In order to explore the different themes all Loft Primary retreats include elements of drama, dance, art and crafts and team games, as well as prayer and liturgy.  We aim to provide a range of activities that will appeal to different learning styles.  There is a bias towards arts/crafts with younger pupils and more personal challenge for older pupils.  Younger groups tend to come for day retreats with older groups (e.g. Year 5 and Year 6) staying for up to 5 days.

Year 3: Following Jesus
At this age children are gaining an ability to think more critically of the world around them and need to be engaged to help them grow in the understanding that Jesus is not just another fairytale figure.  In this programme we encourage children to think about the different ways that Jesus invites us to love: to love ourselves, to love others, to love creation, to love God.  The theme will be explored through meditation, team games, art and puppets.
We recommend that Year 3 children only come on day programmes.

Year 4: Forgive and forget
This programme recognises that children are often receiving the sacrament of reconciliation and first Holy Communion around this time.  There is a connection with the Year 3 theme of following Jesus while looking at the forgiveness we can receive when we do not follow him.

Year 5: Friendship
In this programme we encourage the children to consider friendship with themselves (self worth) with others and with Jesus.  The idea of ‘one body, many parts’ (1 Corinthians 12) is central to the programme, and we aim to demonstrate the importance of the individual within the group.  There is a stronger emphasis on team games than in Years 3 and 4, and on activities that present a personal challenge and an opportunity for personal achievement (e.g. archery).

Year 6: Challenge and change
Year 6 heralds a time of change, as children begin to focus on leaving primary school and taking the next big step towards being ‘grown-up’.  It can be a time of change and challenge as they prepare to move to a new school either with or without their current circle of friends.  The programme presents the children with three challenges, usually over the course of a week: to work with each other; to meet God; to consider ‘what would Jesus do’ when making choices.