Join us for a weekend away, nestled among the trees, at the foot of Great North Mountain at Orkney Springs, VA, in the Shenandoah Valley.
Check out this video from year’s past from the Escape Weekend archives!
Why Escape?
There are hundreds of reasons why you should come. Here are a few:
- Escape to the hills and celebrate the beauty of nature
- Home-cooked meals (that you don’t have to cook)
- Beautiful mountains and trails
- Programs for children, youth, and adults
- Porches with rocking chairs
- Cottages with wood-burning fireplaces
- Bonfire with s’mores and singing on Saturday evening
- Woodland labyrinth
- Pickleball and tennis
- Did we mention Escaping?
The Basics
The Place
Shrine Mont is a place where people are more important than things; where rest and recreation are more important than appointments and tasks. It is a “place apart” where, we can connect and laugh together, share stories, and set life down for a while. Shrine Mont is a place for all of us to play and celebrate all the seasons of life.
Where is Shrine Mont?
Shrine Mont is nestled among the trees at the foot of Great North Mountain at Orkney Springs, VA, in the Shenandoah Valley, less than two hours from Falls Church Presbyterian Church.
Programming
Each year at Escape Weekend, we offer a variety of programming for all ages. This year we’ll focus on spiritual gifts and the message in 1 Corinthians 12:12, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”
We will worship on Sunday morning in the beautiful open-air Shrine, the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, which owns Shrine Mont.
Accommodations
Lodging is in cottages reserved exclusively for FCPC use. Meals are served and eaten family style in Tucker Lodge.
Free-time Activities
Shrine Mont has something for everyone – unless you are looking for TV! Activities include hiking, star-gazing, porch-sitting, sleeping, playing music with friends, reading, games, tennis, pickleball, walking the labyrinth, exploring the surrounding woodlands, communing with nature, and getting to know your fellow escapees better, or finding a quiet spot of your own.
Pricing and Registration
CHILDREN
Age 0 – 3: $0
Age 4 – 12: $85
YOUTH & ADULTS
Single Occupancy Room: $280/person
Double Occupancy Room: $215/person
Family Maximum Cap: $600/family
Prices include 2 nights lodging, all meals (Friday dinner-Sunday lunch), snacks, s’mores, and so much more
T-SHIRTS
Available to add on: $20/each
Registration is open June 15 – August 1
Reserve your place with a non-refundable deposit of $100/household
Pay in full by Saturday, July 15, to receive a $30 discount/household
Payment can be made online or by check. For check payments, please indicate Escape 2023 in the memo line of the check and mail to: Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Is there cell service and Wi-Fi?
Answer: Yes, if you’re in the right place. Cell service is spotty at lower elevations on the grounds. Highspeed internet is available in all public buildings, but NOT in the individual cottages.
Question: Are special diets accommodated?
Answer: Yes. Shrine Mont’s kitchen staff is able to provide alternatives to the regular menu to accommodate most allergies and dietary preferences. The registration form requests information about such needs.
Question: How long is the drive to Shrine Mont and how do I go?
Answer: The 110 mile commute to Orkney Springs from Falls Church via I-66 and I-81, under ideal circumstances, is under two hours, but with construction on I-66, conditions are rarely ideal. On a Friday afternoon in early November, expect a 2¼ to 2½ hr. commute. The earlier you leave town the better. Directions will be provided in the Escape Weekend information booklet that registered participants will receive later.
Question: Will there be a book exchange as in past years?
Answer: Absolutely! Drop your books off when you check in on Friday. Help yourself to others at any time.
Looking for more information about Escape?
Contact Marnie Sarver
Specific questions about registration or payment?
Contact Mary Salpini
Get Connected
There are many ways to get involved in the life and ministry here at Falls Church Presbyterian. Whether you are looking to join a ministry team, serve others through our Welcome Table ministry, sing in the choir or simply find a community to call home, we welcome you and hope that you will find grace, wholeness, and renewal here.