Who Can Attend?
Do you…
- Homeschool now or have in the past?
- Want to homeschool in the future?
- Support homeschooling?
- Need a break?
- Want to meet other families like yours?
- Prefer a retreat where the whole family can do things together?
If any of the above apply to you, you should be there!
Grandparents and extended family are always welcome at Fall Family Retreat.
Why Should My Family Attend?
Fall Family Retreat is a unique intersection of fellowship, inspiration, information and fun. The weekend provides many opportunities to relax, recharge for and recommit to your homeschool journey.
Your family will also benefit from a fantastic speaker, good meals, new friendships, a wonderful mountain atmosphere and a Saturday afternoon devoted to doing fun things together as a family – whether that’s horseback riding, paddleboats in the pond, ATVs or just a quiet time to nap.
What does Fall Family Retreat look like?
Cost
The total cost depends on the accommodations, food options and activities you choose and can vary based on family size. The Retreat is CAPE’s gift to you – there are no additional fees outside of Sacramento’s regular rates. You do not need to be a member of CAPE to attend Retreat, and there are no extra fees if you do not have a CAPE membership.
For a family of 6, your costs can be as low as $100 (based on RV pricing, registration fee and providing all of your own food) or as high as $696 (registration fees, food for four school-age children and two adults and a room in the Family Life Center).
You can add on Thursday accommodations and meals if you’d like to arrive at the camp early to enjoy the surroundings and get settled in before the Retreat begins.
Don’t forget to include gas to the Conference Center – it’s located 30 miles outside of Cloudcroft – and money for optional activities and the Camp Snack Bar as you plan.
Most importantly, you don’t need to pay everything in advance of the Retreat. Sacramento Camp & Conference Center requires a small deposit (a portion of your overall cost) with the remainder of your costs due on Friday, October 18, 2024, when you arrive.
Food
Sacramento is known for its delicious meals and if you choose meals during your stay, you will not return home hungry. Their cinnamon rolls are famous throughout the state, and you’ll find a variety of full-bellied meals with salad bar, fruit, a variety of cold drinks, coffee bar and desserts three times a day.
You are welcome to bring your own food and share meals with everyone else in the Dining Hall during the Retreat (and you really should – the Dining Hall is a remarkable meeting place).
Meal packages during the Retreat run $84 for adults and $42 for children ages 5-12. Children 4 and under always eat free.
Meals are available if you choose to add on the optional Thursday arrival and include dinner on Thursday, and breakfast and lunch on Friday. Adult prices are $42 and children ages 5-12 are $21. Children 4 and under are free.
You can also purchase a smaller number of meals during your stay. During registration, do not select any of the meal packages. When your registration is complete, please call the main office at Sacramento at 575-687-3414 to let them know which meals you want to add to your registration. 2024 prices for adult meals are $13 for breakfast, $14 for lunch and $15 for dinner and prices for children’s meals are $7/each. If you choose this option, please have your meal selections into the main office at Sacramento at least 2 weeks before the Retreat begins.
Food allergies or other dietary restrictions can be accommodated by the kitchen with at least a 2-week notice. Please contact the Sacramento office at 575-687-3414 to make them aware of any dietary needs you or your family have.
Kitchen amenities (full-sized refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee maker) are available in the lobbies of Forrest Lodge and Aspen Lodge and may be used by anyone registered for Fall Family Retreat throughout the weekend.
Lodging
Sacramento has a variety of lodging options. You can choose between a motel-style experience, dorm room bunk beds, family rooms, RV’s or even tent camping. Large common areas are also available with fireplaces, small kitchenettes (with full-sized refrigerators, microwaves and a sink), extra bathrooms, tv areas with DVD players, plenty of seating and board games.
Please note that the Family Max Rate is for parents and their dependent children. Children under the age of 4 stay free.
Big families often encounter problems with lodgings – you can get a decent rate but need multiple rooms. When you look at the pricing list, you might ask – do the 7 people in your family fit into one room? NO! Sacramento will give you enough beds and rooms for everyone in your family at the family max rate listed for your accommodation.
For example, 7 people would receive 2 motel-style rooms and a total of four queen-size beds and two bathrooms. Your total lodging cost for 2 nights of accommodation would be $330. That’s like getting the second room for free.
Forrest Lodge is a motel-style building with parking located right outside the rooms. Two queen beds and a fully equipped bathroom are provided in each room. Linens and toiletries are included. Forrest Lodge is centrally located on the campus. The family max rate for 2024 is $330.
