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2025

STAFF
RETREAT

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS

Scaling UP!

With less than one year before moving into our new facility, our staff and elders will spend a few days dreaming about what it might mean to "Scale Up."

November 10 - 13, 2025

We will all plan to help out with the cleanup from our Night of Worship on Monday morning, November 10, then depart around 11:00AM for our retreat.

Up and Down

Expect that we will spend lots of time assessing, dreaming, and planning for what next year might mean for us. We will also do some super easy, fun, and free outdoor activities together, weather permitting.

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NANTAHALA VILLAGE

Everyone gets their own room. No sharing.
You're welcome.
All lodge rooms are equipped with either a king bed, or two queen beds.
You will also have a TV, mini-fridge, and wifi.

Nantahala Website

NOTE: The lodge will be providing "breakfast-ish." that is sausage biscuits and coffee. They have no other onsite options. If you need more or different than that, you can head to Bryson City early and grab something (making sure to return BEFORE our sessions begin) OR you can plan to bring food to keep in your room.

Location Here

ONE LOW PRICE

The cost of this retreat is covered by the church for all staff and elders.

Sunday, August 31

Just Get there!

1PM   Leave from The Orchard

  • Blue Ridge
  • Murphy
  • Andrews
  • Nantahala Gorge
  • Cherokee
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park

4:30PM   Arrive in Gatlinburg, settle into hotel

Dinner in Gatlinburg

This ride takes a little over 3 hours. Since we're leaving so late, our goal is just to get to Gatlinburg before too late. There is a longer option, below.

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Monday, September 1

Ride the big circle

10AM   Leave from Bearskin Lodge

  • Pigeon Forge
  • Foothills Parkway
  • Tail of the Dragon
  • Deal's Gap
  • Fontana Dam
  • Bryson City
  • Cherokee/Oconoluftee
  • Newfound Gap/Clingman's Dome

5PM   Return to Gatlinburg

This actual ride is just over 4 hours long, but I've allowed lots of extra time for lunch and other stops here and there.

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Tentative Schedule

This is totally subject to change. Remember the last retreat?

Monday, November 10

9:00AM  Cleanup from Night of Worship
11:00AM  Depart VCC
12:30PM  Lunch at Big Wesser at NOC. Chill till rooms are ready.
4:00PM  Check-in at Nantahala Village Resort
5:00PM  Session 1: Overview of weekend, purpose, plan, prayer
6:30PM  Dinner (onsite)
7:30PM  Evening Worship & Devotion

Tuesday, November 11

Breakfast-ish
8:30AM  Session 2: Two Page Plan
12:30PM  Lunch in Bryson City (Filling Station?)
1:30PM  Three Waterfalls
5:00PM  Session 3: Scale UP: SWOT
6:30PM  Dinner (onsite)
7:30PM  Evening Worship and Devotion

Wednesday, November 12

Breakfast-ish
8:30AM  Session 4: Thriving or Pruning
12:00PM  Lunch (onsite)
1:30PM  Session 5: Leader Development
3:30PM  Depart for Elk Watching at Oconoluftee
6:00PM  Dinner in Cherokee

Thursday, November 13

Breakfast-ish
8:30AM  Session 6: Next Steps
11:00AM  Depart for Ellijay
11:45AM  Lunch at Monte Alban, Andrews
2:30PM  Return to Ellijay

Tuesday, September 2

Take the Long Way Home

10AM   Leave from Bearskin Lodge

  • Cherokee
  • Moonshiner 28
  • Franklin
  • Cullasaja Falls
  • Dry Falls
  • Bridal Veil Falls
  • Highlands (late lunch?)
  • Warwoman Road
  • Clayton
  • Hiawassee
  • Blairsville
  • Blue Ridge

5PM   Arrive at Home!

This will be about a 4.5-hour ride, but broken up with some great stops! We'll stop for the three waterfalls between Franklin and Highlands.

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Tuesday ALTERNATIVE!

This is a longer ride with fewer waterfalls, but it is a different approach than the past two years. 

  • Cherokee
  • Franklin
  • Wayah Bald Tower
  • Robbinsville
  • Cherohala Skyway
  • Tellico Plains
  • Ducktown/McCaysville
  • Blue Ridge
  • Ellijay

6PM   Arrive at Home!

This will be about a 6-hour ride, but broken up with some great stops! We will look out from Wayah Bald's Tower, and stop at the beautiful Bald River Falls right off the Cherohala Skyway.

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