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July 28-30, 2026

REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 26

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What

The River Retreat is designed to help students establish a solid foundation for their time at The University of North Alabama. It’s a time to help you find your people, find your place and find your purpose before you step foot on campus.

Why

The River Retreat is the perfect way to kick off your college experience at UNA. Our hope is that students leave the retreat rooted in Christ, strengthened through Christ-centered community, and ready to bear fruit for Christ's name on campus.

When

The River Retreat is held before classes start to help you find community before you even step foot on campus this fall!

2026 Info Coming Soon!

Ministry Partners

Our partnerships with local churches and ministries are so vital, not only for our mission statement but also for the success of this retreat. A goal of this retreat is to expose new students to churches and campus ministries before school even starts. These churches and ministries are doing wonderful things and we want to show how important it is for them to all be united in the body of Christ.

The Well Church

First Baptist
Killen

Woodmont Baptist Church

Underwood Baptist Church

Quad City
College

Campus Outreach

UNA BCM

Central Heights
Baptist Church

Lamda Sigma Phi

Delight Ministries

First Baptist Church
of Florence

Click here to view our statement of beliefs

Interested in being a ministry partner? Email blake@oakscolab.com

Instagram

WE LOVE OUR RIVER RETREAT FAMILY!! We want YOU to be a part of it!! Registration for River Retreat 2026 will open February 26th!!

#una2030 #riverretreat #northalabama #foryoupage #oakscollaborative

APPLY TODAY WITH THE LINK IN OUR BIO!! Applications are open for Counselors, Crew, and Praise Team!! Applications close January 30th!! 😊

#riverretreat #una2030 #oaksretreat #universityofnorthalabama

RIVER RETREAT 2026 STAFF APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!! Please visit the link in our bio to apply!! 😊

#riverretreat #northalabama #una2030

Merry Christmas from our families to yours!! ❤️🎄We are so blessed that the Lord would come down to us to save us from our sins!! What a reason to celebrate! 🙌

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬ ‭

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭

LEADERSHIP RETREAT PHOTO RECAP!! 📸🌲✨
Such an amazing weekend of fellowship, planning, and prayer for River Retreat 2026!! We are SO excited for what God has in store for this years retreat and the impact it will have on our upcoming freshman!

#explorepage #una2030

IT’S GIVING TUESDAY!! We would LOVE if you would be a part of this ministry in your giving! Our mission is to reach and pour into college freshman and transfer students before they even step foot on UNA’s campus in the fall! We want to help them build their foundation in Christ and create lasting Christian community before they begin college. BUT, we need your help! Please join our mission by donating through the link in our bio or go to www.theriverretreat.org 🙌🙌 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS RETREAT! #givingtuesday

Some of our leadership team had the awesome opportunity to attend the summit retreat by @theoakscollaborative this past weekend! We learned so much from their team as well as other leadership teams and are so excited to start planning River 2026🥳

We have loved having all the freshmen and transfer students back on campus!! Reminder that leadership applications are due in 3 days!

Link in bio to apply!

2 weeks left to apply for the 2026 leadership team!! 🤠🥳

Link in bio to apply!

Want to know more about leadership positions? Check out these quick descriptions or email blair@oakscolab.com with any questions!!

Apply through the link in our bio by August 26th!!

Cannot believe one week ago River Retreat 2025 kicked off!! See y’all on campus so soon!

Want to be apart of setting the table for incoming freshmen/transfer students? Apply for leadership by August 26th!!

Link in bio to apply!

River Retreat 2025!!! Is it too early to start the countdown for next year?🤠

Praising HIM for a powerful last main session!!

We are already missing The River Retreat but keep your eye out for more recaps!

Last day, best day! We’re soaking up every last moment of The River Retreat! So sad it’s almost over, but here’s a little snapshot of some of our counselors this weekend!

We had a great time learning about the ministry opportunities around UNA! So thankful to our ministry partners for being with us today!

The River Retreat rolls into Day 2️⃣!!! Get ready for main sessions, games, & a scavenger hunt!

River Retreat has kicked off and we’re soooo excited for what’s ahead!

JUMPING into day 1️⃣!!!! Students we can’t wait to meet you! See you at check in🤸🏼🤸🏼🤸🏼

Here are the check in details!!! See you tomorrow at 1:15pm for check in at Highland Baptist Church!

24 HOUR COUNTDOWN!!! We are so pumped that The River Retreat starts tomorrow! Stay tuned for details about check in😁😁😁

It’s packing time! Don’t forget these essentials! We will see you soon😊😊

Just one week away from The River Retreat 2025 — we’re counting down the days!

