overnight accommodations, special events, programs, and workshops. In our “shoulder” season we host weddings, family reunions, and private retreats.

Wiawaka was created by and for women in 1903. It is the oldest and longest continuously operating retreat for women in America. We are proud to honor our tradition and embrace the future as we work to maintain this historic property and fulfill the mission set forth by our founder, Mary Fuller.

Find out more: https://wiawaka.org/

Enjoy a Holistic Spa Retreat - Sanivan

Since 2005, co-owners Saniye and Ivan have welcomed guests to share their authentic wellness lifestyle through delicious organic meals, peaceful accommodations, spa treatments, and facilities in a beautiful Catskills town near forests, lakes, and charming shops. Sanivan is a spa retreat close to New York (located just 2 hours from midtown), easily accessible by bus or car from the tri-state area.

You’ll find our retreat rates are quite affordable compared to traditional spa resorts in the Northeast because we see health as a necessity for all, not a luxury for some. We invite you to explore our special offers and events and take advantage of seasonal savings to carve out a little you-time. You can also view our Retreat Packages for extra savings on your next visit.

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

Peace Village

​Peace Village is a nonprofit, volunteer community created for learning and contemplation.  For more than 20 years we’ve been helping people understand spiritual principles, experience inner peace, and build spiritual capacity.
 
Sitting on Hunter Mountain in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley, Peace Village welcomes thousands annually who come for silence, learning or a chance to serve – sometimes on the 300-acre grounds, sometimes in the 6 lodges where we accommodate guests or sometimes in the greenhouse or Peace Park. 
 
Peace Village is one location in a global network of over 15 retreat centers worldwide owned and maintained by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.  The Brahma Kumaris is based in India with a global community of over a million members in 8000 centers in 120 countries – all with the same aim of understanding the self and serving the world. 

Find out more: https://www.peacevillageretreat.org/

Help clear your mind in the mountains - Nine Mountain

We know how many choices and decisions there are in organizing a group retreat. We delight in working out all of these logistics with you to help you create the most successful event possible – a retreat that flows easily, with clarity, focus, ease, and grace – and create an environment that supports both teachers and participants in sharing a meaningful transformational experience.

Group retreats always have exclusive use of the Nine Mountain. This means that the only people on site are your participants and Nine Mountain’s staff – our Resident Caretakers, and kitchen staff – who organize behind the scenes to create beautiful and nourishing meals, answer questions, fix what breaks and support you.

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

Be part of a multi-faith community - Stony Point

Stony Point Center is a conference and retreat center nestled in the scenic Lower Hudson Valley of New York.  A brave and open space committed to radical hospitality and radical humility, welcoming guests from all walks of life into our beloved community.

Our campus rests on 30 acres of nature, gardens and farmland. Our meditation space, labyrinth and art space help guests explore faith, creativity, community and leadership building. Stony Point Center is located in the scenic Hudson River Valley, northwest of Manhattan in beautiful upstate New York.

Stony Point Center is located about a mile from the Hudson River in a small community. It is not really a "camp in the woods." Instead, picture beautiful lawns, vegetable gardens and a tranquil setting that has both woods and other houses located immediately around us, and you'll have a good idea of what to expect.

Find out more: https://stonypointcenter.org/

Escape to an ashram - Sivananda Yoga Ranch

The Yoga Ranch was founded in 1974 by Swami Vishnudevananda to provide a peaceful retreat structured around a full immersion into Yogic living and nurtured with the natural beauty of the lush mountains.

The simple living close to nature quiets the mind and prepares it for meditation and the high thinking of the Vedanta philosophy. Asanas (yoga postures), Pranayama (breathing techniques), vegetarian meals, chanting, and working together in Karma Yoga help complete the Yoga experience.

Our ashram is a sacred space that encourages you to awaken to life and to awaken to grace. It is an adventure in self-discovery of your own True Nature.

Find out more: https://sivanandayogaranch.org/

Feed you soul in the city - Sanctuary NYC Retreats

We welcome you to the serene spiritual atmosphere Sanctuary provides, as well as varied programs on bhakti (yoga of devotion) which we offer as part of our membership program. These include sacred meditation in the yoga studio/temple room, workshops on Vinyasa infused bhakti-yoga, kirtan (devotional chant/prayer), history and philosophy of yoga, Ayurveda (science of life and healing), as well as varied workshops/events on related subject matters (nurturing body, mind & soul).  

Each room is equipped with a mini-library of books on the science of the soul as delineated in the ancient classic Bhagavad Gita, the text that inspired Gandhi, Emerson, Thoreau, and Einstein who wrote; "I bathe my intellect daily in the cosmological wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita."  Weekly classes are included in the Sanctuary membership program @ our affiliate The Bhakti Center.

During their stay, our guests volunteer in the Sanctuary NYC sponsored Food For Life program to feed the homeless in nearby Tompkins Square Park. Please see the glowing reviews on our Media Page from 'Our Town Downtown" magazine about this heartwarming, rewarding experience. 

Find out more: http://www.sanctuarynycretreats.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 Conference Centers in Albany

Albany’s Best Conference Centers

We have put together a list of 5 of the best conference centers and retreat venues in the Albany area. The Capital Region is fortunate to have many incredible venues for groups of all sizes, no matter what the occasion. We have scoured the internet to find 5 venues that stand apart from the others because of their facilities, their location or both. They are all totally unique and have years of experience delivering top quality events and experiences.

