Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA's
Berkshire Outdoor Center
413.623.8991
Outdoor Education
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MCAS, CAPT, NY Regents Prep Retreat

So you have to do these standardized tests and can't seem to find the time to prep the kids? Why not bring them out to the Berkshires for a few days, or even a week, and have them spend their days studying solidly, without the distractions of home and school life? While they are here they can focus on their work, and break up the day with some of our fun recreational activities.

A 3 or 5 day retreat where students can spend their time focusing on prep for these exams will help them achieve great results, and will be a whole lot of fun for them.

How Does It Work?
  • Students arrive on the first day, play some games and then move into their cabins. Activities are run by our staff.
  • Students enjoy lunch and then hit the books, under your leadership and guidance. They spend approximately 1.5 hour studying with your faculty assisting and supervising.
  • The kids take a 1.5 hour break where they spend time doing any one of our recreational or teambuilding/leadership activities. Or if it is in winter, they can participate iin our awesome winter activities.
  • The kids continue working under your supervision for another 1.5 hours before dinner.
  • Dinner is from 6-7pm and then after another 1.5 hour study session, it is time for a campfire with S'Mores and skits galore.
  • The following morning, breakfast is served at 8:15am and is followed by a 1.5 hour study session and a 1.5 hour recreational session.

In all, students will spend 6 full hours studying, distraction free. They will also spend 5 hours per day doing recreational activities under our leadership. The students will bond and will have fun doing it.

If you want to add other workshops - such as tutorials for kids or various how-to-take-tests activities, these can be scheduled in.
When Is A Good Time For a Retreat Like This?
It depends on what you're hoping to get out of it. If you are looking to get the kids to cram, then the last minute is just fine. What we recommend however, is that the retreat be designed to give the students the incentive to keep studying from an early point, and to also give them the motivation to get started. So the retreat can be at any time of the year (except after the tests are over of course! )