Even if you never leave ECCO’s premises, you’ll find plenty to do. Our grounds offer many places to reflect, work on a devotional or catch a glimpse of the local wildlife. We even have some new outdoor areas where you’ll be able to work off some excess energy.

Indoor activities include ping-pong table, pool table, puzzles, or games.

Campfire: Toast marshmallows, make s'mores, sing, talk, meditate or enjoy that special time of close friendship.

Stations Of The Cross: A wooded trail along a seasonal creek offers a time for meditation and prayer as you travel through the 14 Stations of the Cross.

The 4th Green Recreational Area: Tucked away behind stands of Ponderosa Pines, Incense Cedars and Manzanitas is ECCO’s newly-created recreation and sports area. We’ve named it the 4th Green as historically it was the 4th green of the Sky Ranch Golf Course.

Out of sight and earshot of the core of the conference center—but only a short walk away―the 4th Green offers a basketball court, grass volleyball field, soccer field and horseshoes. Sports equipment can be checked out from the office.

Team-Building (Challenge) Course: The team-building (challenge) course is an excellent tool for many types of retreats for children, men and women. It’s a fun, ECCO-facilitated outdoor activity which helps groups maintain healthy communication and develop teamwork skills. Sessions are tailored to the needs and abilities of the group. An ideal hour-long session includes 10-20 participants.

While the balance of the 4th Green is freely available to ECCO guests, a nominal fee is charged for use of the challenge course, and a reservation must be made prior to your arrival, since the session must be facilitated by a trained ECCO employee.

Self-Interpretive Nature Trail: ECCO’s self-interpretive nature trail is a mostly level, half-mile escape from all things bustling. It’s a great way to escape into your own private space for a few minutes . . . or a few hours, whatever you have available.

The single track trail travels 11 informative posts through peculiar “weeds,” edible plants, foggy meadows and ancient oaks pocked with acorn holes bored by creative woodpeckers. The trail currently ends at a lively pond. In the future more posts are planned, to incorporate additional features of this area which is becoming a teaching tool for our natural history and outdoor education classes.

Chances are you might even have the opportunity to meet some of our resident creatures as you wind along its path.