Welcome to readers of An Unexpected Journal!
Please read below for more information on The C.S. Lewis Retreat.
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Dates: November 15 – 17, 2019.
Times: Main Retreat begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday (registration opens at 3 p.m.). Early arrival add-on sessions begin at 2:45 p.m. on Friday (registration opens at 1:45 p.m.)
Theme: “The Joyful Journey: Lewis, Tolkien, & the Creative Power of Friendship”
Come join us at Camp Allen, amid the piney woods near Houston, as we explore the creative imagination and lives, forged in friendship, of C.S. Lewis and two of his most important influences — J.R.R. Tolkien, and Joy Davidman Lewis.
Enjoy a respite with friends, old and new, with good food and laughter, learning, and community. Come join us as Joseph Pearce, Andrew Lazo, and Patti Callahan Henry give us insight into the lives and works of C.S. Lewis and his circle, so that we might apply these lessons to our own creative lives and friendships.
Don’t miss this retreat featuring faith, reason, and imagination in the company of friends!
Location: Camp Allen Conference & Retreat Center, Navasota, Texas (outside Houston)
Confirmed event faculty*
- Joseph Pearce
- Patti Callahan Henry
- Andrew Lazo
- Singer-songwriter and musician, Solveig Leithaug
- Ad Deum Dance Company
- Christin Ditchfield
- Lancia E. Smith
- Melanie Stiles
- Scott Key
- Jason Smith (pen name J. Alexandr Wooton)
Special optional early arrival tracks are also available for those arriving Friday early afternoon: Readers Track exploring Lewis’s life & influences and a Writers Track to inspire the creative imagination.
- Writers Track – with Patti Callahan Henry, Lancia E. Smith, Melanie Stiles, and Jason Smith
- Readers of Lewis Track – with Andrew Lazo
- Great Books Track – with Scott Key
Highlights
- A unique mix of faith, reason, & imagination
- Worship & fellowship with friends old & new
- A variety of Breakout Sessions related to conference themes
* Program schedule, program elements, and speaker/artist lineup is subject to change.
Registration available now. See below!
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Registration
Tuition – An Unexpected Journal discounted rate
Main Retreat (Fri eve to Sun morning): $245
Main Retreat + Early Arrival Add-On (Fri afternoon to Sun morn): $305
(note: you must register separately for room/board at Camp Allen. See below.)
Online: Register for tuition using the C.S. Lewis Foundation’s secure event registration provider. You may pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. Note: PayPal is the processor, but you can pay by regular credit card by clicking on that option on the PayPal screen. You do not need to open a PayPal account.
Phone: Call (909) 389-1155. Mention that you are An Unexpected Journal reader to receive the discounted rate.
Room and Board – Camp Allen
The following room and board rates are per person. They include lodging for each night listed in the package plus dinner on the night of arrival and breakfast and lunch the following day. Parking and wifi are also included, at no charge.
Note: if you are attending the Early Arrival Track Sessions on Friday afternoon, you have the option to book a room/board on Thursday evening.
| Room & Board | Main Retreat Package (check in Friday afternoon, check out Sunday) | Early Arrival Thursday Night Add-On (check in Thursday afternoon/evening) |
|---|---|---|
| Single Occupancy (per person) | $256 | $125 |
| Double Occupancy (per person) | $186 | $90 |
Online: Register for Room and Board using Camp Allen’s secure event registration provider.
Phone: Call toll-free (866) 334-2267.
Commuter Meal Plan
We very much encourage you to stay at Camp Allen in order not to miss important fellowship time with other attendees and to enjoy the retreat experience. If you aren’t able to do so for financial reasons, we encourage you to apply for scholarships (see below) which may reduce your tuition portion.
However, there is a commuter meal option for those who need to stay off-site. Note: this only pays for meals at Camp Allen and does not include lodging or tuition for the event.
Please visit Camp Allen’s registration page for more information.
Optional activities
During the break time on Saturday afternoon, you may take a nature hike on the 960 acres, canoe a serene lake, shoot skeet, or go horseback riding. (Several of these activities require an additional fee.)
Reserved Airport Transportation
Camp Allen offers transportation services to and from Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH). To reserve this service, please make a reservation with Camp Allen through their online registration system or call toll-free (866) 334-2267.
Note: Camp Allen does not offer transportation to/from Hobby Airport (HOU).
From Camp Allen: “The times for pick up at IAH are between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm with the goal of having a 10:00 am 2:00pm and/or 4:00 pm pickup. We will coordinate with the guests by email prior to their arrival and obtain their cell phone number for contact on their day of arrival. We pick up and return guests to terminal B in either a Camp Allen vehicle or commercial vehicle.”
| Airport Transporation Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| One Way | $60 |
| Round Trip | $120 |
Work Study Scholarships
Work study scholarships are available, but are limited based on current funding (we are a nonprofit organization that receives our funding primarily through gifts from individual donors. We do not own the rights to C.S. Lewis’ works.)
To apply, please email a resume/c.v. and a letter explaining the following to jbohnert at cslewis.org: 1) why you wish to attend, 2) what you hope to gain from your attendance, and 3) why you need financial aid to attend. Your materials will be reviewed by the scholarship committee, who will select the recipients from the pool of applicants. Awards will be made in two rounds. Applications are due by September 20, 2019. Requests after that date will be accepted until October 15 and will be based upon available funding.
While a higher priority is given to certain groups (faculty, currently enrolled full-time students, missionaries, those working in ministry), anyone with need may apply. Note: Scholarships and tuition assistance only go towards the tuition portion of registration and not room/board.
Policies
- Reservations require payment in full.
- Refunds
- Tuition (C.S. Lewis Foundation): $35 of the tuition is non-refundable. The remainder of the tuition is refundable if registration is cancelled by 10/01/2019. After 10/01/2019, 100% of the tuition fee is non-refundable.
- Room/Board (Camp Allen): Cancellations made prior to 48 hours of the event will be charged a 25% cancellation fee. Guests cancelling within 48 hours of the event will be charged full amount of the reservation.
- Photography/filming policy: by registering for the event, you give your consent to be filmed/photographed during the event for potential use for archival, fundraising, marketing, and promotional productions of the C.S. Lewis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If you would like to opt-out, please email us at selmore at cslewis.org and provide us with a note and a headshot photo of yourself so that we don’t inadvertently use your image.
Thank you to our sponsors!
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