2023 Fit Together Health & Wellness Retreat

2023 Fit Together Health & Wellness Retreat

Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

September 29 – October 1, 2023

GET DIRECTIONSREGISTER TODAY

Let’s get Fit Together!

Join the Health Ministry Team

for a Health & Fitness weekend at Kulaqua

This event is designed to encourage, inform, and help introduce positive lifestyle concepts.
We can get Fit Together for Christ.

You will receive:

Fit Together t-shirt per registered attendee over the age of 4

Signed up automatically for the Fund Race 5K Run

Race t-shirt per participant

Armband to access all weekend

5 Meals, Friday supper to Sunday Brunch

*This weekend includes your sign up for Kulaqua’ s 3rd annual Fund Race.

This is going to be an exciting weekend as we get Fit Together.
God bless you always and hope to see you there.

Featured Speaker: Roy Ice
Best Selling author and host of Lifestyle Magazine

Roy Ice is the host of broadcast television’s #1 life coaching series, Lifestyle Magazine. He brings a fresh approach to viewers helping them achieve their best life possible. He has explored the rain forests of Panama, Australia, and Costa Rica, and has plunged into the freezing waters of Finland in December. He has received two awards from the Gospel Music Association as a member of the Christian band, Big Face Grace, has taught an English class to a Ukrainian Olympic Gold Medalist, and grade 12 Bible class to an American Double-Gold and Silver Medalist. He was mistaken for a major Hollywood producer for an entire day at Sony Picture Studios, and has climbed to the top of the Continental Divide. Ice is the author of the books The 12 People You Love, and 12 Things to Try While You’re Still Mortal, which climbed to the #1 Bestseller spot on Amazon Kindle Religious Books in July of 2015. And yes, he can write other books that don’t have the number 12 in the title. Case in point, in August of 2010, he was nominated for the highest award granted by the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Guild for his novel, Treasure of Heaven. Ice’s life has been thoroughly upgraded in every way by Christ’s relentless grace, and he has helped people to live their divine purpose on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica. He still has not given up hope of taking the Good News to the Emperor Penguins of Antarctica, however. Since 1993, Ice has been a pastor, college chaplain, and religion professor in Texas and California, and now serves as the Speaker/Director of Faith For Today broadcast ministries.

Speaker
Angeline David Brauer,Dr PH, MHS, RDN
North American Division Health Ministries Director

Dr. Brauer has served as the Health Ministries Director for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists since 2016. She holds a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in Nutrition from Loma Linda University School of Public Health and a Master of Health Science (MHS) in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She previously worked at the Seventh-day Adventist Guam Clinic as wellness director and dietitian, and at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as a senior research assistant. In 2023, she was recognized as one of 15 “Women of Faith on the Frontlines” by the US Department of Health and Human Services. She enjoys going on adventures with her husband Jonathan and puppy Ella, coming up with new recipes, working on craft projects, teaching, brainstorming about ministry, and playing with her nieces and nephews.

SEMINARS

B.E. S.M.A.R.T:
Principles of Healthy Living
Grace Daley, Don Bovell, and Ann Burnett

B.E. S.M.A.R.T. is led by Grace Daley, M.Ed., Don Bovell, MD, FAAEM, and Ann Burnett, M.B.A. Grace Daley is a former WNBA and FIBA player who currently serves as the Health Education Director of FreeD.O.M. Clinic USA and is also an educator. Don Bovell is an Emergency Room physician who is certied in Plant-Based Nutrition and currently training at the world’s leading online culinary school, Rouxbe. Ann Burnett is the Executive Director of FreeD.O.M. Clinic USA and United Hands, Inc., and is also a certied Zumba instructor. B.E. S.M.A.R.T. brings out the principles of a healthy lifestyle and will guide us on the practical steps we need to take to get there.

