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What is Holmes Camp & Retreat Center?
Holmes Camp & Retreat Center is a 500-plus-acre retreat and camp facility in the Hudson Valley, under two hours from New York City. It hosts individuals, churches, nonprofits, community and scouting groups, social groups, and corporate clients for overnight stays, meetings, and recreation. It is a ministry of the Presbyterian Conference Association and affiliated with three Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) presbyteries, but groups and guests do not need to be Presbyterian or religiously affiliated to attend.
What the site says it offers
- Lodging and meeting space: a small conference center with lodging, dorms, cabins, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, and rustic youth summer camp facilities.
- Outdoors: four lakes, ten miles of trails, plus hills, forest, and wetlands on the property.
- Programs: a published 2026 program schedule, plus recurring events such as community nights, confirmation retreats, men’s and women’s retreats, volunteer work days, and fundraising events.
- Access and support: financial aid, pastoral respite, and facility rentals.
Who it tends to suit
- Church and faith groups running retreats, confirmation weekends, or leadership gatherings.
- Nonprofits and community organizations needing affordable meeting and lodging space outside the city.
- Schools, scouting groups, and youth camps that can use rustic camp facilities and open land.
- Families or individuals looking for a quiet, nature-based stay, including clergy seeking pastoral respite.
Trade-offs to weigh
The setting is the main draw: trails, lakes, and wooded acreage give groups room to spread out, and the mix of conference-center lodging and rustic cabins lets you match comfort level to budget and group type. The trade-off is that a camp-and-retreat setting is not a hotel: expect simpler accommodations, shared or dorm-style options depending on the building, and a program calendar that may shape which dates and spaces are available. Because the site lists many events and rental options, availability can vary by season.
A practical next step: decide whether your group needs indoor meeting space, overnight lodging, or mainly outdoor access, then contact the center directly at 60 Denton Lake Road, Holmes, NY 12531, or 845-878-6383 to confirm which facilities fit your dates, group size, and budget. If cost is a concern, ask about financial aid when you inquire.
Who can book a stay or event at Holmes Camp & Retreat Center?
Holmes Camp & Retreat Center is open to a wide range of groups, not just Presbyterian congregations. The site states plainly that your group does not need to be Presbyterian or identify with any faith to attend. Its stated mission is to serve individuals, churches, nonprofits, and other groups, and its core values include hospitality and renewal.
Who tends to fit
- Faith-affiliated groups: churches, confirmation retreats, ministers and elders gatherings, women's and men's retreats.
- Nonprofits and community organizations: mission-aligned groups looking for meeting and retreat space.
- Scouting groups: the site names them explicitly among its audiences.
- Social groups and corporate clients: welcome when their purpose is compatible with the camp's mission and values.
- Individuals: pastoral respite and scheduled programs such as community nights are listed, so solo guests can attend without booking the whole site.
The practical test
The site frames corporate and social bookings with one condition: compatibility with its mission and values. If your group's purpose is recreation, education, conservation, community building or renewal, you likely fit. If your event conflicts with those values, expect a conversation rather than an automatic yes.
Which option fits your group
| Your group | Likely fit |
|---|---|
| Church or faith group | Core audience; retreat and program options |
| Nonprofit or community org | Named audience; rental and program space |
| Scout troop | Named audience; rustic camp facilities |
| Corporate or social group | Welcome if mission-compatible |
| Individual seeking rest | Pastoral respite and open programs |
A concrete next step
Decide whether you need to rent facilities for your own group or join a scheduled program. Facility rental suits churches, nonprofits, scouts and companies bringing their own agenda; the published program schedule suits individuals and small groups who want to join something already running. Financial aid is listed, which is worth asking about if cost is a barrier for a nonprofit or church group. Start by contacting the camp with your group type, approximate size and dates, and ask which category your booking falls under.
What types of lodging and meeting facilities are available for group retreats?
Holmes Camp & Retreat Center offers several lodging styles and meeting spaces suited to group retreats, ranging from a small conference center with lodging to dorms, cabins, and rustic youth summer camp facilities. Meeting options include both indoor and outdoor spaces, so a group can move between structured sessions and open-air activities without leaving the property.
Matching lodging to your group
- Conference center with lodging: Best for groups that want a more conventional retreat setup with meeting space and sleeping rooms in close proximity.
- Dorms: A practical fit for youth groups, confirmation retreats, and larger groups that need simple shared accommodations.
- Cabins: Suited to smaller groups or those wanting a more camp-like, self-contained stay.
- Rustic youth summer camp facilities: Designed for camp-style programming, with the rough-and-ready character that implies.
Meeting and activity space
Indoor and outdoor meeting spaces are available, and the site's 500-plus acres of hills, forest, and wetlands include four lakes and ten miles of trails. That combination works well for groups that want sessions indoors, then recreation, reflection, or team activities outside. Nearby landmarks and state parks add off-site options.
Who this fits
The center serves individuals, churches, nonprofits, community organizations, scouting groups, social groups, and corporate clients whose aims align with its mission and values. A faith connection is not required. Core values include faith, education, conservation, community, recreation, hospitality, and renewal.
A useful next step
Before inquiring, list your group size, preferred lodging type, whether you need accessible indoor meeting space, and how much outdoor programming you want. Then contact the center directly to confirm which buildings and spaces fit your dates. See Holmes Camp & Retreat Center for current facility details and rental information.
What programs and retreats are offered in 2026?
