Pacifica Stories

Seven charter buses. More than 360 students, faculty, and staff. Four unforgettable days together at Lost Canyon in Williams, Arizona, 7,000 feet above sea level in the beauty of a ponderosa pine forest.

Pacifica’s 22nd Annual All-School Retreat was a journey filled with joy, friendship, reflection, and community. From an impromptu dining-hall dance party to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” to ten minutes of silent reflection beneath the night sky, the retreat gave students opportunities to celebrate together, slow down, and consider the deeper dimensions of their spiritual, personal, and emotional lives.

Throughout the week, DC and Marvel battled for the coveted Pacifica Cup through color wars, lip-sync contests, skits, athletic competitions, and team challenges. Students hiked through the forest, competed in soccer, basketball, and volleyball tournaments, and went zip-lining into the lake.

There were also quieter moments: coffee with a friend, early-morning conversations with bunkmates, and milkshakes with the Head of School at the Whistlestop. Seniors continued a beloved tradition with their overnight sleep-out beneath the stars.

Yet the retreat is about much more than activities. It is where new friendships begin, classes grow closer, and students build relationships across grade levels. It is where faculty and staff join students outside the classroom to laugh, compete, reflect, and strengthen the culture we share. It is where formation and flourishing happen as students grow in faith, character, friendship, courage, and joy.

The All-School Retreat remains a highlight of the fall and one of Pacifica’s most beloved traditions. There is simply no better way to begin the school year, or to remember what makes this community so special.