Your Mental Health Toolbox
Candy Devore

Candy Graves DeVore is a licensed marriage and family therapist on the pastoral staff at Forest Lake Church. Being a therapist is the fulllment of a lifelong calling that meandered through ministering in education in our boarding schools and as an editor at the Review and Herald Publishing Association. All these life experiences have culminated in the privilege of continuing in ministry by serving as the individual, couples, and family therapist at Forest Lake Church. Candy’s husband, Gary, left his position as boys’ dean after 18 years to continue his work as a psychiatric nurse in Winter Park. They have been blessed with two lovely daughters and two very ne sons-in-law. Candy and Gary are further blessed to live in Apopka with Candy’s parents, Sandy, 99 and Bedi, 96.

Yummy Vegan Cooking
Heidi Perez Quintero

Heidi Perez Quintero lives in Orlando Florida with her husband, Gerson. She is a graduate of Antillean University and a software developer. Her passions are classical music and vegetarian cooking, and for the last few years has specialized in vegan cooking. She has several cooking demonstrations on YouTube and was featured at the 2021 Florida Conference Camp Meeting. She is looking forward to meeting you at Fit Together!

The Art of Reading Labels
Luisa Cordero

Welcome to making a difference in your life! Luisa Oliver-Cordero, RDN, LDN is a registered licensed dietitian-nutritionist, lifestyle educator, and Medicare provider. For more than 30 years, it has been her privilege to help her patients face the challenges of improving lifestyle and nutrition habits for better health and a better life. She has seen 26 patients reverse type 2 diabetes, 3 reverse kidney disease, and witness countless others succeed in their health goals and become more independent and condent. This has been her passion and joy. During her free time, she enjoys being involved in ministries, helping others, talking to our Creator while in nature, feeling the breeze by the lakes and beaches, and spend time with her children

Are You Tired of Being Tired?
Dr. Clelia Lima

Dr. Clelia Lima is the founder of FeelWell Telehealth since 2020. The COVID pandemic urged her to offer a convenient option for patients who were missing needed healthcare. Her telehealth primary care practice is grounded on intentional connection with her patients. Dr. Lima is an experienced executive and clinician. She has worked as a family nurse practitioner since 2008 and is known for being passionate about wellness. She collaborated in the development and implementation of multi-cultural wellness programs. Dr. Lima presents a live Q&A podcast on YouTube every Tuesday with relevant health topics for the community. Her devotion for serving the underserved has taken her to several medical mission trips and has fueled her commitment to Shepherd’s Hope for over 15 years. She is a member of WholeLife Church. Dr. Lima earned her master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Central Florida where she has been a courtesy faculty member for over ten years. Numerous health news sites have referenced her research studies in sleep disorders. She has been a guest speaker on TV, radio, and national and international conferences

Principles of Stability Wellness
Maria Touchard

Maria is married with two children and is a member of Forest Lake SDA Church, where she enjoys being involved in health ministries. She has several certications in Stability Wellness and will be focusing on restorative stretching exercises to improve exibility and balance. She also makes worshipping Jesus a central part of her class. To maximize the benets of this class, please bring a mat and a bottle of water.

Learning Self Massage
Veronica Sommer Hueston

Veronica Sommer-Hueston has worked in the Central Florida area as a massage therapist since 1990. Massage Therapy was a way to work through the University of Central Florida, where she obtained a B.A. in English. Mrs. Sommer-Hueston studied massage therapy in the U.S., China, and Costa Rica. Veronica specializes in sports massage, medical massage, Traditional Chinese Massage, structural alignment, lymphatic massage, and oncology massage. Veronica is blessed to enjoy a profession that helps people calm their minds while healing their bodies.

In Body Fitness Assessment and Training
Hector Mastrapa

Hector is passionate about the family and community atmosphere that can be found through fitness training. As a coach and entrepreneur, his focus is on improving individuals’ strength, mobility, and cardio through CrossFit and Boot Camp classes. Hector is pursuing his L1 certification and helps coach fitness classes as well.