Holmes Camp & Retreat Center lists a 2026 Program Schedule on its site, but the page evidence does not spell out dates, session lengths or details for individual 2026 events. What it does confirm is the shape of the program: a mix of faith-based retreats, service weekends, community gatherings and seasonal celebrations, plus financial aid for those who need it.
Program types named for 2026
- Confirmation Retreat — aimed at church youth groups preparing for confirmation; a natural fit for youth leaders planning a group weekend.
- Men's Service Retreat — combines retreat time with hands-on service work.
- Women's Retreat — a dedicated women's gathering, typically the kind of event churches send a group to together.
- Community Night — an open, lower-commitment evening for local connection rather than an overnight stay.
- Volunteer Work Days — service-focused days on the grounds; useful for groups wanting to contribute rather than just attend.
- Earth Care in Action — ties to the site's conservation value and its 500-plus acres of hills, forest and wetlands.
- Minister and Elders Luncheon — a gathering for church leadership.
- Christmas Lessons and Carols — a seasonal worship event.
- Fundraising Dinner & Awards — a donor and community event, paired on the site with the Memory Wall and Commemorative Brick giving options.
Who each type suits
| Program type | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation, Women's, Men's retreats | Church groups wanting structured faith programming | Usually tied to fixed dates, so groups must plan around them |
| Community Night, Luncheons | Individuals and local church leaders | Short format; less of a full retreat experience |
| Volunteer Work Days, Earth Care | Service-minded groups and scouts | Focused on labor or conservation, not leisure |
| Fundraising Dinner, Carols | Supporters and the wider community | Social/fundraising in purpose rather than renewal |
How to decide
If you are booking for a group, start with the 2026 Program Schedule on Holmes Camp & Retreat Center to check dates, then ask about Financial Aid and whether your group can also reserve facilities for its own retreat outside the scheduled events. If your group is not affiliated with the Presbyterian church, that is not a barrier — the site states groups need not identify with a faith to attend, though it does note that corporate and social groups should be compatible with its mission and values.
How can I apply for financial aid to attend a program?
Financial aid at Holmes Camp & Retreat Center is handled through the camp directly, not through a general third-party scholarship service. The site lists Financial Aid as a page under its Programs section, which means the application path starts there: read that page, then contact the camp office if the instructions are unclear.
What to expect from the process
- Start on the Financial Aid page. It sits alongside the 2026 Program Schedule, so you can identify the specific program you want before requesting aid.
- Name the program and your group type. Holmes serves individuals, churches, nonprofits, scouting groups, community organizations and corporate clients, and the aid process may differ depending on whether you are applying as an individual, a family or a group leader.
- Be ready to explain need and purpose. The camp frames its work around faith, education, conservation, community, recreation, hospitality and renewal, and its mission is to educate, empower and renew. A short statement about what attending would do for you or your group fits that framing.
- Ask about deadlines early. Aid decisions usually need to be made before deposits or final payments, so confirm timing when you first make contact.
A practical next step
If you are applying for a specific program, such as a women's retreat, men's service retreat, confirmation retreat or community night, note the date first, then submit your aid request well before it. Call 845-878-6383 or use the Send Us Email link on the site if the Financial Aid page does not state a clear deadline or form. You do not need to be Presbyterian or identify with a faith to attend, so do not assume aid is limited to church-affiliated applicants.
For context on how retreat centers in the region present their programs, you can compare with Holmes Camp & Retreat Center itself and similar organizations such as Presbyterian Mission Agency, though aid decisions rest with Holmes.
What volunteer opportunities are available at Holmes Camp & Retreat Center?
Volunteer opportunities at Holmes Camp & Retreat Center center on hands-on work days and seasonal events rather than a formal year-round service program. The clearest recurring option is Volunteer Work Days, which appear as a standing item on the site's programs and events menu. That suggests a periodic, project-based format: you show up for a scheduled day, help with outdoor or facility tasks, and leave when the work is done.
The camp sits on more than 500 acres of hills, forest, and wetlands in the Hudson Valley, with four lakes, ten miles of trails, dorms, cabins, and a small conference center. That scale explains why volunteer labor matters here: trails, grounds, and rustic buildings need ongoing maintenance between guest groups.
Other ways to get involved
Several events listed alongside the work days rely on volunteers to run smoothly:
- Tag, Plant and Bake Sale — typically needs people to sort donations, staff tables, and help with setup and cleanup.
- Lobster Bake and Fundraising Dinner & Awards — large gatherings where volunteers help with preparation, serving, and logistics.
- Community Night and Friends Day — lower-commitment ways to participate and get to know the camp before volunteering for a work day.
- Earth Care in Action — likely connects to conservation work on the property, though the site does not spell out specific tasks.
A practical next step
If you want to volunteer, the most reliable route is to contact the camp directly and ask two questions: when the next Volunteer Work Day is scheduled, and what kind of help they need most. Phone: 845-878-6383. The camp is at 60 Denton Lake Road, Holmes, NY 12531, less than two hours from New York City.
How to decide if it fits you
| If you want... | Best fit |
|---|---|
| A one-day, task-focused commitment | Volunteer Work Days |
| To help with events and meet people | Fundraising Dinner, Lobster Bake, Tag/Plant/Bake Sale |
| Outdoor conservation work | Earth Care in Action or grounds projects |
| A low-pressure first visit | Community Night or Friends Day |
Because the site does not publish a detailed volunteer sign-up page or role descriptions, treat the list above as a starting point and confirm specifics with staff. Groups — churches, scout troops, nonprofits, or corporate teams — are explicitly welcomed at Holmes, so a service day can also work as a group activity if you arrange it in advance.
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