1️⃣2️⃣ days until The River Retreat!! Here’s a look at the schedule — from worship and family groups to theme nights and free time! It’s going to be such a fun three days.

DM us if you have any questions!

Didn’t get a chance to register?
No worries — email kimberly@oakscolab.com to join the waitlist and save your spot for The River Retreat!

Had a great time at soar today! Deadline to register for The River Retreat is tonight at midnight! We can’t wait! 🤸🏼🤸🏼🤸🏼

We are soooo excited because The River Retreat is 16 days away!!! Registration closes tomorrow at midnight! Freshman & transfers don’t wait! Apply now!!!

Time’s almost up! Just TWO days left to register for The River Retreat!

Registration closes Monday, July 14 at noon — don’t wait! Get your spot now through the link in our bio!

The River Retreat is ONE MONTH AWAY!!! If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time — the link is in our bio! We can’t wait to see what the Lord does!

Here are a few important reminders:
• Registration closes July 14th at noon — don’t miss it!
• Want a guaranteed T-shirt? Be sure to register by July 9th!
• Merch pickup at retreat? Order by July 14th!
• Theme Night is LUAU! Come dressed in your best tropical fits — we’re going all out!

Merch Release!!!
We are so excited to be offering merch this year! You’ve got two options:
-Ship it to your door
-Pick it up at the retreat
If you’re picking up at the retreat, make sure to place your order by July 14, 2025!

Don’t wait-order yours now & get ready to wear it at the retreat!!! Link in bio!

The River Retreat is 6 WEEKS away!!! We hope you will join us July 29th-31st😁😁😁

Registration link in bio!

The River Retreat is TWO months away!!

Our counselors & leadership team have been praying, preparing, and getting SO excited for what’s ahead! We seriously can’t wait to meet you! 🤸‍♀️😄

Haven’t signed up yet?
What are you waiting for? Follow the link in our bio to register!!

One night only: Tropical paradise at The River Retreat!

On night two of The River Retreat we will have a theme night! This year our theme is Luau! We are sooooo excited! 🌺🏝️😎

We are wrapping up our counselor & leadership intros! Go ahead & get signed up for The River Retreat! It’s going to be here before you know it! 😁😁

- Hey yall!! My name is Nate Renicks and I will be serving as head of prayer over the retreat this year!! I am going to be a junior this fall and I’m a nursing major from Collierville, TN!! I served as a counselor last year and saw the Lord move throughout the retreat by changing incoming students lives and the staff lives as well, so I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to expirence God move through this next retreat!!

- Hey Everyone! My name is BP Blair and I am a Junior from Red Bay, Alabama! I’m a Secondary Education Major in Physics with a concentration in General Sciences aspiring to be a teacher! This is my secondary serving in the River Retreat and my first year on Leadership. I love the River Retreat because I believe in building up Freshman in Jesus before coming into college. It’s so important to have Godly community and churches to support you, and I believe The River Retreat can lead and guide you to that! God is going to do some awesome things at the Retreat this year!

- Hey guys!! My name is Carlie Harchfield, and I’m so excited to serve as the Head of Public Relations for River Retreat 2025! I’m from Burlison, Tennessee, and I’m a junior nursing major. I wanted to be a part of the leadership team because I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact this retreat has had on my friends. Getting connected to a local church and surrounding yourself with godly community is so important—and there’s nothing better than helping students find that!

Meet more of our awesome River Retreat team! These leaders can’t wait to help you grow in your faith and find community at UNA!

- Hey y’all! My name is Noah Ray, and I’m a secondary education major from Muscle Shoals, Alabama! I am going to be a counselor this year, and I couldn’t be more excited! I chose to be a counselor because I want to help incoming freshmen find a community of believers where they can grow in their walk with the Lord at UNA! I also went to River Retreat last year, and it was an incredible experience that helped me connect with a great group of people at UNA!

- Hey! My name is Mack and I am so excited to serve as Head of Logistics on our Leadership team this year! I’m majoring in Marketing and Accounting, and I will be a sophomore in the fall! Last summer, as in an incoming freshman, I attended River Retreat and was absolutely amazed by how God moved in my life! After that, I knew I wanted to use the skills the Lord has equipped me with to serve our incoming freshmen and transfers in anticipation of all that God wants to do in their lives through this retreat!

- My name is Cooper! I’m from Birmingham, Alabama, and I’m currently a junior nursing major. I chose to be a counselor at River Retreat because I want to help equip incoming freshmen to live for Christ on campus and give them the tools and friendships they need to do so.

