Our Mission
We are here to provide a place for Christian growth, fellowship, recreation, and activities for members of the Chesapeake Conference, with special emphasis on youth, ages 7 to 21. Our desire is for each guest to experience a closer walk with God through the natural surroundings and the facilities of our center, in the service of our staff, and through meaningful programming. Our facilities are open to other Christian, governmental, and some educational organizations.
Through quality services and warm, personable hospitality, we want our guests to experience a comfortable, relaxing environment designed to rejuvenate body, mind, and soul; to find a closer walk with God through the natural surroundings, the facilities, our staff, and through meaningful programming.
Mt. Aetna is a Christian facility providing a place for the care and instruction of God’s children, young and old alike!
A place of connection, reflection, and renewal
Mt. Aetna Retreat Center, in western Maryland, is dedicated to supporting Christian ministries by providing them a place to regroup, reconnect, and relax in the splendor of God’s woodlands. The center is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and is available to Christian groups, Government agencies, associations, and education groups that share our mission. The center is located just an hour northwest of Washington, D.C., an hour west of Baltimore, and only 3 miles off Interstate 70 at Exit 35.
We have lodging for up to 200 in heated cabins and guest rooms. We have meeting rooms for groups large and small, a seasonal swimming pool, hiking trails, canoeing, basketball, volleyball, a playing field, and a fabulous nature center.
We are able to serve up to 175 in our dining hall. Our professional food service team provides well-balanced, nutritional vegetarian and vegan meals, receptions and banquets. No caffeinated drinks are served. Groups must have at least 30 guests for us to run food service.
We offer outdoor school sessions in the spring and fall for 5th through 8th grade, and Challenge Course/team building programs for ages ten and up throughout the year.
Week-long summer camp programs are offered for children and youth through our affiliated youth department.
Contact us if your ministry, church, club, or association could use such a semi-rural facility.