WINTER RETREAT 2026
Mars Hill Students
Dates: February 20-22, 2026
Winter Retreat is an exciting weekend for our ministry at Teen Valley Ranch where students will hear biblical teaching from our guest speaker Josh Benfield, TVR’s Camp Director. Throughout the retreat students will grow in their faith through worship, deepen friendships in small groups, and enjoy skiing, tubing, and other much anticipated activities. This page provides everything you need to know including registration details, packing lists, safety information, and a full parent FAQ to help you prepare your student for a meaningful and memorable weekend.
REGISTRATION DETAILS:
Early Bird Registration: $200 (until January 5, 2026)
Regular Registration: $250
Registration Closes: February 1, 2026
Payment & Forms Due: February 6, 2026
Refund Policy: No refunds will be given for cancellations after February 13, 2026. All deposits are non-refundable.
PARENT FAQs
Winter Retreat is available for all 6th-12th Grade students.
The early bird cost is $200 (with a $50 deposit due at registration). This covers transportation, lodging, meals at camp, activities, and a retreat hoodie. Regular registration is $250.
We are headed to Teen Valley Ranch in Plumtree, NC from February 20-22, 2026. It is about a 5 ½ hour drive.
Please have students at the front of the church by 8:00 AM on Friday, February 20 for check-in. We will leave promptly at 8:30 AM.
We currently plan to arrive back at the church around 6:30 PM on Sunday, February 22. Parents will be notified via text message when we are on our way.
Students are encouraged to bring snacks for both the trip up and the trip back. We will stop for lunch on the way up Friday, but we will not stop for dinner on the way home Sunday.
We will stop for lunch at Haywood Mall in Greenville, SC. Students will need money to purchase lunch. This is the only meal they will be need to purchase.
Throughout the weekend, students will experience worship, teaching sessions, and activities designed to build community and deepen their faith. On Saturday, high school students will venture to the slopes for an exciting eight hours of skiing, while our middle school students enjoy snow tubing at Jonas Ridge all in the North Carolina mountains. Students will also have the opportunity to partake in TVR’s campus activities such as horseback riding, archery & bb guns, putt putt, gaga ball, a game room, indoor courts & more.
Middle school will snow tube at Jonas Ridge and high school will ski at Beech Mountain.
While a student does not have to participate in skiing or tubing, they must travel with the group to their respective activity. To keep travel simple, middle & high school students will not be allowed to switch which off-site activity they go to.
If your child has never skied or tubed they will be fully supported throughout the experience. Middle schoolers who are tubing do not need any prior experience and leaders will guide them through the process. High school students who are skiing will be placed in appropriate groups based on experience and beginners will receive basic instruction before going on the slopes. Our leaders stay with students throughout the activity to ensure they feel safe and encouraged.
Lift tickets are included in the cost of registration.
Students may not bring their skis or snowboard. Ski rentals will be provided to all high school students.
Helmets, Ski bibs, and jackets are available to rent at an additional cost through the registration. Goggles and other items not listed are not available for rent.
Josh Benfield is the Camp Director at Teen Valley Ranch. Josh has his Doctorate of Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and has been a bivocational pastor for 20+ years.
We will be staying in large bunk-style cabins. Students should bring a sleeping bag or twin bedding along with a pillow. Rooming will be organized by grade and gender, though larger groups may be divided between multiple cabins. Each cabin will have chaperones present.
Absolutely! Friends are welcome, even if they don’t normally attend our church.
Our leaders are intentional about connecting students who are new or may feel nervous. Between small groups, activities,and cabin life, students will quickly find a place to belong.
Students will not be allowed to have their phones during camp. We ask, if able, that parents take their child’s phone before we leave for the retreat. If students do bring their phone, we will be taking them as they check-in. We will return student’s phones after we arrive back to the church on Sunday. We understand there are medical accommodations and emergencies where a phone is needed and that is perfectly fine! Phones will be kept in the room with leaders in case of any necessary situations.
Our retreat is led by our student ministry staff and small group leaders. All adult leaders are background-checked and trained to serve and care for students.
We maintain a safe adult-to-student ratio with leaders in each cabin and activity area. TVR provides trained staff for rec activities. Emergency procedures are in place and reviewed with leaders before the retreat.
We will have a retreat nurse on site all weekend. All medications should be turned in at check-in on Friday, labeled clearly with instructions. The nurse will administer and track medications throughout the retreat.
If your student becomes sick or injured they will be assessed immediately by our nurse. We will contact you promptly to explain the situation and discuss the best next steps. If additional care is needed we will arrange transportation to a local medical facility. Your student will be supervised and supported at all times to ensure their safety and comfort.
We understand that homesickness can happen, and our goal is to support students while helping them grow in maturity and confidence. If a student feels homesick our leaders will come alongside them, talk with them, and help them re-engage with their group and activities. We do not allow students to call home, as this often increases homesickness rather than easing it. Instead, our leaders provide encouragement, prayer, and consistent support until the student feels settled. If there is ever a true emergency or a situation that requires parental involvement, we will contact you directly.
TVR will accommodate many common dietary needs (gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian, etc.). Please list your student’s dietary needs on the registration form. If you have specific concerns, contact us in advance so we can coordinate with the camp kitchen.
We understand that students may have school or sports commitments during the retreat. Due to the distance of the retreat, we do not offer accommodations such as late drop off or early pickup. Students must attend for the entirety of the retreat.
Partial refunds will be given ($50 deposit is non-refundable) up to February 13, 2026. No refund will be given after we pass the one-week out mark from the event departure date.
Please view the parent packet above for a full packing list for the weekend.
There will be one text update each day. We will also provide text updates when we depart and arrive to and from the retreat.
Phone numbers for Student Pastor Michael Pleasant and Student Ministry Associate Gracie Earnest will be provided before the retreat. Please contact only through text during the retreat, emails will not be checked.
You can contact students@marshillcc.com by email with any additional questions or concerns.