There’s something magical about trading screens for trees and conference calls for fireside chats. This fall, our team ventured into the Tennessee mountains for our annual retreat at the Tree Lofts cabins. Now, don’t get us wrong – “retreat” isn’t just an excuse to snooze in the woods (though we definitely caught up on some z’s), or about swapping our office chairs for tree stumps; it was about peeling back the layers of our day-to-day and stepping outside of the box to think outside of the box. Think early morning hikes, trading stories around the fire, and eating more cookies than you should in a lifetime.

Creative Olympics: Taking Innovation Offline

What’s better than a little friendly competition (and let’s be real, a shiny trophy to brag about)? This year, our retreat kicked off with the Creative Olympics. Our game master (and creative director) Parker cooked up a challenge that had us thinking way outside our digital comfort zones. We dusted off our kindergarten craft skills and put on our thinking caps as teams faced off in challenges involving marshmallows, balloons, and foil.

These tasks might seem simple enough, but to be honest, the challenge wasn’t the point! They were about pushing everyone outside of their comfort zone, sparking some quick thinking, out-of-the-box problem-solving, and a holding it together with healthy dose of teamwork and glue sticks.

Growing Together: Strategic Development with Some Hi-jinks

Between the laughs and games, we spent time digging deep into what makes our agency tick. This year, we spent time flipping the script by having team members step into different roles. Creative directors became project managers, designers became client services – and suddenly, everyone gained a new perspective on their colleagues’ daily challenges. This activity sparked honest discussions between our operations and creative teams about how to better support each other and serve our clients.

We find retreats are more than just a break from the office – they’re an opportunity to get a pulse check on the business. We celebrate our wins, face our challenges head-on, and get everyone on the same page for what’s coming up. This time around, we added a personal touch with a good old-fashioned positive post-it wall. We all wrote down specific strengths we admired in our colleagues. Sharing these over breakfast created a pretty special moment – we got to cheer each other on, point out hidden talents, and figure out how to make the most of our individual and collective skills.

Campfire Stories: Where Creativity Meets Community

The retreat wasn’t all about planned events – it was about making room for real connections to happen naturally. From early morning trails to late-night snacks, each day was filled with moments meant to be shared. Whether we were huffing and puffing up a mountain path or gathered around the dinner table, our time in the trees gave us a chance to chat, laugh, and get to know each other beyond our job titles. Shout out to the The Tree Lofts – for if you’re looking for the perfect environment for an inspired retreat.

“I really enjoyed the creative Olympics and screening the t-shirts. it was fun to be hands-on creative!”
– Whitney

“The activities were all great, but I loved the downtime bonding over dinners and spooky stories around the fire pit.” – Afton

“No better team bonding activity than scaling a mountain waterfall with your coworkers.” – Abby

“The trip reminded me that that each member of our team has awesome ideas and brings a unique mindset to every challenge. Collaboration takes our team to new heights!” – Parker

Jumping Back in The Saddle

As we packed up our cabins and hit the road back to Nashville, we realized we’d gained more than just a few inside jokes and some new T-shirts. We’d picked up a better understanding of each other, some clever ways to solve problems, and stronger connections that’ll make our work for clients even better.

You know, a good retreat really isn’t just about the fun memories – it’s about how those experiences change the way we work day to day! By stepping away from our desks and into the woods, we’ve not only grown closer as a team but also charged ourselves up with fresh perspectives and bold ideas. We left the retreat ready to push boundaries, tackle challenges, and hit the ground running!