10 Exciting Activities to Take Your Chapter Retreat In 2025 to the Next Level

In this fast-paced world that changes faster than TikTok trends, Greek org retreats come in clutch. Taking a break can be a powerful tool to recharge—especially with a rejuvenating retreat! You can return to your routine with fresh energy and concentration once you've taken the time you need.

Let's be honest: between midterms, rush events, philanthropy planning, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, we're all running on empty more often than we'd like to admit. That's exactly why stepping away from campus for a hot minute isn't just nice to have, it's literally essential for your mental health and chapter unity.

Plus, they give us a break from being slaves to our gadgets. There’s nothing like some good ol' easel pads, sharpies, and real talk to keep us healthy.

But let's be real, some chapter retreats are straight-up snooze-fests. You gotta plan them out right to make 'em work.

First off, your sorority retreat or fraternity retreat should be productive. It’s not always about just going for fun and games. Yeah, you lure them in with a dream about sipping on koozies by the pool, but really your objective is to encourage bonding. A retreat is like a workday (albeit a fun one!) with picturesque views. It's all about learning and making moves for the team.

It's especially fun if you go somewhere different! Switching it up can act like the perfect break you need. You could try the great outdoors and chill by the lake, soak in some nature, or even channel your inner reality TV star and hit up a unique spot like 'The Bachelor' or 'The Bachelorette'.

Whatever you do, don't let your chapter retreat become a humdrum ordeal. Break up the talk with interactive activities, like partnering up or small group discussions. Keep it engaging, so you don't lose the squad's focus.

Talking about not-losing-your-squad’s-focus…

Here are 10 easy-to-execute chapter retreat ideas that will add the ‘fun factor’ to your weekend together!

The Battle of the Brains

Do your friends often assume they are smarter than you? Show them who's boss with some trivia! It could be about any of your shared interests: pop culture, Star Wars, Harry Potter (of course), F1, NBA, or even questions about each other!

Make sure to break out into teams randomly so it’s all fair and nobody can complain when they lose! And who knows? You might even learn something new that’s not—how the mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell or that in the movie Titanic, Rose could have saved Jack by scooting over a little bit.

Here's how to make things more interesting: create different categories that reflect your chapter's personality.

Maybe you have a round about campus legends, another about your chapter's history (like certain accomplishments your founder was none for), and definitely include a "guess the baby photo" round because nothing's funnier than seeing your usually put-together president as a toddler with spaghetti sauce all over their face.

Consider having prizes that are actually worth competing for, too. Maybe the winning team gets first pick for formal dates, or they're exempt from the next chapter clean-up duty. Make it stakes-y enough that people care, but not so serious that friendships are ruined over who knows more Marvel movie trivia.

Ms. Sabrina Carpenter Who?

Who doesn't love a little singing and dancing? You can hit up a karaoke spot or rent a machine (you’d be surprised how many of them are on Amazon) and get the party started. No pressure to sing if you're not feeling it, but if you want to and need a push - ask your friends to hype you up! With the right energy, you’ll be letting loose and having the time of your life in no time.

Create themed rounds to keep it interesting: throwback Thursday hits from middle school, current TikTok sound favorites, or even "songs that describe your college experience so far." The person who can nail Zara Larsson's "Midnight Sun" while hitting all the moves deserves legendary status. And for the shy singers, remember that duets are always an option. Sometimes you just need your bestie to share the spotlight (and split the potential embarrassment).

Improv Comedy Night

Okay, don’t scroll yet! Have you ever played "Questions Only"? It's a game where you can only communicate by asking questions. It's like trying to navigate a conversation while blindfolded and on a pogo stick. But guess what? It's ridiculously fun! So add some improv games that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about communication.

Improv is secretly genius for team building because it forces you to think on your feet and work together without a script. Start with simple games like "Yes, And" where every response has to build on what the person before you said, rather than shutting it down. It's basically the opposite of how most conversations go on social media, where everyone's trying to have the wittiest comeback.

And, if you have ever felt like you wanted to follow in the footsteps of Tina Fey or Will Ferrell… Well, get ready to live out your dreams because we are introducing you to mystery bag skits! Here’s how it’s done: You and your squad will be given a bag of random objects and tasked with creating a skit that includes all of them. Who knows what hilarious scenarios you'll come up with, like a talking toilet or a dancing cactus? The possibilities are endless, especially during your brotherhood or sisterhood retreat nightfall activities!

Fibs and Friendship

We all know that the best way to bond with someone is over some good old-fashioned lies! With two truths and a lie, you'll get to hear outrageous stories about your new friends and try to guess which one isn't true.

