Testimonials
Interested in bringing your organization or group to Loyola's Retreat and Ecology Campus? Check out what a few former clients have to say about their experience at LUREC.
"'Enjoyed our time at LUREC' is an understatement! LUREC facility is so well-loved by our group; guest rooms, showers, meeting rooms, kitchen area, sanctuary, etc., all clean, comfortable, well-maintained and accommodating! Meals and staff serving were exceptional! Kevin & Rylie are a 'dynamic duo'; both awesome resources for our months of planning and all needs/questions during our stay! The professional and personal attention to everything was outstanding; always receptive, thoughtful, resourceful, helpful, and courteous towards our questions and needs!"
- Nancy Pitsch, Walk to Emmaus, Chicago 7.27.23
"LUREC is one of the best places to host a retreat at. Each time, we are greeted with very kind people who are as enthusiastic about our retreat weekend as we are. They are willing to help jump any hurdles we come across during our stay and they constantly make sure we are enjoying our time. On top of it all, their food is always delicious and they easily accommodate any dietary restrictions our attendees have. We always look forward to returning to LUREC!"
- Lexi Hitchens, St. Francis de Sales, Chicago 7.14.23
"LUREC was great! Everyone loved the place; the winter colors still vivid, the beautiful chapel, and the friendly service, especially from Miss Rylie. The delicious food and environment... this was by far the best choice for our annual retreat. I have nothing but positive comments."
- Francisco Arriaga, St. Paul Catholic Church, Chicago 6.29.23
"When I arrive at LUREC, the environment sets me in a different mode from my usual routine. Whether visiting as a participant or leader, the comfortable and well-designed facilities tend to the practical and spiritual needs of a transformative retreat. The grounds are beautiful in every season, and offer something for everyone to place themselves in God's time. The staff does an outstanding job and the food is fresh and delicious!"
- Florence Merkl-Deutsch, Director of Mission & Values, DePaul College Prep, Chicago 1.30.17
"LUREC is a clean, functional, hospitable place for our high school retreats. We especially appreciate the customizability of the experience: we are able to request a meeting room with a specific layout and have access to the necessary technology for our activities; we can get good break-out spaces for our small-group discussions; we have a beautiful chapel with full liturgical supplies to hold our prayer services and Masses; and we have an amazing kitchen staff who will schedule meals at times that fit our unique schedule and prepare excellent, healthy meals that can also accommodate those with dietary needs. We have appreciated the responsiveness of the staff to supporting our retreats and always enjoy our time at LUREC."
-Dan Masterton, Campus Minister, St. Benedict Parish & Preparatory School, Chicago, 1.12.17
"WOW... the debate retreat was HONESTLY the absolute BEST thing I have EVER done with our debate team during my four years of coaching. THANK YOU SO MUCH for making our time at your facility absolutely PERFECT from start to finish :) Thank you so much for everything, and we look forward to coming back again next year! You're THE BEST! "
- Andy Fine, Debate Team Coach, Lane Technical College Prep High School, 6.1.15
"We would like to thank you and your amazing staff for hosting us for our Managers team building retreat at the Loyola University Chicago Retreat and Ecology Campus. From greeting us upon arrival, through all the activities, meals and our send off, you and your team were extraordinarily professional, accommodating, and gracious. We are particularly grateful for the 3 hours of sun and clear blue skies that you made happen, a spiritual place indeed. We want to especially thank our facilitator, Jeff, who impressed us all. He was extremely engaging, talented, insightful, and thought provoking. Without Jeff, we were just throwing chickens at each other, jumping rope, and running around with blindfolds. He really helped us understand how each of the activities related to our organization, customers, and/ or interactions with one another. Lastly, we would like to commend you and the LUREC team on maintaining a beautiful, comfortable, and impressive campus and facilities. We felt like we were on vacation in a faraway land. Lunch was outstanding as well. One of our team members even had three servings! I will be recommending your offerings to my network of business associates. I can think of countless organizations that could benefit tremendously from a day at LUREC. Thank you again for a wonderful day. We look forward to our next retreat to LUREC sometime soon."
- Timothy P. Schmitt, President, Deerfields Bakery, 4.13.15
"The Admin team at Woodstock D200 enjoyed the Challenge Course so much last year that we are wanting to return for part II. The team is ready for a real challenge. Thanks."
- George Oslovich, Assistant Superintendent for Middle And High School Education, Woodstock Community Unit School District #200, 3.31.15
"I am so glad that we worked with you on coordinating the team building program! Everyone I talked to enjoyed it, and in talking to the director of my program, she seemed to think it was a wonderful idea and that we should do it again next year! Thank you so much."
- Hannah Campbell Gustafson, Ministry Area Assistant, Master of Divinity Program, University of Chicago, 11.10.14
"I cannot thank you both enough for executing such an incredible experience for our Board of Directors this past Sunday. William did a wonderful job of engaging and involving our Board Members while also working through communication issues and other concerns that we have been having. I greatly appreciate all of the efforts that went in to make the experience possible. We are hoping to have our Board Retreat in Chicago again next year and we would be interested in working with you again."
- Caroline McClain, Director of Development, Hillside Health Care International, 10.31.14
"I just wanted to say thank you for providing my team with a fantastic experience this past Saturday. The boys had an amazing time, and all commented on how they felt closer to each other by the end of the day. Both my assistant coach and I loved the activities they went through, the process of discussion during activities, and of course the culminating activity of the high ropes course. My only regret is that I didn't try that course! I would also like to say that Frank was very impressive all day long. He clearly has a talent for this job and I thought he handled our kids incredibly well. I couldn't have asked for a better facilitator."
