Planning Your Visit to Our Lady of Mattaponi Youth Retreat Center
Your experience at Mattaponi begins with making sure that the arrangements for your stay are in order. Our dedicated staff is committed and ready to helping meet your needs. Whether it involves helping to make convenient reservations, providing guidance on items to bring, or instructing on the policies that facilitate a positive visit, we partner with you.General Information & Regulations
- What to Bring for an Overnight Stay (English)
- What to Bring for an Overnight Stay (En Espanol)
- Rules for Daytime Visits
- Rules for Overnight Stays
- Clean-Up Agreement
What to Bring for an Overnight Stay
Whether visiting as an individual, or as part of a group, each guest of Mattaponi is reposnsible for bringing the following items for themselves.
- Bed linens – sheets or sleeping bag, pillow case
- There is a pillow and blanket on each bed
- Towels, soap, toiletries, hair dryers, etc
- Night clothes
- Changes of clothing
If you are using the pool:
- Swim suit, sun screen and towel
- Insect repellent for outdoors activities
- Flashlight
All groups visiting Mattaponi must make arrangements to bring drinks and snacks for between meals and at night. A table is provided in the Conference Room for these snacks. There is a small refrigerator in the conference room for drinks. Ice is available. Please provide cups, napkins, etc. for your snacks. If you wish to build a fire in the fire pit you must request permission. No trees or other vegetation on the property can be cut or harmed to provide fire wood or roasting sticks. Fire wood will be provided. We have extendable roasting forks you may borrow.
¿Qué se debe llevar para pasar la noche?
Ya sea que viaje como un individuo, o como parte de un grupo, cada huésped de Mattaponi es reposnsible para traer los siguientes elementos por sí mismos.
- Ropa de cama: Sabanas o un saco de dormir, funda para la almohada. (Cada cama tiene una almohada y una cobija)
- Toallas
- Jabón para baño y neceser completo
- Secadora de pelo
- Cambio de ropa
Si utilizaran la piscina:
- Traje de baño
- Toalla
- Protector solar
- Repelente de mosquitos (para las actividades a la intemperie)
Lo que el grupo necesita jugos y refrescos (Favor de no traer embaces de vidrio) y golosinas (Lo que necesiten entre comidas y en las noches). Se les proveerá una mesa en el cuarto de conferencias para guardar estas cosas. Hay un refrigerador pequeño para guardar las bebidas. Tienen acceso al hielo. Deben traer sus propios vasos, servilletas y platos para sus golosinas. Un botiquín de primeros auxilios. Si desean hacer una fogata, necesitan pedir permiso.
Esta PROHIBIDO dañar los árboles y la vegetación con el propósito de obtener leña o varas para rostizar. Nosotros proveeremos
- Leña para el fuego
- Trinches para rostizar
The following directions must be observed by all visitors. Written acknowledgment of visitors' compliance is required.
- All candles must be contained in fire proof containers that prevent any wax from leaking.
- Nothing should be attached to the walls
- Rule 1 applies to any extra candles used in the chapel. Any extra candles must be removed immediately following service
- Check to be presented at time of arrival
- Due to Fire Department regulation, band equipment may not block exit doors. Band equipment allowed: 2 speakers, 2 mikes, 2 guitars, music stands, drums, 1 amp
- Lunch is served at 12:15 pm
- When entering the dining room everyone should be seated at a table. You will receive instructions on the procedures for use and cleanup of the dining facilities
- Meals are not served until everyone is present
- We must be advised of any food allergies or dietary restriction in advance
- All food must be consumed in the dinning room. Food taken outside attracts wildlife to the retreat area
- Before leaving all tables and chairs will be returned to their original position. The floor will be swept & vacuumed. Trash liners should be tied shut and taken to the kitchen
The following directions must be observed by all visitors. Written acknowledgment of visitors' compliance is required.
- All candles must be contained in fire proof containers that prevent any wax from leaking. Please do not use candles in the lobby area
- NOTHING may be attached to the walls. Use Cork strips provided for this purpose.
- No outside noise past 10 p.m.
- Rule 1 applies to any extra candles used in the chapel.Any extra candles must be removed immediately following service.
- Check to be presented at time of arrival
- Due to Fire Department regulation you may not block exit doors
- We must be advised on any food allergies or dietary restriction in advance
- No one is allowed in a cabin occupied by the opposite sex at anytime. Failure to follow this rule will result in a participant being sent home immediately, regardless of the time of day or night.
- The use or possession of Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs or weapons is prohibited and is cause for immediate dismissal.
- Food must be consumed in the Dinning Room (Food eaten outside attracts wildlife to the cabin area).
- Do not move or rearrange furniture in the Lobby or cabins. There should be 4 chairs on each cabin porch.
- Meals are not served until everyone is present in the dining room
- Meal Times: Breakfast 8:00 am, Lunch 12:15 pm and Dinner 6 pm. If you need a different time for a meal arrangements must be made in advance
- Each breakout room should have 6 upholstered chairs and 1 small round table
Client Agreement for Clean-Up Prior to Departure
In an effort to maintain user fees at the lowest level possible, we need the help and cooperation of our guests. Therefore, all groups who contract to use our facilities and services must agree to the following.
To perform a through clean-up of each cottage occupied by the group including:
- put beds in order - pillow at head of bed and fold blanket
- empty trashcans
- return furniture to original positions
- clean bath tubs, sinks, toilets and bathroom floors
- clean kitchenette sink and counter top
- mop tile floor
- turn off refrigerator
- vacuum all carpets
- put all trash on the back porch of main kitchen
- place all bathmats on the back porch rail of the main kitchen
- Summer: lower all blinds and close tightly with slats pointing upward
- Winter: raise all blinds completely
- Cleaning supplies and tools are located in the closet next to bedroom four
- A Clean-up Procedure List is posted in each cabin on the kitchen cabinets
- If you need additional cleaning supplies please request them
To tidy up the chapel: vacuum carpet, empty trash, remove papers from pews and pulpit, return all vessels and books to original places in sacristy.
To tidy up conference room: stack chairs on racks in storage room 25 high (no higher PLEASE). Sweep floor; if necessary wipe up sticky spots. Clean counter top and sink. Take all trash to the kitchen porch.
- Summer: lower all blinds and close tightly with slats pointing upward
- Winter: raise all blinds completely
- Place all foyer furniture and pillows in original places, vacuum carpet and return blinds to original position.
In the spirit of good stewardship we ask that you take all recycling with you. Because of our remote location the county will not pick up recycling here.