Next Four Day Retreat: June 14-17, 2023
Who Can Attend
To apply for the Faith & Sports Institute Retreat, you must be a high school student who is serious or curious about the Christian faith, participates in school and/or club sports, and desires to grow spiritually and athletically.
You may (a) register on your own or (b) register after being nominated. You can be nominated by a spiritual leader or coach who identifies you as an athlete, leader, and person of faith.
If you’d like to nominate a student athlete, you can do that by clicking here.
From our alumni: "The FSI retreat was different because other sports camps just focus on the sport and nothing else. At FSI they helped me grow my faith and become a better person on and off the sports field."
What to Expect
During the Retreat, you will train your mind, body, and spirit. You will engage with other student-athletes in academic sessions and athletic competition focused on five theological principles that connect to five virtues:
- Worship: Who or what do I value most? (FAITH)
- Identity: What motivates and defines me? (LOVE)
- Training: How do I grow personally and spiritually? (DISCIPLINE)
- Suffering: How do I respond to pain and trials? (HOPE)
- Vocation: How do I live out my calling? (COURAGE)
From our alumni: "[I enjoyed] Having that family vibe all the time knowing everyone there loves you as if they have known you for years, and we were only there for one week! It just changes your perspective on how love can go a long way and makes you want to be really positive having that love around you all the time."
Sample Daily Schedule
| 8:00-8:30am | Breakfast Enjoy one of Baylor's dining halls offering a variety of foods for your needs. |
| 9:00-10:30am | Session 1 Engage in spiritual practices—such as worship, prayer, and reflection—before learning about a particular theological theme from some of Baylor's faculty and experienced sport practitioners. All theological talks are relevant to athletes who are asking the big questions of life like, "Who am I and what is my bigger purpose in life?" and "What do I do when my dreams are crushed or life isn't fair?" |
| 10:30-11:30am | Discussion Groups Understand your own story as it relates to God's story in a small group of 4-5 other friends lead by a mentor. |
| 11:30am-12:30pm | Lunch Meet up with your new friends around good food and conversation. |
| 1:30-3:30pm | Competition Learn to live out your faith in a competitive sports lab experience, gleaning insight from the morning talks and small groups. If you can work out your faith in the contested site of sports, you will be more equipped to do so for the rest of your life! |
| 3:30-5:00pm | Free Time Rest, swim, lift weights, run, socialize, read... |
| 5:30-6:00pm | Dinner Capture the day around a meal in a relaxed environment with friends, mentors, and faculty. |
| 7:00-8:30pm | Courageous Conversations Immerse yourself in a safe environment with an openness to explore significant (yet challenging) topics such as relationships, racism, poverty, addictions, insecurity, and mental health. |
| 8:30-9:30pm | Mentoring Meet with mentors to discuss new personal, emotional, and theological insights...or just to debrief, laugh, or pray. |
| 11:00pm | Lights Out |
From our alumni: "The FSI experience taught me to press on when I’m down and tired, and that to be a leader you’ll have to trust the ones around you and let others help you when you’re down. The thing that encourages me most is that I know my mentor is there when I need someone to talk to and ask for guidance whenever I feel like I’ve stumbled in some of the teachings I’ve learned from camp."
Cost
The cost for the Faith & Sports Institute Retreat is $395, which includes Baylor University lodging, meals, t-shirt, student workbook, curriculum and experience, and 1 year of mentoring from an FSI trained mentor. Financial assistance is available in need-based situations. Please complete this form to receive financial assistance.