- Eric Willson, Head Boys Soccer Coach, Wellness Department, St. Charles North HS, 8.17.14
Interested in bringing your organization or group to Loyola's Retreat and Ecology Campus? Check out what a few former clients have to say about their experience at LUREC.
"'Enjoyed our time at LUREC' is an understatement! LUREC facility is so well-loved by our group; guest rooms, showers, meeting rooms, kitchen area, sanctuary, etc., all clean, comfortable, well-maintained and accommodating! Meals and staff serving were exceptional! Kevin & Rylie are a 'dynamic duo'; both awesome resources for our months of planning and all needs/questions during our stay! The professional and personal attention to everything was outstanding; always receptive, thoughtful, resourceful, helpful, and courteous towards our questions and needs!"
- Nancy Pitsch, Walk to Emmaus, Chicago 7.27.23
"LUREC is one of the best places to host a retreat at. Each time, we are greeted with very kind people who are as enthusiastic about our retreat weekend as we are. They are willing to help jump any hurdles we come across during our stay and they constantly make sure we are enjoying our time. On top of it all, their food is always delicious and they easily accommodate any dietary restrictions our attendees have. We always look forward to returning to LUREC!"
- Lexi Hitchens, St. Francis de Sales, Chicago 7.14.23
"LUREC was great! Everyone loved the place; the winter colors still vivid, the beautiful chapel, and the friendly service, especially from Miss Rylie. The delicious food and environment... this was by far the best choice for our annual retreat. I have nothing but positive comments."
- Francisco Arriaga, St. Paul Catholic Church, Chicago 6.29.23
"When I arrive at LUREC, the environment sets me in a different mode from my usual routine. Whether visiting as a participant or leader, the comfortable and well-designed facilities tend to the practical and spiritual needs of a transformative retreat. The grounds are beautiful in every season, and offer something for everyone to place themselves in God's time. The staff does an outstanding job and the food is fresh and delicious!"
- Florence Merkl-Deutsch, Director of Mission & Values, DePaul College Prep, Chicago 1.30.17
"LUREC is a clean, functional, hospitable place for our high school retreats. We especially appreciate the customizability of the experience: we are able to request a meeting room with a specific layout and have access to the necessary technology for our activities; we can get good break-out spaces for our small-group discussions; we have a beautiful chapel with full liturgical supplies to hold our prayer services and Masses; and we have an amazing kitchen staff who will schedule meals at times that fit our unique schedule and prepare excellent, healthy meals that can also accommodate those with dietary needs. We have appreciated the responsiveness of the staff to supporting our retreats and always enjoy our time at LUREC."
-Dan Masterton, Campus Minister, St. Benedict Parish & Preparatory School, Chicago, 1.12.17
"WOW... the debate retreat was HONESTLY the absolute BEST thing I have EVER done with our debate team during my four years of coaching. THANK YOU SO MUCH for making our time at your facility absolutely PERFECT from start to finish :) Thank you so much for everything, and we look forward to coming back again next year! You're THE BEST! "
- Andy Fine, Debate Team Coach, Lane Technical College Prep High School, 6.1.15
"We would like to thank you and your amazing staff for hosting us for our Managers team building retreat at the Loyola University Chicago Retreat and Ecology Campus. From greeting us upon arrival, through all the activities, meals and our send off, you and your team were extraordinarily professional, accommodating, and gracious. We are particularly grateful for the 3 hours of sun and clear blue skies that you made happen, a spiritual place indeed. We want to especially thank our facilitator, Jeff, who impressed us all. He was extremely engaging, talented, insightful, and thought provoking. Without Jeff, we were just throwing chickens at each other, jumping rope, and running around with blindfolds. He really helped us understand how each of the activities related to our organization, customers, and/ or interactions with one another. Lastly, we would like to commend you and the LUREC team on maintaining a beautiful, comfortable, and impressive campus and facilities. We felt like we were on vacation in a faraway land. Lunch was outstanding as well. One of our team members even had three servings! I will be recommending your offerings to my network of business associates. I can think of countless organizations that could benefit tremendously from a day at LUREC. Thank you again for a wonderful day. We look forward to our next retreat to LUREC sometime soon."
- Timothy P. Schmitt, President, Deerfields Bakery, 4.13.15
"The Admin team at Woodstock D200 enjoyed the Challenge Course so much last year that we are wanting to return for part II. The team is ready for a real challenge. Thanks."
- George Oslovich, Assistant Superintendent for Middle And High School Education, Woodstock Community Unit School District #200, 3.31.15
"I am so glad that we worked with you on coordinating the team building program! Everyone I talked to enjoyed it, and in talking to the director of my program, she seemed to think it was a wonderful idea and that we should do it again next year! Thank you so much."
- Hannah Campbell Gustafson, Ministry Area Assistant, Master of Divinity Program, University of Chicago, 11.10.14
"I cannot thank you both enough for executing such an incredible experience for our Board of Directors this past Sunday. William did a wonderful job of engaging and involving our Board Members while also working through communication issues and other concerns that we have been having. I greatly appreciate all of the efforts that went in to make the experience possible. We are hoping to have our Board Retreat in Chicago again next year and we would be interested in working with you again."
- Caroline McClain, Director of Development, Hillside Health Care International, 10.31.14
"I just wanted to say thank you for providing my team with a fantastic experience this past Saturday. The boys had an amazing time, and all commented on how they felt closer to each other by the end of the day. Both my assistant coach and I loved the activities they went through, the process of discussion during activities, and of course the culminating activity of the high ropes course. My only regret is that I didn't try that course! I would also like to say that Frank was very impressive all day long. He clearly has a talent for this job and I thought he handled our kids incredibly well. I couldn't have asked for a better facilitator."
- Eric Willson, Head Boys Soccer Coach, Wellness Department, St. Charles North HS, 8.17.14