Registration

The 5 Day Academy is for ordained and lay persons of any denomination. Presentations by the faculty do not require a specific knowledge base, only a willingness to learn.

The 2025 Great Plains Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation will be held

May 4 through 9, 2025

at the St. Benedict Center near Schuyler, Nebraska.

Registrations must be made and paid in full by April 18, 2025.

Participants can be either in-person or virtual (Zoom).

Virtual attendance requires that you have a computer and internet connection.

Both Zoom and in-person attendees are encouraged to participate in all aspects of the daily schedule for the whole of the Academy.

Cost is based on three factors: virtual attendance, single or shared room, and dietary needs the St. Benedict Center kitchen cannot meet.

Zoom attendance: $325

Single room: $670

Double room: $630

If for dietary reasons you cannot eat the meals provided by the Center: the room cost is reduced by $160

Whether you want to attend via Zoom or in person, you can make a deposit to hold your spot.

The deposit is $100.

If you initially register with a deposit, the remainder must be paid by April 18, 2025 or your reserved slot will be given to a person on the wait list and you will forfeit the $100.

You may pay using a credit card, ACH by providing a bank account (checking or savings), or check.

If you pay by a bank account you will need to provide your bank’s routing number and your account number.

No card or account information is stored by the system.

The St. Benedict Center kitchen provides a buffet style food service. It is not equipped to prepare food guaranteed to be untainted by allergens such as nuts, dairy, or gluten.

Vegetarians who are ovo-lacto can chose items from the buffet to make complete meals during the week.

Vegans will not find enough complimentary protein to provide good nutrition.

If it seems the kitchen cannot meet your needs, you will want to bring your own food to prepare. There are refrigerators for storage and microwaves and a toaster for food preparation. You would use the place settings provided by the Center.

Furthermore, you would have access to the beverages (coffee, tea, water, juice, milk) as other participants.

If you bring your own food, the price is reduced. Look for that option when you register.

Please tell the Team about any needs you may have when you complete the registration form.

The Center does have some fairly long distances - about half a block - to walk from the far end of the sleeping rooms to the meal hall. Everything is on one level except for some sleeping rooms that are on a second floor. An elevator is available.

The Center has ADA certified rooms.

We can, therefore, accommodate by strategic room selection. Please note your needs on the registration form.

If you already know someone who is also attending and they are agreeable to rooming with you, please indicate that when you register. Otherwise, you will be assigned a roommate from the pool of unassigned double room attendees.

Active clergy in the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church may be able to get assistance through the Office of Clergy Excellence including the Spiritual Self Care program which is described on this web site.

Clergy from other judicatories and denominations should check with their comparable office.

Some scholarship funds are available through the Great Plains 5 Day Academy itself for clergy or laity in need of financial assistance to attend. If you would like to apply, please contact the registrar.

Please note, some financial assistance reimburses the attendee. In that case, you would pay the Academy for the full registration cost.

We encourage you to register by making a deposit while you get your assistance sorted. Your deposit will be refunded if you cannot attend because financial assistance was not awarded.

Some scholarship funds are available through the Great Plains 5 Day Academy itself for laity in need of financial assistance to attend. If you would like to apply, please contact the registrar.

You will be notified within 3 weeks of submitting your application if your request was awarded.

We encourage you to register by making a deposit while you get your assistance sorted. Your deposit will be refunded if you cannot attend because financial assistance was not awarded.

Yes, you can. The Academy can earn you 3 CEU credits.

A form to apply for CEU credits will be handed out the last day of the Academy. A fee of $15 is charged by the Upper Room to process the CEU credits and submitted with the form.

We will miss you but wish you well.

Please notify the registrar as soon as possible so someone on the waiting list can attend.

$100 of what you paid is non-refundable.

Registration payments in excess of the deposit can be refunded for cancellations prior to April 18, 2025.

After April 18, 2025, the Academy will be billed by the Center for your room, and therefore:

After that date, partial refunds may be given only in emergency situations.

If you are confused, have other questions, or simply uncertain about anything regarding the 2025 5 Day Academy, please email the retreat leader or the registrar.