Students City Limits

Students City Limits

A space for middle and high school students to come together and seek a deeper love for Jesus

When
Nov 6, 2026
Nov 6, 2026
-
Nov 8, 2026
12:00 am
-
12:00 am
cost
$235
Retreat
overview

What is Students City Limits (SCL)?

This annual fall retreat is for 6th–12th graders from all six congregations of The Austin Stone to grow in their faith, build meaningful relationships and encounter Jesus.

Here's what you can expect:

  • A weekend designed to help students hear and respond to the Bible
  • A safe space to belong, where students can be known, encouraged, and poured into by leaders and peers who care
  • Unforgettable experiences—from big games to late-night hangs, all to break down walls and build lasting community
  • Focused time away to rest, reset, and connect with Jesus and others

This year's theme is New Creation. We will focus on the reality that Christ has made us new because He brought us from death to life!

The Theme Night for SCL this year is Thrift Store Prom! Grab your Discipleship Community and hit your favorite thrift stores before SCL!

This annual fall retreat is for 6th–12th graders from all six congregations of The Austin Stone to grow in their faith, build meaningful relationships and encounter Jesus.

Here's what you can expect:

  • A weekend designed to help students hear and respond to the Bible
  • A safe space to belong, where students can be known, encouraged, and poured into by leaders and peers who care
  • Unforgettable experiences—from big games to late-night hangs, all to break down walls and build lasting community
  • Focused time away to rest, reset, and connect with Jesus and others
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Retreat
information

Schedule

We'll have one mega weekend for both middle and high school students. They'll participate in sessions together, then have separate experiences for the rest of the retreat.

Friday, November 6

6:00pm
Check-In at Northwest and South
7:45pm
Leave for Pine Cove
9:30pm
Bus Arrival at Pine Cove
10:15pm
Late-Night Activity
11:30pm
Lights out

Friday, November 6

6:00pm
Check-In at Northwest and South
7:45pm
Leave for Pine Cove
9:30pm
Bus Arrival at Pine Cove
10:15pm
Late-Night Activity
11:30pm
Lights out

Saturday, November 7

8:00am
Breakfast
9:00am
Morning Devotional (Solo)
9:30am
Session #1
11:00am
Small-Group discussion
12:00pm
Lunch
12:45pm
Cabin time
1:30pm
Free Time
6:00pm
Dinner
6:45pm
Session #2
8:15pm
Small-Group Discussion
9:30pm
Theme Night
11:30pm
Lights Out

Sunday, November 8

8:00am
Breakfast
9:00am
Session #3
10:30am
Congregation Time
11:30am
Lunch
12:00pm
Load Buses
12:30pm
Leave Pine Cove
2:30pm
Arrive at Northwest and South (between 2:00-3:00pm)

Speaker & Worship Leader

Walt Lengel

Speaker

Walt is the Associate Pastor at The Austin Stone Downtown Congregation. He's a father of three (Juniper, Finn, and Felix) and is married to Abbey! Walt is a born and raised Austinite, a Plan II graduate from The University of Texas at Austin, and a thespian at heart. He loves Dungeons & Dragons, anything written by Tolkien, and etymology (the study of words and their origins).

Efrain Garces

Worship Leader

Efrain Garces is a worship leader at The Austin Stone St. John Congregation. He is a songwriter, artist, husband to his wife Katie, and father of two boys, Max and Ezra. As a second-generation immigrant, he grew up in the heart of San Antonio and has a deep passion for those with similar upbringings in the inner city of Austin. Efrain loves making music with friends and watching all things Green Bay Packers, SA Spurs, and Man City FC.

Retreat
registration

Registration & Pricing

All tickets cover housing, meals, resources, and any scheduled programming. Scholarships are available, and applications close September 20.

Regular
Registration

Aug 16 - Oct 11

$235

Register Now
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This annual fall retreat is for 6th–12th graders from all six congregations of The Austin Stone to grow in their faith, build meaningful relationships and encounter Jesus.

Here's what you can expect:

  • A weekend designed to help students hear and respond to the Bible
  • A safe space to belong, where students can be known, encouraged, and poured into by leaders and peers who care
  • Unforgettable experiences—from big games to late-night hangs, all to break down walls and build lasting community
  • Focused time away to rest, reset, and connect with Jesus and others

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SCL?

SCL is a weekend-long event where students at The Austin Stone gather to spend time with Jesus and build relationships with one another. Each day includes worship, teaching, small groups, devotionals, breakouts, free time, and late-night activities.

Middle and high schoolers will participate in sessions together, but the rest of the retreat will include separate experiences.

Where will students stay?

SCL is held at Pine Cove Camps in Columbus, Texas. Students stay in bunkhouses with other students of their age and gender, and we host all activities at the Pine Cove campgrounds.

Middle and high schoolers will have different sleeping accommodations, with middle schoolers at Pine Cove Silverado and high schoolers at Pine Cove Ridge.

Who can participate?

Any student currently in 6th–12th grade can participate! Students are encouraged to invite their friends, even if they don’t attend The Austin Stone.

Who will supervise and lead students during SCL?

Your students will mainly spend time with their Discipleship Community (DComm), which is a small group of the same grade/gender, and their DComm Leaders. During worship, games, free time, and meals, students will get to spend time with students from other small groups.

How do you vet your leaders and volunteers?

Leaders participating in SCL have completed our safety onboarding process, which includes applications, interviews, background checks, child abuse prevention training, and other Austin Stone policy and procedure training. Your students' safety is our TOP priority.

What is your cancellation/refund policy?

To help us steward our finances well, families can receive a full refund if a registration is canceled by October 16 (21 days before SCL). If you cancel between October 16 and 27, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel fewer than 10 days before the event, you will not receive a refund.

If you are experiencing a significant hardship, illness, or other extenuating circumstances, please contact students@austinstone.org to discuss your situation.

How much does SCL cost? Are there scholarships or payment plans available?

SCL costs $235 per student! Upon registration, you can optionally opt into a payment plan that automatically withdraws payments from the provided payment method.

If you'd like to apply for a scholarship, you can do so here by Sunday, September 20. Once this form closes, our team will begin the scholarship approval process. You will be notified of the awarded scholarship amount, if applicable, during the week of September 28 to October 2.

What if my student has a prescription medication?

All medications must be in the original prescription bottle and submitted to the camp nurse at check-in. The camp nurse will distribute all prescription medications. Students may NOT keep medication (including over-the-counter medicines) with them or in their cabins, except inhalers and/or EpiPens. When registering for SCL, you will submit all medical needs for your student, which the nurse will reference when providing care during camp.

Where and when should I check in and pick up my student?

Check-in is on Friday, November 6, and pick-up is on Sunday, November 8.

Each student is assigned a check-in time range and location based on their Discipleship Community's congregation. If your student was invited by a friend, they will attend with the congregation their friend is a part of through their Discipleship Community.

If your student is attending with the Northwest, Downtown, St. John, or North congregations:

  • You will check in your student at The Austin Stone Northwest (9001 N FM 620, Austin, TX 78726) on November 6 between 6:00–7:00pm.
  • You will pick up your student at the same location on November 8 between 2:00–3:00pm. You’ll receive texts on the day of with our arrival time!

If your student is attending with the South or West congregations:

  • You will check in your student at The Austin Stone South (11726 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748) on November 6 between 6:00–7:00pm.
  • You will pick up your student at the same location on November 8 between 2:00–3:00pm. You’ll receive texts on the day of with our arrival time!

Keep an eye out for an email for more information!

Still have questions?

Email us to start a conversation!

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