Aerobics
Vivian Perez

Vivian Perez is the director of GFit Camp. She believes exercise is not a chore, but a privilege and a way to glorify God. GFit brings together tness and fun in a Christian environment where participants motivate and encourage one another as they strive for a healthier lifestyle. For the past seven years, GFit has been a place where individuals can be blessed physically as well as spiritually. Vivian has been married to Iriel for 22 years and they are blessed with two amazing kids

 

The Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
AJ Fines

AJ Fines is a graduate of Southern Adventist and a certified personal trainer in the Orlando area. He believes that fasting is a powerful practice for our spiritual, physical, and mental health, and seeks to educate participants of this seminar on how to incorporate fasting into their regular lives in a way that is both beneficial and practical.

Join from anywhere in the world on in person at Camp Kulaqua in High Springs, Florida!

Camp Kulaqua – Fund Race
2023 – 5K WALK/RUN
$45
Registration ends October 1, 2023
at 11:59 pm EDT

Camp Kulaqua – Fund Race
2023 – 25-MILE BIKE RIDE
$45
Registration ends Sept. 30, 2023
at 11:59 pm EDT

Strava

Track your ride on Strava and then upload your results.

Upload Your Results

Once you’ve finished your ride on Strava, upload your results here.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!

Registration is now open and will end on 09/24/2023 

Event Fee: Your Fee includes a $50 nonrefundable registration fee
Enter the number of attendees in your party per their ages
Adult Event Fee (ages 13 & over) $165.00/per person
Child Event Fee (ages 4 – 12) $ 160.00| per person
Children age 3 & under are free

Upon reservation, a $50.00/person non-refundable deposit per person is required and goes towards your final balance.

Housing Fee: If staying at Camp Kulaqua, add your housing as follows.
Your Housing Fee Includes Friday and Saturday Night
Room at Woodland Lodges (Max 6/room) $292.00  Room- Includes linens and towels

RV Site (30 amps) (Max 1 RV/site) $ 72.00

Final balance due: August 29th, 2023 or 30 days prior to event

Cancellation & Refund Policy:
Per Person Fees: The $50.00/person non-refundable deposit will be applied to each canceled attendee
Housing Fees: You must cancel within 30 days to receive a refund for any housing reserved

This new pricing structure allows you to rent an entire room to ensure privacy and each housing unit is priced differently to allow you maximum versatility in your retreat.

Pricing is based on your lodging selection.
Kulaqua’s has wide selection of available accommodations to choose from.

Driving Directions to Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center

We look forward to seeing you!

Don’t Miss

Our News And Events

Want to know when we are having more events like this one?

2023 Lifestyle High School Student Bible Retreat

2023 Lifestyle High School Student Bible Retreat

Sponsored by the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Youth & Young Adult Department

October 5 – October 8, 2023

information & registration

The High School Bible Retreat is a bi-annual retreat for all teens (both in public high school and our academies).

Hundreds of teens attend to be together and have joint worships, small groups, solo time, group games, the amazing race, and other very cool activities.

 

GUEST SPEAKERS

Melina Thomas

Manuel Gomez

Isabella Lopez

Markis Zarate

Rodney McFedden

Seth Day

Don’t Miss This Life Changing Event!

Don’t Miss

Our News And Events

Want to know when we are having more events like this one?

Driving Directions to Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center

We look forward to seeing you!

Kulaqua River Ranch Water Park

Come Get Wet With Us
At Kulaqua’s River Ranch Water Park.

You can find a quiet place for your group to spend time together in nature in just about every retreat and conference center in North Central Florida.

But not every retreat and conference center in North Central Florida has its own water park!

That’s just one of the MANY ways that you will find Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center is the most unique Christian retreat and conference center in North Central Florida.

But don’t take our word for it.

Come and see for yourself!

15,000 square foot Wave Pool!

Enjoy the waves with no tube rental fees!

Awesome Water Slide!

