Young Life Capital Region

It is time to start thinking about free time for CLW 2026! We will have a boxed lunch at 12:45 and free time will run until 7pm. There is a committee reception from 1-2, so if your plans involve your committee, be aware of that!

Plan to make both plans for organized fun, but also for dinner. Decide if anything will be optional. Make reservations ASAP- places fill up on a Saturday in Gaithersburg. 

If you have any questions or things to add, reach out to Katie!

Fun outing ideas:

Top Golf: https://topgolf.com/us/germantown/ 20101 Century Blvd, Germantown, MD 20874. Pro: Adults love top golf. Can get food there/take up more of your free time. Con: Expensive. Also there is a bar mitzvah taking up an entire level on Saturday- so limited room. Book early!

Mini Golf: https://monsterminigolf.com/locations/us/md/gaithersburg/ 9116 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Pro: Fun & easy to get to. Con: You somewhat have to “make your own fun” as adults playing mini golf. Greater Ashburn implemented different wacky rules etc to make it more fun. 

Dave and Busters: https://www.daveandbusters.com/us/en/about/locations/gaithersburg 9811 Washingtonian Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Pro: Walkable from hotel- don’t have to worry about getting there. Con: Have to get individual cards/everyone is kind of split around. 

Dinner & games in a suite: Contact Beth to reserve a time slot. Pro: Great for more low key laid back groups & mingling. Con: You have to plan what you will do. And space is limited.

Lucky Strike Bowling: https://www.luckystrikeent.com/location/lucky-strike-gaithersburg 15720 Shady Grove Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Pro: Easy mingling while doing something together. Con: It’s bowling.

Shadowland Laser Tag: https://www.shadowlandadventures.com/ 624 Quince Orchard Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Pro: Active and nostalgic. Con: No one has gone here yet so Greater Ashburn is the guinea pig. It could be great or terrible. 

Red Door Escape Room: https://reddoorescape.com/escape-rooms/gaithersburg/ 125 Boardwalk Pl, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Pro: Good for people who might not want to run around, mixes together committee and leaders well. Walkable. Con: Expensive

Muse Paint Bar: https://www.musepaintbar.com/events/gaithersburg-paint-bar 217 Boardwalk Pl #225, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Pro: A real class act. Walkable. Con: Not everyone’s jam and expensive.

Great places to look for food options: 

Rio Lakeside– Walkable from the hotel, but might get crowded.

Falls Grove Shopping Center – Several fast casual and a couple sit-down places

Downtown Crown– Several sit-down places

The Kentlands– Lots of options, both fast casual and sit down

Sample schedules/ideas from previous years:

Esther:

Right after lunch: Take just leaders out for coffee in the Rio complex. Hang, catch up, be casual. Let everyone have free time, then gather together for games and California Pizza Kitchen in the suite.

Chelsea:

Lunch with just leaders/time to chill & goof off together. 2:30 p.m. – Committee / Leaders meet to share something they’ve learned and then play a game @ hotel. 4:30 p.m. Free time until dinner. 6:00 p.m. Dinner with committee/leaders. 9:00 p.m. (or whenever the last session ends) hang out and play games as an area.

Mark: 

2:30 Mini Golf. 4:00 Back at the hotel to decompress. 5:30 Dinner at Shake Shack sponsored by a committee member. Loosely optional.