Whether you are planning a high school retreat, corporate getaway or a team-building weekend, we hope that you will take inspiration from the locations below and get ideas about how to plan your next event.

Hire An Entire Summer Camp - Camp Schodack

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 couples looking for privacy and elegance on their wedding day. There are over 40 acres of open fields and 60 acres of private forest for you to take advantage of. This secluded getaway offers spacious open fields as well as wooded trails to help you escape the noise of the city. The retreat also offers an outdoor amphitheater with seating for up to 500 guests.

Catering with Camp Schodack offers buffet options, barbecue, food carts, and plated meals for every style wedding. Overnight accommodations are also available through Camp Schodack. You can host your retreat at Camp Schodack, and celebrate the whole weekend through in their luxury cabins for the whole family. The retreat can accommodate up to 500 guests in a mix of family and couple’s cabins. All cabins have master bathrooms and showers. If you choose to stay for the weekend at Camp Schodack, you and your guests will have access to sports facilities and activities. The retreat as multiple heated swimming pools, sports courts and fields, a go-kart track, and private hiking trails to enjoy.

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

Pick The Performing Arts Center - The Egg

“The Egg” itself is owned by the State of New York and managed by the not-for-profit Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center Corporation. This entity was established to present quality performances, accessible to all citizens of New York State, highlighting the unique and extraordinary artists from New York State, across the country, and around the globe. Through partnerships and collaborations, the Corporation presents performances, spotlights emerging artists, fosters relationships with resident companies, and enhances activities in cultural and arts education.

The theatres and lounges at The Egg are available to rent for performances and related activities as well as receptions, educational and corporate events. Pick between a number of different theaters and conference rooms that you can make use of, whether it is fifteen comfortable tiered seating rows wrap around a dual hydraulic lift stage in the Kitty Carlisle Hart Theatre, or the more intimate Lewis A. Swyer Theatre which seats a maximum of 450 in only nine rows, including six seats in the special needs section. Every seat offers exceptional sightlines and comfort, and the small stage is perfect for all performance types. There are also lounges, perfect for smaller gatherings and cocktail parties

Find out more: http://www.theegg.org/

Albany’s Best Hotel - The Desmond

If you are planning meetings or a conference in the Albany area, The Desmond offers over 28,000 square feet of flexible space throughout our facility for groups of all sizes. Hold a meeting for 10 in one of our Executive Meeting Suites, conference with thousands in our Town Hall amphitheater, or present your next business proposal in High Street Conference Center. Our indoor courtyards are the perfect location for trade shows and exhibits, with 30′ and 36′ high ceilings and large atrium skylights in an open setting with natural light.

Our unique Albany hotel features 322 non-smoking guest room and suite options, including king-size four-poster beds, spiral staircase duplexes, suites with private entrances and patios, and ADA accessible rooms.  We combine rich Americana design and charm with modern amenities for the seasoned business traveler.  Modeled after a colonial village square, our two indoor courtyards feature 30′ and 36′ high ceilings with large atrium skylights, mock storefronts, a koi pond, beautiful fountains, and guest room balconies that overlook year-round landscaping.  Exceptional dining is available in Simpson’s restaurant and in our English pub The Tavern.

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

Stay In Town - The Capital Center

Located in the heart of downtown Albany, the Albany Capital Center is within walking distance of restaurants, hotels, shops, art galleries, night clubs, museums and more! Operated by ASM Global, the Albany Capital Center is a beautiful glass structure that can accommodate 10 to 5,000 people. Housing 22,500 square feet of ballroom/exhibit space, 6 meeting rooms with 9,200 square feet of space, and 13,500 square feet of pre-function space. The Albany Capital Center provides all of the top-notch amenities needed for your successful meeting or event. 

The Albany Capital Center is directly connected to the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, The Egg Performing Arts Center, and the Times Union Center arena via an enclosed walkway. Together, these spaces create the Capital Complex, the largest meeting space in Upstate New York at more than 159,000 square feet.

Find out more: http://albanycapitalcenter.com/

Escape To The Countryside - Menla Center

With its magical valley setting deep in the Catskills and just two hours from NYC, Menla is uniquely suited to host your group retreat or conference. Able to host residential groups of up to 108 individuals across a wide range of comfortable accommodations from deluxe private rooms to small group cabins, our spacious 325-acre facility also offers supplemental dorm-style options & numerous camping sites. Enjoy delicious healthy cuisine and the caring support you need from our production team.

Facilities include the biggest conference space in the Catskills, spacious yoga studio, meditation sanctuary, a world-class destination spa, hiking trails, swimming pool, fitness room, tennis courts, fire pits, and sweat lodge. Menla’s tailored nature experiences, private classes, and optional retreat add-ons let you add a new dimension to your offerings by combining elements that are just the right fit for your group retreat. Set off on a range of guided treks and learn about our flora & fauna, add a meditation, yoga or sound healing session lead by local experts, or experience the magic of a traditional sweat lodge or a bonfire beneath the stars.

Find out more: https://menla.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/