Splash down fun for the whole family!

*must be at least 42″ to ride

600 Foot Long Lazy River!

Relax in a warm, family friendly environment.

community event days

on community days river ranch is open to the public!

be sure to join our mailing list so you can get the dates

River Ranch Water Park
Just another way Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center sets itself apart from other Christian retreat and conference centers.

Christian retreats and conferences don’t have to be boring.

Studies show that when a group plays together well, they work together better.

Why not choose the best for your next Christian or educational retreat or conference in North Central Florida?

Your guests will be coming back to build on the memories and relationships year after year.

the info

YOU NEED TO KNOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the park rules you’ll need to to remember:
RIVER RANCH WATER PARK HOURS
River Ranch Water Park opens at 10am and closes at 6pm on Community Event Days so make sure you come with plenty of time to enjoy your day in the sun.
HOW MUCH IS ADMISSION?

River Ranch Water Park is available for your educational or retreat group. On Community Event Days, Park admission is $17.50 per person, and children 3 and under are free when accompanied by their parents. *Please note that Kulaqua is primarily a user group facility. Only on Community Event days, River Ranch Water Park is available to the Community.

IS THERE A DRESS CODE?
We are a Christian facility and request that only modest swimsuits be worn. If in doubt, please bring a cover up to wear over your swim suit.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
Bring sunscreen! The water is cool, but the sun is HOT! And we wouldn’t want you to get a sunburn. We do not allow alcohol or smoking on the premises. You’ll probably work up an appetite, so feel free to bring food and coolers, but remember – no glass containers will be allowed.
AND FINALLY?
Come ready to have some good, clean, family friendly fun!

get in touch

Plan your educational or ministry group retreat today!

we’d love to chat

Need Help Planning?
Kulaqua has been home to thousands of Christian Events and Retreats over the last 60 years. If you need help, just ask one of our friendly event planners.

It’s been said that the three most important things to remember about having a successful Christian or educational retreat or conference are Location, Location, Location!

When you find the right location, the rest of the planning becomes more simple. Instead of trying to figure out what you are going to do with all of your guests, you’ll be trying to figure out how you can fit everything in to your schedule.

And that means that your guests will come back, year after year, for more fun and fellowship.

That’s what makes Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center the best location in North Central Florida for Christian Retreats or Conferences and educational events.

But don’t take our word for it, come see for yourself!

Kulaqua Horseback Riding and Equestrian Programs

The Best Location for Horseback Riding in Florida!
Come Enjoy Kulaqua’s Guided Trail Rides and Equestrian Camps

Kulaqua Horseback Riding and Equestrian Programs

Guided Horseback Trail Rides at Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center

Looking for Horseback Riding In Florida? Come ride the beautiful trails at Kulaqua!

 Enjoy the beauty of Kulaqua’s beautiful horseback riding trails while on a guided riding tour or one of our horseback riding camps! We are the best location for horseback riding in Florida.

 

 

 

  • Group rides can be scheduled for Sunday-Friday.
  • Riders must be 8 years old or older to ride.
  • Reservations are required and need to be made online ahead of time.
  • Each trail ride can accommodate up to 12 people, so feel free to invite your friends.
  • The best place for horseback riding in Florida!

 

 

Florida Trail Rides at Kulaqua are perfect for families, groups, couples and youth!

 

Kulaqua Horseback Riding and Equestrian Programs

Saddle-up for a tour and an adventure on our beautiful horseback riding trails!

Horseback Riding

1 ½ hour trail ride Includes short instructional video prior to ride. Must be 8 years to ride.
(Minimum of 10 people required)

Schedule Group Your Ride

Rodeo

Flag Parade, Breed Show Interactive games for the kids! Designed specificly for your group!
(Ask one of our event specialist for details)

Schedule Your Rodeo Event

Pony Rides

Fun for the younger riders on ponies saddled on a carousel round-about.
(Children must be able to hold on by themselves)

Book Your Pony Ride

Kulaqua Is The Best Location For Florida Trail Rides

What better way to enjoy God’s creation than on a lovely trail ride through the natural Florida countryside?

