Nature Nerds Retreat
March 28-30, 2025
Registration Deadline: March 17, 2025
Do you geek out over geology? Get a little dorky over damselflies? Then you might be a Nature Nerd!
Join us March 28 - 30 for "Nature Nerds," an adult-only (18+) weekend retreat designed for those who crave the great outdoors and seek a deeper connection with nature. Enjoy guided hikes, hands-on workshops, critter catching, stargazing sessions, and SCIENCE! - all while mingling with fellow nature enthusiasts.
In addition to immersing yourself in the natural sciences, you will be able to enjoy camp classics like worship, campfires, hikes, and crafts. All of the activities are optional to provide as much or as little time as you'd like to relax or explore Lutherlyn's beautiful grounds and trails.
The $155 fee includes all meals, program, snacks, and lodging (cabins are equipped with full bathroom/showers and twin size beds). Guests are responsible for bringing their own linens and toiletries. Optional: $175/person for 2 people to share a private cabin room. $190/person for a private cabin room.
Escape the hustle and bustle and rediscover your inner explorer. Reserve your spot now!
Tentative Schedule
The schedule below is tentative. When you check-in, you will receive a finalized schedule and camp map.
Friday:
- 6:30-7:30pm: Check-In
- 7:45-8:45pm: Get to Know You & Snack
- 9:00pm: Night Hike or Constellations (weather dependent)
- After: Fire, Board Games & Hang Out
Saturday:
- 8:15am: Breakfast
- 9:00am: Nature Craft – Nature Journals
- 10:30am-12:00pm: Nature Activity – Geology & Journaling
- 12:15pm: Lunch
- 1:30-4:30pm: Nature Activity – Mine Pollution Investigation
- 4:30-5:00pm: Leisure Time
- 5:15pm: Dinner
- 7:00-8:30pm: Nature Activity – Frog Watch
- 8:30pm: Campfire & S’mores
- After: Bed, Fellowship, etc.
Sunday:
- 7:00-8:00am: Optional Birdwatching
- 8:15am: Breakfast
- 9:00am: Worship
- 10:15am-12:00pm: Nature Activity – Sustainability & Organic Gardening
- 12:15pm: Lunch
- After - Feel free to hike, play games, and continue to hang out
- Go in Peace
Activities available throughout the retreat include:
- Discovery Room
- Hiking Trails
- Board Games
- Outdoor Lawn Games
- Snacks, Drinks, & the Fireplace in Stewart
- Dining Hall Porch - Rocking Chairs
- Beautiful Outdoor Spaces
- Naps! Books! Hobbies!
Activity in the Outdoors:
There is walking and hiking on uneven paths and gravel roads at Lutherlyn. Hiking in the woods is on primitive paths with uneven surfaces, rocks, stream crossings, and other normal hazards of hiking. Sturdy shoes or boots and a backpack are strongly recommended. Hiking poles are optional but can be helpful. Hikes and all activities take place rain or shine. A hike on Saturday afternoon will be 2 to 3 miles on wooded paths that include climbing hills. Other hikes will be shorter distances but are also outside on varied terrain. All Nature Nerds Retreat activities are completely optional.
Health/Wellness Considerations:
Please take the health and well-being of others, particularly those who may have compromised immune systems, into consideration when evaluating your own health prior to a retreat/event at Lutherlyn. While we certainly would love to have you here, we do not want others to get sick while attending a retreat.
When sharing a cabin/sleeping space and meeting rooms with people from other households, it is important to consider multiple factors prior to arriving at Lutherlyn. If you have symptoms that indicate you could have a contagious illness (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, congestion, etc.) that could transmit to others, please cancel your reservation for a full refund.
Lutherlyn will issue a full refund for ALL medical related cancellations.
Anyone who tests positive for or is diagnosed with a respiratory viral illness (such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV) with onset of symptoms within 5 days prior to the start of camp, should cancel for a full refund. To come to a Lutherlyn retreat after having a respiratory viral illness, you must be at least 5 days past the onset of symptoms, 48 hours fever free, and have no symptoms or mild and improving symptoms.
We recommend participants take a rapid COVID test prior to departing for Lutherlyn. For Lutherlyn retreats, when possible/available, we may provide and require a rapid COVID tests upon arrival.
If symptoms develop while at Lutherlyn, please refrain from interacting with others, notify the retreat leader, and depart from Lutherlyn. A pro-rated refund will be issued.
Lutherlyn General Policies:
It is expected that all guests follow these guidelines. Failure to follow these policies could result in removal from camp and forfeiture of payment. There are additional guidelines/policies, depending on the type of group. Those policies are outlined in the group contract or explained by the group leader upon arrival.
- No pets, no alcohol, no drugs, no fireworks, no firearms.
- Lutherlyn is a “Young Lungs at Play” facility. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas.
- Children must be supervised at all times.
- Quiet time is 10pm-8am.
- Vehicles are not permitted on the grass. Load and unload vehicles at the designated area for each cabin village and then vehicles must be moved to main parking lot.
- There are often multiple groups on camp at the same time. Only enter the buildings/facilities that are reserved for your group. Do not enter cabins or facilities that are not for your specific group.
- Vandalism or destruction of Lutherlyn’s property or property of other guests will result in a bill for repairs/replacement and removal from camp.
- Helmets must be worn by kids (12 and younger) when riding bikes.
- Fishing is catch and release, barbed hooks must be crimped.
- A lifeguard must be present for swimming and all swimming/canoeing/kayaking must be arranged in advance with Lutherlyn. No one is permitted in the lake or pool area without a lifeguard.
- Ropes course/group challenge activities are off limits unless arranged in advance and facilitated by Lutherlyn staff.
Facilities
Dining:
Meals are served buffet style at designated meal times in our Dining Hall. Coffee, tea, and water are available during daylight hours. Our chef can accommodate dietary needs as necessary. Please include information regarding your needs when registering (food allergies, gluten free, vegetarian, etc.) so we may plan appropriately for your stay.
Accommodations:
Our cabins are equipped with central heating, carpeting, and full bathroom facilities (shower, toilet, and sink). Each family style cabin features 6 twin beds. Guests are responsible to provide their own linens (twin size bed) and toiletries.
How to get to Lutherlyn
Please only enter Lutherlyn's grounds via our main entrance from Dick Road. If you're using GPS our physical address is 500 Lutherlyn Lane Butler, PA 16001. After checking in we can direct you to your assigned cabin if you're staying over night.
From the West:
Take Interstate 79 to Route 422 (the Butler/New Castle exit) and head east 8.2 miles. Make a right hand turn at the 84 Lumber onto Dick Road. The main entrance to the camp is 1.5 miles down the road. The camp driveway will take you directly to the main parking lot and the camp office.
From the East:
Take Route 8 to Route 422 and head west (towards New Castle) 7 miles to the 84 Lumber. Make a left hand turn on to Dick Road. The main entrance is 1.5 miles down the road. The camp driveway will take you directly to the main parking lot and the camp office.
Registration
Lutherlyn prefers online registrations to conserve resources and to more quickly serve you. Please register online if you are able to do so.
Space is limited. Registrations must be received by the deadline listed above.
Create an Account and Register on our Online Registration Portal
(You will be navigated to a different website where you will create a profile that can be reused from one retreat to the next.)
Cancellation Policy:
A $40.00 non-refundable cancellation fee is in effect for cancellations made within 14 days of the scheduled retreat. Full refund will be issued for medical reasons.
