Retreat  Program

Program

The next Let’s Go Upstate takes place in Saratoga Springs, NY on September 13-16, 2026.

Each curated retreat experience welcomes the brightest minds and influential leaders working in higher education. Explore our program at-a-glance below. Details are shared with attendees during the event.

Four days colliding with industry leaders

Offering connection, stillness, and thought leadership.

Enjoy Saratoga’s upstate charm and healing waters.

Schedule

  • Arrive in Saratoga Springs by mid-afternoon to check-in and enjoy our first meet-and-greet. Check in starts at 3:00 pm.

    At 5:00 pm an opening reception will take place at our primary venue, Saratoga Arms.

    After settling in and meeting the group, transition out of work mode and into the retreat with a guided sound bath at Saratoga Arts. This restorative experience is designed to help you slow down, reset, and arrive fully present for the days ahead.

    Head to bed or enjoy after-hours with hosts and attendees.

  • Fuel your body and light up your brain with a farm-to-table breakfast and energizing talk from a higher education industry expert.

    From there, we move into small-group discussions where candor is welcome, peers share what they know, and practical insight is prioritized over presentation.

    The afternoon weaves learning with experience through a series of curated city strolls designed for you to make connections and spark creativity without over-programming the day.

    Monday afternoon we’re headed out of the city to capture Upstate in the fall.

    We’ll close with hosted small-group dinners at select Saratoga restaurants. These intentionally sized dinners will extend the day’s conversations in a more personal setting.

  • Start your day with motion, a morning walk, yoga, or a group fitness class.

    Back at Saratoga Arms, the focus shifts to content creation. Attendees will have structured opportunities to record podcasts, capture video conversations, and co-create thought leadership with peers. This time is designed to help you articulate your perspective, test ideas out loud, and leave with tangible assets you can use long after the retreat ends.

    In the afternoon, we have time for attendee-led learning. You might teach a skill, share a framework, or pose a challenge you want help working through.

    Next, for a change of setting, we’ll come together for a hands-on cooking class at Franklin Square Market.

    Tuesday closes with a casual group reception. No agenda. No programming. Just one last chance to connect, reflect, and celebrate the community we’ve built before heading home.

  • Start your morning with a sunrise walk, stopping for a sip of Saratoga’s healing spring waters.

    Enjoy a farewell breakfast before traveling home inspired and refreshed.

    The retreat wraps up by 11:00 am.