It's a game that's sure to bring out everyone's competitive side, but more importantly - it’ll help your sisters and brothers get to know each other in a less awkward and more fun way.

You think you know your roommate, and then you find out they were once an extra in a Disney Channel original movie, or that they're secretly related to someone semi-famous, or that they've never actually seen The Office (which might be the most shocking revelation of all). The key is encouraging people to make their truths interesting and their lies believable.

Leave the Indoors Behind

Unfortunately, the fitness girlies and workout bros are right. Movement and nature actually help you feel good (side effects do include wanting to talk about it a lot, but that’s fine, we think!)

So if you’re feeling pent up, It's time to hit the trails! Just remember to pack lots of water, have a route planned, and wear cool hiking clothes. And, it’s not just about moving your body, honestly, hiking is really fun when you are with your Greek org peeps!

Don't stress if not everyone's ready for a 10-mile trek—even a nature walk around a local park or lakeside path works. The goal is getting outside, moving together, and maybe having those deeper conversations that seem to happen naturally when you're walking side by side instead of sitting in a circle staring at each other. And yes, stopping for coffee or ice cream afterward is practically mandatory.

PowerPoint Night!

Who doesn’t love these? For starters, you can indulge in a Shark Tank-style presentation competition. Pull out that formal wear you only ever wore once if you want to go all out.

So how do you go about this? Officially, there's only one rule: if your presentation goes over three minutes, there’s a penalty that everyone agrees on beforehand. You gather up your team of presenters, come up with killer pitches on the most random topics, and make it snappy. Think of it like the ultimate Avengers challenge, where the fate of the entire team rests on your PowerPoint skills.

A three-minute time limit is crucial because it keeps the energy high and prevents anyone from going too deep into the weeds. Plus, watching someone frantically try to wrap up their pitch about why hot dogs are sandwiches while the timer counts down is peak entertainment. You can also give out awards at the end like "most convincing," "funniest," and "most likely to actually work" so everyone has a chance to win something.

Bring on the Friendly Competition

Believe it or not, competitive activities can also let people’s fun personalities shine in the best way. You've got your strategists plotting elaborate game plans, your trash talkers providing hilarious commentary, and your surprisingly athletic people who've been hiding their competitive side all semester. 

The key is picking activities where skill level doesn't matter as much as teamwork and enthusiasm. Laser tag, tag football, paintball, or tag rugby - pick your favorite. 

Get creative with team names and may the best squad win. And don't worry, nobody in your chapter retreat will be sore losers... they'll just be salty about it for a minute or two—but eventually, you'll all be good. 

Escape the Zoom Trap

This one is for the “2020 was 5 years ago?!?” people.

All Zoom calls don’t have to be a nightmare. You can use breakout rooms as mystery rooms your chapter sisters need to escape! To break out of Zoom's virtual jail, you'll need to act quickly, collaborate with your team, and solve puzzles. But be careful not to over-excite yourself and unplug your Wi-Fi unintentionally like Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. 

Virtual escape rooms are perfect for chapters with members in different locations or when weather doesn't cooperate with outdoor plans. The beauty is that everyone's already familiar with breakout rooms, so you're just repurposing the technology for something actually fun instead of mandatory group work.

MasterChef New Season?

What sorority retreat or fraternity retreat doesn’t have good food? That’s why, our dear culinary comrades, it's time to get those taste buds tingling and those pots and pans sizzling! We’re talking: full-fledged master-chef-style skills, and let us tell you, they ought to be hotter than a jalapeno pepper in the summer heat.

Step one is to plan a menu that you know everyone will love. Then, it's time to divvy up the teams and their duties in each team. From chopping to stirring to flipping, everyone's got a role to play in this cookout And yes, just like Masterchef - have everyone grade the final dishes on presentation and taste.

Make a Difference

Last but not least, nothing brings your sisters/brothers closer together quite like volunteering. 

Service projects hit different during retreats because you're working toward something bigger than your chapter while strengthening bonds with each other. There's something about shared physical work, whether it's painting playground equipment or sorting donations, that really strengthens bonds.

Beyond that, everyone gets to help the community, pick up new skills, and build perspective on the cause you volunteer for. From mentorship initiatives, and street sweeping to beach clean-ups there is a tonne of possibilities available. Just look out for one near you.

And of course, no retreat is complete without some sick merch to remember the good times! Check out these best-selling retreat designs or create your own using our design tool to customize merch your chapter will love.

If you do any of the activities we suggested, we’d love to hear about how it went. For REAL, you can totally DM us on our socials with your retreat pics—we genuinely want to hear your stories!