It is our goal to make your planning a quick, easy process! Here’s how to book an event at Camp Hanes and several things to consider. Contact Riley Crisp at r.cris@ymcanwnc.org or 336 983 3131 with all questions.
We offer a variety of housing and meeting accommodations to best serve the needs of your group. With at least 300 beds covering more than 400 acres and meeting rooms for groups of all sizes, we are sure to have the facilities to accommodate you during our non-summer camp season.
Check out our brochure to help answer any questions about our meeting spaces and planning a trip: Spring and Fall Program Brochure
YMCA Camp Hanes is happy to work with any church, civic, corporate, educational, or non-profit group whose event falls within the bounds of the YMCA mission of “Helping all people reach their God given potential in spirit, mind and body.”
If you are interested in the next steps in the booking process please complete this document for a day trip, and this document for an overnight trip, and email it to Rley Crisp at r.crisp@ymcanwnc.org.
Lodging
We offer 18 Cabins that sleep 18 people each and 4 cabins the sleep 14 in comfortable bunk beds with full restroom facilities in each sleeping quarter.
Our Alphin Retreat Center sleeps 16 adults within four rooms that fit four people per bedroom. The configuration has two rooms on each side of the building that share a joining bathroom space. There is a communal living/meeting room space with a fridge and kitchenette perfect, plus a separate half bathroom. On the building side facing the lake there is a deck with chairs for meeting or bonding around an electric fireplace. Our Alphin Retreat Center is the perfect space for a small group that wants an intimate environment!
The Downstairs Dining Hall offers two rooms that sleep 20 people (on bunks) per room with full restroom facilities for each room. There is an adjoining gathering room and the dining hall is steps away. There is also a cozy indoor fireplace!
Our new Reynolds Conference Center is capable of seating up to 300 people in auditorium style, or 150 people with tables. It has an excellent audio visual and sound system, large screen and LCD projector. It has a small kitchenette, break out room, and amazing views of our lake and mountain.
The Baker Center Conference Room is capable of seating up to 300 people auditorium-style, or over 100 people seated at tables. The Conference Room is also divisible to give you two smaller meeting spaces if you would prefer to have one side around tables and one side auditorium style. The gymnasium and outdoor recreation space are right outside your meeting space for break time activities.
The Nature Room, Small Dining Hall, or the Rec Hall can be used as meeting or breakout spaces for groups of all sizes or gather around the original fireplaces from our Canteen for a fireside chat.
Dining
Our food service staff is prepared to serve you healthy, tasty, delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! We notice we can accommodate all dietary requests/concerns. We are a peanut/tree nut free facility. With dietary concern please feel free to reach out to our Food Services Director Robert Money with questions at r.money@ymcanwnc.org
What do I need to consider as I plan my retreat?
Check with your group’s schedule for possible event dates and (approximate) times. It’s best to have a few options in mind to see what will fit in the Camp Hanes calendar. If you are planning on bringing in a keynote or special musician, don’t forget to check their availability.
Estimate how many people will be attending your event.
Consider what meals you will be interested in having while at camp.
Decide if you would like Camp Hanes to provide programming while you are here. High ropes, archery, team building and canoeing are just a few examples of possible activities we can provide your group.
How do I make it official and receive a contract?
Once you have all the above information, call Camp Hanes to set up your retreat and receive a contract. You are welcome to book retreats 18 months in advance.
Return signed contract within 15 days of receipt and the initial deposit at agreed upon date as listed on contract. (The deposit will be 20% of your estimated total.)
Please note that we do not “pencil-in” groups. To reserve a space you must set a contract and return a signed copy to our office.
Please be sure to pay close attention to our charges and cancellation policy (listed below.) Your signature on our contract indicates you are entering into a legally binding agreement.
Charges Policy: The number of participants you give us at the time of contracting will serve as the minimum amount we will bill you for unless you contact Camp Hanes at least two weeks prior to your event. Additionally, if your numbers increase as your event nears, it is your responsibility to contact our office in order to insure we have adequate food, sleeping accommodations and staff available for your event. (If numbers increase, we will bill you for actual participants.)
Cancellation Policy: Event cancellation less than 90 days away from your event will result in forfeiture of deposit. Event cancellation less than 30 days from your event will result in a charge of 50% of your estimated total. Event cancellation less than two weeks from the start of your event will result in a charge of 100% of your estimated total.
Weather Policy: Camp Hanes does not cancel programming due to inclement weather unless there is a travel risk for staff and/or participants (or lightning and/or high winds for high ropes and water activities.) However, we do reserve the right to adjust activities due to poor weather.
What can I do to make my retreat a success?
Get the word out to your group members as far in advance as possible in multiple ways. E-mail, blurbs in newsletters, special postcards even phone calls are all effective ways to inform potential participants. Keep reminding people, encourage them to register early.
Begin work on your retreat schedule early. Plan times to be active and times to be more reserved. Be sure to provide your group some free time options if you choose.
Develop a lodging plan based on your reserved spaces, keeping in mind that at least one (preferably two) adults must be in each sleeping location
Consider combining your event registration form with a participant health form so that you have basic information in case of an emergency. This is also a great place to ask about any food allergy information to provide to the camp staff.
Camp Hanes strongly recommends each group designate a group member who will be responsible for first aid and dispensing medicine for group members under 18 years old. We do not provide emergency or routine health care services for conference/retreat groups.
If your group is utilizing any Camp Hanes activities, remember to provide participants with a Challenge Course Waiver (which must be signed by parent/guardian for all members younger than 18 years old.)
Provide group members with Camp Hanes information, including the web address, packing list and directions.
Contact Camp Hanes with any needs you have during the planning stage, we’ll gladly help you to the best of our ability.
Two week check-in with YMCA Camp Hanes
Please contact the Camp Hanes office two weeks before your event as this gives us a chance to go over final details and ensure we have everything lined up perfectly for your visit. Here is a list of the information we need in order to adequately coordinate with staff and other groups:
A confirmation of your group’s arrival and departure times (and your arrival time if you are arriving earlier than the group.)
A confirmation of the number of people in your group. (Please keep in mind the numbers you provide two weeks before your visit will be the minimum number of attendees that will go on your final invoice. If you know of increases in your count after you provide us with the final number, please contact the office as soon as possible so we may account for the extra meals/lodging needed to be prepared.)
Whether any of your group members have food allergies or other special dietary requests so our food service director staff has adequate notice to meet each participants needs.
Our normal meal times are breakfast at 8 am, lunch at noon and dinner at 6 pm.
Whether you have any particular requests for how your meeting room is set up as well any specific audio-visual equipment your group may need.
A confirmation of times for any scheduled activities/ programs which require YMCA Camp Hanes staff.
A confirmation of any outdoor areas you have specific time requests for. Often times there are multiple groups on camp at a time and we will help coordinate use of spaces so everyone’s needs may (ideally) be met.
In addition, if your group is doing any teambuilding/high ropes we would like your completed group information sheet so our facilitators may begin planning for the day.
We look forward to your visit and are looking forward to working with you to insure your group has the best experience possible.
2024 Rates
Overnight Retreats
Lodging Rates
Cabin $35
Alphin Retreat Center (ARC) $46
Food Service Rates
Breakfast $12
Lunch $12
Dinner $12
Banquet Meal: $15
Activity Rates
½ Day (up to 4 Hours) Activities $16
Full Day (8 Hours) Activities $21
½ Day High Ropes $21
Full Day Ropes $30