The Family Life Center is the newest construction on campus and provides family-friendly accommodation with 7 bunk beds and 1 queen bed in each room along with a private bathroom. Linens and toiletries are not provided with these rooms, although they can be rented ($11/bed) if you don’t want to provide your own. The Family Life Center is located next to the dining hall. The family max rate for 2024 is $310.
Aspen Lodge is a family-friend option with one full bed and between 1-5 bunk beds in each room along with a private bathroom (one ADA equipped). Linens and toiletries are not provided with these rooms, although they can be rented ($11/bed) if you don’t want to provide your own. Aspen Lodge is at the far end of the campus, but next door to where most of our weekend sessions will happen. The family max rate for 2024 is $280.
If you bring an RV, there are 6 sites including full hookups and 30-amp electrical service at the parking lot adjacent to the camp entry (Upper RV). 7 pull-through sites with full hookups and 50-amp service are available at Lower RV, a quarter of mile from the main campus, near the Challenge Course. 50 amp plug converters are available in the office. RV rates for 2024 is $35/day ($70 for the FFR weekend).
Roll-out beds, cribs and other resources for your family are available upon request. Please contact Sacramento directly at 575-687-3414 to reserve items for your family.
Schedule
There’s a fine line to walk between a schedule that is just right and one that is overwhelming. We think we’ve found the perfect blend. There are opportunities for you, your spouse and your children, individually and collectively, to flourish throughout the weekend.
Worship, insightful talks from our speaker, a separate men and women’s session, lots of time to fellowship and a full afternoon of activities – even if that’s just relaxing with the kids in your room – are mainstays of our Retreat.
The 2024 schedule and activities list will be emailed to all attendees one week before the beginning of FFR.
For an example of what we did last year, please see last year’s schedule and activity list.
Children’s Program
The Children’s Program is run by trusted and experienced homeschooled teenagers. It is available during Friday and Saturday sessions and is geared to kids 10 and under. Think of it as a weekend VBS-style program.
It’s always fun – scavenger hunts, hula hoops and lots of running around are mainstays of the program.
Other tweens and teenagers attending the Retreat can help with the Children’s Program. More information on helping with the Children’s Program or ensuring your child has a spot in the Children’s Program will be provided to registered attendees as we get closer to FFR.
Children are welcome to stay with their parents if they wish. We do ask that all minor children under the age of 10 either attend the Children’s Program or stay with their parents during the sessions.
Teens and Tweens
What can a young man or woman do during the Retreat?
Besides helping with the Children’s Program, our teens and tweens are often found in the game room, paddling in boats on the pond, playing gaga ball on the field and enjoying a movie night with their peers.
Sacramento’s activities are always a big hit for our older kids, and the Retreat is a great opportunity for friendships to form. We’ll also have a small number of jobs that we need help with – things like running the soundboard or helping with set-up or clean-up.
This year, CAPE will host a Ping Pong tournament during the Saturday session for those teenagers and tweens who are not helping with the Children’s Program. Prizes will be awarded.
Teenagers and tweens helping in the Children’s Program will also have an opportunity to participate in a separate Ping Pong tournament at another time during the weekend.
What if I need to cancel?
Life happens and if you need to cancel, please try to do so before the Retreat begins. You can contact the Sacramento office directly at 575-687-3414 to cancel. Please also let Erin know at erin.ffr@cape-nm.org.
If you cancel before the Retreat begins, all fees are refundable except for the $5/per person registration fee that Sacramento charges. Refunds for cancellations after the Retreat begins are at the discretion of Sacramento.
Do you offer scholarships?
New for 2024, CAPE has a scholarship fund for families wanting to attend Fall Family Retreat.
To apply for a scholarship, or to contribute to the scholarship fund, please contact Erin at erin.ffr@cape-nm.org.
What do I need to bring for the weekend?
Anything your family needs for a weekend in the woods. In the past, we suggested mattress toppers and your own pillows, but Sacramento has been replacing mattresses and other bedding items, so bring those items only if you really need them.
Sunscreen, an extra pair of shoes, a light jacket and a flashlight are always a good idea. The weekend of FFR can be bright and sunny or foggy and rain filled, and sometimes both in one day.
The most important thing to bring to the weekend is an openness to meeting new people and learning new things!
Other Questions
If your questions haven’t been answered here, check the Sacramento Information Packet or Sacramento website for more details about lodging, food and much more (pictures are included).
If you have additional questions, please email Erin at erin.ffr@cape-nm.org.