If you are looking for horseback riding in Florida, Kulaqua is the best location for your peaceful trail ride.

Restful for the Senses and the Mind

Kulaqua’s beautiful trails extend for miles though our lovely, natural Florida countryside where you and your group can find peace and quiet as you enjoy your guided trail ride. The best horseback riding in Florida!

Your Group will Love the Riding Trails at Kulaqua

Kulaqua is situated on over 600 beautiful pristine acres in Florida. We have created the most beautiful trails for your group rides as we continue to be the favorite destination for group trail rides and horseback riding in Florida.

Kulaqua's Equestrian Programs are the Best in Florida

Kulaqua’s equestrian camps, trail rides, and rodeos continue to be one of Florida’s favorite way to connect with God in nature and enjoy horseback riding in Florida.

Kulaqua Horseback Riding and Equestrian Programs

Saddle-up for a tour and an adventure on our beautiful horseback riding trails!

Driving Directions
to Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center

We look forward to seeing you!

Kulaqua Zoo

Yes. We Even Have A Zoo.

There are many places in North Central Florida for you to have a Christian or educational conference or retreat. But how many of them have their own zoo and nature center?

Kulaqua’s Zoo and Nature Center is just one of the many ways Kulaqua sets itself apart as Florida’s premier location for Christian retreats, educational conferences, and similar gatherings.

Coming apart into the warm embrace of nature is soothing and healing. Our zoo and nature center brings you closer than ever to the animals you love.

Come experience the healing power of resting in God’s creation.

Kulaqua Zoo and Nature Center

Kulaqua’s Zoo and Nature Center offers a unique nature encounter for your group.

Our collection of cherished and much loved zoo animals came to us as rescues. We are honored to offer them a loving home and are constantly striving to keep them healthy, comfortable and happy.

Our new, modernized, natural zoo enclosures offer our precious animals a more comfortable environment where they can be observed in their natural habitat.

We strongly believe in our responsibilty of stewardship for our animal friends, and invite you to enjoy this unique opportunity for experiencing them with your group for yourself.

Are You Ready For A More Personal Encounter?

At Kulaqua Zoo and Nature Center we offer a more intimate encounter with some of our animal friends – including a petting and touching opportunity for our reptiles, teaching moments with our amphibians, and special presentations with other animals from our treasured collection.

At Kulaqua, we feel that the closer we can draw to nature the more we will see and appreciate our Creator’s love and care over us.

Why Animals?

When we spend time in nature, we see the Hand of our Creator.

His amazing creative abilities are revealed in the creatures He has made for our enjoyment.

As we participate in caring for these amazing and complex living treasures, we begin to have a glipse of how great a great responsibility rests on our shoulders, and we feel our need of wisdom from the Maker of all living things. We also begin to realize the careful amount of attention our Heavenly Caretaker bestows on us, His creation, as He lovingly provides for and protects us.

At Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center we strive to make as many opportunities for revealing the character and love of God to our guests.

That’s what makes us the perfect location for your Christian or educational event, retreat, or conference.

Come experience the Kulaqua Difference for yourself.

Come Experience Nature At Kulaqua

What Would You Like To Do?

Kulaqua’s Zoo and Nature Center is available to book as an activity for your Christian or Educational event. When you make your reservation request, make sure to let us know if you would like us to arrange for a more personal encounter for your group.

Support Our Animals

We appreciate all the generous donors who make it possible for us to adequately care for our treasured zoo and nature center animals. If you would like to donate, please visit our donation page to learn more about the projects we are currently working on as we constantly strive to improve and modernize all aspects of our facility.

Make Your Reservation Today.

For over 60 years Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center has been bringing groups in North Central Florida together in the quiet.

Come to Kulaqua. Come to the quiet.