During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half of employed Americans transitioned to remote positions. As the pandemic progressed, many of those temporary cases became permanent as companies recognized the significant benefits of a remote workplace. For our own Foundation, these have included increased productivity, better work-life balance, and redirecting the costs of our office’s rent to our programs. But having a fully remote office still requires taking time to build the culture and rapport that occurs when people see their colleagues face to face.
So, we began brainstorming in-person experiences that would help our dedicated team support one another remotely. We landed on a staff retreat at UCLA’s Lake Arrowhead Lodge, a perfect setting to combine business and personal growth, discuss new and innovative ideas, and get to know one another as not only co-workers but unique individuals.
The UCLA Lodge in Lake Arrowhead (Conference Center & Family Resort) offers spacious and beautiful grounds with an abundance of chalets and cottages that can accommodate a variety of group sizes. Most importantly, they are taking the strict and necessary precautions a pandemic requires. This includes offering a variety of outdoor activities and requiring masks to be worn at all times in indoor public spaces.
During our 2-night stay, we worked hard, generating new strategies for marketing and fundraising, and discussing ways to streamline processes across the Foundation. We also played hard in team bonding experiences such as employee trivia, hiking, yoga, and a paint & sip class.
We are grateful to our friends at UCLA Lake Arrowhead for hosting an amazing retreat that our amazing team is already benefitting from in so many ways.
