Thunder, lightning, rain and some sunshine fill the mountainside at Hume Lake in the Sierra National Forest. Fresno Christian’s Class of 2026 trek up the hill for the annual Senior Retreat for a quick 48-hour trip filled with laughter, recreation games, roller skating and worship, where hearts were changed, Aug. 24-26.
This retreat is designed to help the senior class bond early in the year and get away from all of life’s constant distractions. The senior class is 90% smaller than the average high school graduating class in America, making togetherness and camaraderie key. In the past, the seniors have gone in late September, only for one night. This year, Hume Lake Christian Camp had a cancellation, and FC filled the spot. Seniors expressed happiness with the decision to go earlier in the year, saying it was a good way to kick-start the semester.
Guest speaker Brian Holland poured into the seniors through powerful messages and prayer. Students attended chapel four times during the trip, with each message following the theme of agape love. On Monday night, Holland delivered the message of Jesus’ crucifixion in great detail, which tugged at the hearts of many seniors.
Tayla Tarlton, ‘26, was moved by Holland’s message, making her reflect on the importance of fellowship.
“It’s so important to surround yourself with people who not only love and support you, but will lead you closer to the Lord,” Tarlton said. “The act of vulnerability and being genuine to one another, like Jesus, is so important in our class.”
After Holland’s message, the 49 seniors reflected on their time at Hume together. Student Liaison James Garcia asked the students to write down changes they want to bring down the mountain with them, challenging seniors to dig deeper. Some students decided to share what they had put with their classmates.
At the end of sharing, everyone placed what they had written down in a Hume Lake water bottle. This water bottle is now displayed in English teacher Brian Bulter’s classroom for students to constantly be reminded of the changes they aim to make over the school year.
Kennedy Schwab, ‘26, has been at FC for over seven years and has witnessed so many changes within her class at retreat. She desires to see great things within the senior class this year, as it is their last year before they enter the real world.
“Some things that I want to keep going throughout the rest of the year are being present in all situations,” Schwab said. “We need to continue to worship the Lord every day, and grow a bond with our classmates even more throughout the last year of being with each other.”
Many seniors cherish the early morning of Aug. 26. The students had previously planned to wake up to watch the sunrise over the serene nature of the lake. This idea quickly halted at 4 a.m. when strikes of lightning, booms of thunder, and downpouring rain drenched the camp.
Rather than letting the storm spoil their tradition, the seniors embraced the change, dubbing the morning “Senior Storm” instead of “Senior Sunrise.” They dragged their mattresses onto the deck of the girls’ cabin, where they spent the morning laughing, singing, playing games, and braiding each other’s hair. What began as a canceled plan turned into a cherished memory of joy and togetherness.
Bryce Smith, ‘26, was one of many who found himself wishing the retreat was longer and valued the time spent with his friends.
“Senior Retreat was so fun, and I enjoyed hanging out with my fellow seniors and cabin group, growing close to the Lord and my class,” Smith said. “I hope to honor Christ and my community in my senior year.”
Christ is evident in the FC Class of 2026, and the Senior Retreat was only the beginning of displaying His love. So many memories were created over the short amount of time at Hume – memories that will last a lifetime. This class aims to make this year a great one for all of the FC community, with their eyes now set on their last-ever Fresno Christian Homecoming, Sept. 26.
If you would like to share your favorite memory of Senior Retreat, please leave a comment below.
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Danielle Arndt • Sep 5, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Great article, Tabitha! The whole trip was a blast; my favorite part was for sure our spontaneous late-night worship sessions under the stars!