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Preparing for the Family Retreat

Welcome Family Retreat Attendees!

We are thrilled to have you join us in Reno, NV, for our first annual Family Retreat – it will be here before we know it. As you prepare for this nurturing experience, we want to ensure that your journey is smooth and stress-free.

This page is dedicated to providing you with essential information on traveling to Reno, accommodations, transportation options around the area, parking details for the Family Retreat weekend, and helpful packing list considerations. Our goal is to make your visit as enjoyable and seamless as possible, so please take a moment to review the following details.

We look forward to welcoming you to weekend enriched with bonding and self-discovery!

Accommodations

Davidson Family Retreat attendees will be staying in a residence hall on campus. Assigned residence hall is not provided from the University of Nevada, Reno until the Spring. However, we can share that lodging will likely be at Argenta Hall:

Hall features

  • Staffed front desk
  • Lounges with television and quiet-study areas on every floor
  • Laundry facilities feature washers and dryers
  • Wired and wireless internet connection in every room

 Room features

  • Triple (three people per room) occupancy
  • Bathroom and shower in each room
  • Bedrooms and hallway fully carpeted
  • Each occupant has a single, bunkable oak bed with Twin XL mattress
  • Each occupant has a desk, chair, dresser, wastebasket and closet space
  • Window coverings on all windows
  • Adjustable temperature control for heat and central air in each room

Each attendee will be provided a linen packet including sheets, a blanket, pillow and pillowcase, towel, and wash cloth. Attendees may choose to bring additional linens for themselves. However, linen packets will be provided to everyone regardless. For a complete packing list, please see the packing list considerations below in Helpful Tips.

Transportation

Something you might consider is how you will be getting to campus from the airport and around the Reno area once you arrive. You have a variety of options available to you, whether you want to use a taxi or ride-share (like Uber and Lyft) or rent a car. Some families like to forego this option all together and only access places within walking distance from the campus after arriving.

Transportation options to get to campus and/or explore the Reno area:

  • Ride share services such as Lyft and Uber are available 
  • Visit the Rental Cars and Ground Transportation page from the Reno Tahoe Airport to view rental car options, taxi services, paid shuttle services, and public transportation options available
  • Many hotels and casinos provide shuttle service to and from the airport. If you will be staying at a hotel or casino, please call them directly for more information

Parking

Families who register for the Family Retreat event will automatically receive a parking pass that is valid for the entire weekend! There are multiple parking garages on campus, however, we only provide a parking pass for one garage. If you park in another garage, not offered, please be advised, you may have to pay to park and that is not covered by Davidson. We will provide information regarding which garage and where to get parking passes as we get closer to the event. For information on ADA access and disabled parking permits, please send your questions to Retreat@davidsongifted.org.

Event Communications

Starting in April, families who register for the Family Retreat will receive our monthly newsletter, the Retreat Rundown, with event updates, reminders, and tips. We're excited to share important updates as you prepare for your upcoming adventure in Reno. Retreat Rundowns will be sent to the email used to register and receive tickets. Once Retreat Rundowns are sent out, we will post a copy for viewing in the Family Retreat Community in DMC as well.

Helpful Tips

Packing List considerations: As you begin to create your packing lists for what to bring, here are some bits of information we encourage you consider as you prepare what to bring:

  • Residence Hall Stay-
    • Toiletries- shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush/paste, deodorant, etc. Residence hall stay does not provide typical hotel amenities, including cups
    • Each attendee will be provided a linen packet including sheets, a blanket, pillow and pillowcase, towel, and wash cloth. Attendees may choose to bring additional linens for themselves
    • Non-perishables snacks (microwaves may be available in the lounge common areas)
    • Water bottles and a plan for your morning coffee (rooms do not include coffee machines, however the dining hall will have coffee each morning and Buzzed Coffee is also two blocks away)
  • Notebook- There will be lots of learning at the Family Retreat with time to reflect as a family. A notebook can help in writing down your goals and key learnings. 
  • Morning Movement- pack your tennis shoes for an intention setting walk or bring a beach towel or yoga mat to join us on the lawn for family yoga each morning!
  • Hot and Sunny - As much as we wish we had the power to control the temperature, we're not quite there yet! Reno is typically 80-100 degrees during the day and 50-70 degrees at night. Pack a water bottle and sunscreen. On the flip side, you may want to bring a light jacket for the air conditioned buildings.
  • Dry Climate - Reno is a high-elevation, desert climate. Lotion and chap stick are a must if you aren't used to the dry climate. On the plus side, your hair and laundry dry very quickly!
  • Walking - You'll have the chance to explore the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Don't forget your comfy shoes, hat, and hip sunglasses.
  • Social - Many Young Scholars bring their favorite board games and playing cards for impromptu games of Magic and Ticket to Ride. If you meet a new friend, have a "business card" or something handy to share your contact information.
  • Smile - Don't forget to pack your smile! Is that too corny? But really, the Family Retreat is a special time and only comes around once a year, so don't forget to make the most of it and have fun!

Health & Safety:

The health and safety of our Davidson Family Retreat participants and staff is the Davidson Institute's top priority. Communicable diseases, both acute and chronic, exist everywhere and are present every summer. Hosting an event that draws from a national audience requires an immense amount of planning and careful risk mitigation. 

We continually evaluate and modify our operational procedures to ensure we are in compliance with any requirements of our host site and residence hall, on the University of Nevada, Reno, which are subject to change between now and the event start date. This includes requirements for any testing and vaccination status of communicable diseases. Thank you for helping us support a safe and healthy program experience for all our participants.

Questions? Email Retreat@DavidsonGifted.org or call (775) 852-3483, option 2, then 1