The Library Field offers a refreshing, mind-clearing venue for a leadership retreat, a strategic planning session, or any gathering where you seek to reset or reorient your work. The conversations that your team will have outside around a fire, at a picnic table, or while working together on a forest restoration project are completely different from those that might transpire in a conference room back at the office. Remember, there is no indoor facility at the Library Field. Making the choice to have your retreat outdoors ensures you’ll have a unique and memorable experience!
A retreat could begin with a METRO staff-led orientation hike and a coffee / tea service; full-day retreats could also include lunch cooked over the campfire. We are happy to help customize your experience to whatever degree you like. We can lead an entire day of activities for you, or we can quietly stay on site and offer support. A year’s worth of focus groups and prototype events have demonstrated that the LF is best for groups of up to 15 participants.
If this sounds like something you might like to try, keep reading and reach out to us to learn more!
Amenities
- The Library Field is a quiet 26-acre wooded location. There is a flat clearing in the center of the property that is the dedicated location for group activities.
- To preserve the quiet and tranquil setting at the Library Field, we request that most visitors park at the entry gate and walk in along the main trail. That said, the site is accessible by vehicle, and we’re happy to discuss necessary accommodations.
- There is no electricity available on site at this time.
- Cell phones work at the Library Field, but there is no WiFi at this time.
- We will provide chairs, tables, and a tent should it rain. During the buggy seasons, we can set up a screen tent to keep those pests away.
- METRO has a portable toilet on site – rustic, but clean.
- METRO provides bugspray, sunscreen, and drinking water at all events.
- In the case of an extreme weather event, rebooking is not a problem.
Sample Schedule, Full day
- 9:00 METRO staff start a campfire and prepare the coffee and tea station.
- 10:00 attendees arrive, orientation to the LF site. Coffee, tea, facilitated hike / mood setting. Treats will be available throughout the day.
- 12:00 simple woodland lunch, cooked over the fire. Retreat activities could begin around a picnic table, during lunch
- 1:00 Activities
- Option 1 – do your own thing (strategy, leadership development, whatever)
- Option 2 – METRO customizes and facilitates based on your needs
- 3:00 option to participate in some Field Work
- Flora inventory / general documentation
- Trail maintenance
- Firewood preparation
- Weeding / brush clearing
- Other
- 5:00 close
Sample Schedule, Half day
- 8:00 METRO staff start campfire, prepare coffee and tea station
- 9:00 attendees arrive, orientation to the LF site. Coffee, tea, facilitated hike / mood setting. Treats will be available throughout the morning.
- 10:00 Retreat activities
- Option 1 – do your own thing (strategy, leadership development, whatever)
- Option 2 – METRO customizes and facilitates based on your needs
- 1:00 close
Fees
At this time, we do not have a standard fee structure in place. We welcome donations, but any fee agreed upon will be based on the cost of food and beverage, our staff time, and other overhead.