@kerstin_2024 & @laurenfarriswheel sharing their favorite moments from The River Retreat!!

We’re so grateful for everyone who joined us at Benefit Day! If you couldn’t make it, there’s still time to support River Retreat. Every donation helps—just tap the link in our bio!

Meet even more of our counselors & leaders!!

– Hey! My name is Allie Patrick and I am going to be a sophomore this fall. I am from Hoover, AL and majoring in Exercise Science. I wanted to be a River Retreat counselor because the counselors I met last year were so welcoming and now some of my good friends, and I just wanted to share that experience with incoming freshmen!!

– My name is Caleb Schuttunga and I am from Birmingham, AL. I’m a senior majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Religious Studies! This is my third year as a RR counselor, and I chose to be a counselor again because it’s so important for freshmen to be rooted in godly community and to have a good grasp on the Gospel, and this is such an incredible way to do so!

– Hey everybody! My name is Chesney and I am the Girls Director this year for River Retreat!! I am a junior majoring in Elementary Education! I chose to be on leadership this year because attending the River Retreat as a freshman, and then as a counselor last year, has made me realize the importance of this retreat! I have such a heart for incoming students to UNA to be able to get plugged in with like-minded people and have a strong relationship with the Lord before starting college!! Being the Girls Director this year has me absolutely overjoyed and beyond grateful!!! I can’t wait to experience all that the Lord does through River Retreat ‘25!

Join our fundraiser & stop by Companion Coffee Roasters on May 6th!
7am-5pm☕️✨

10% of sales will go to benefit The River Retreat!

Staff applications are still open!

If you feel called to serve, head to our bio to apply—we’d be so excited to have you be a part of this ministry!

Introducing more of our counselors & those on leadership!!

– I’m Lauren Farris, and I’m a Digital Marketing major from Auburn, Alabama. I wanted to be a counselor this year because of the incredible impact RR had on me when I attended as a transfer student. My heart for incoming students is that they would know they’re not alone—that someone is cheering them on as they step into life at UNA. I pray they press into the strong community of believers here, and most importantly, that each student grows in their understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope found in His promises!

– My name is Bryson Looney, I’m from Athens, Alabama, I’m a sophomore Marketing major, and I’m going to be one of the counselors for River Retreat 2025! I wanted to be a counselor because I want to spread the Word of God to the incoming freshmen and help them be a light for Christ here at UNA!

– Hey guys! I’m Meredith Holland, and I’m from Athens, AL! I am an Interior Architecture and Design major and will be a senior this fall! This will be my third year serving on the River Retreat leadership team. This year I am over logistics :) I have seen so many great things come out of this retreat, and I love being a part of everything the Lord is doing through it!

Get ready to meet the faces behind River Retreat 2025!! These counselors & those on leadership team have been praying & planning for this year’s retreat & are so excited to meet all of you!!😁😁

– Hey guys, my name is Caiden Dumas & I’m Head of Hospitality! I’m from Athens, AL & I’m majoring in Accounting. I chose to be on leadership because going to River Retreat had a huge impact on my spiritual life, so I wanted to help impact incoming students like I was impacted.

– I’m Ashlyn King & I’m an Elementary Education major from Huntsville, AL! I am going to be a counselor because I want incoming freshmen to know they have people who really care about them and the Gospel at UNA!!

– My name is Kaylee Patterson & I’m a sophomore Elementary Education major from Hazel Green, AL! I wanted to be a River Retreat counselor because I want freshmen and transfers to know they have someone to come to with anything—college-related or not. I also want to help them find a church they feel comfortable in and make sure they continue to follow Jesus and see that UNA can be the place they do that!

ALL STAFF MEETING!!

we are so excited for river retreat 2025! feeling incredibly thankful for this opportunity and already praying over each and every student who will be there!! 😁🤸🏽‍♀️✨

Save the date!! JULY 29-31st🗓️✨

The River Retreat is a great opportunity to fellowship with other believers and get plugged into a local church!! If you’re a freshman or transfer, head to our bio to register—and don’t forget to add it to your calendar!

Reminiscing on sweet memories from River Retreat 2024, but looking forward to making new ones at River Retreat 2025!!

JULY 29-31!! ✨😁🤸🏽‍♀️

REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW!!

We are so excited for River Retreat 2025 happening July 29th–31st!! If you’re an upcoming freshman or transfer student, follow the link in our bio to apply ➡️➡️➡️

DM us if you have any questions!! Can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do ✨😁

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You have people at UNA & NWSCC and we're here to help you find them.

July 28-30, 2026

REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 26