Additional questions? Email Retreat@DavidsonGifted.org
or call (775) 852-3483, option 2, then 1
Frequently Asked Questions about the Family Retreat
Fees
What are my financial responsibilities at the Family Retreat?
Participants attending the Family Retreat are responsible for:
- $495 registration fee per Young Scholar
- $495 registration fee per Sibling (non-member) ages 5-18
- $495 per parent/guardian
- $375 per Sibling (non-member) ages 0-4
- Transportation to and from Reno/Tahoe International (RNO) Airport and the University of Nevada, Reno
- Meals during travel
- Spending Money
What do I get for the $495 registration fee?
The $495 registration fee serves as a "contract" that you agree to attend the Family Retreat. The fee will contribute to your room stay in the residence halls, meals at the resident dining hall, and in-part to registration materials (swag, tote bags, etc.), presenter fees, and a parking pass.
What do I get for the $375 registration fee for Siblings ages 0-4?
The $375 registration fee serves as a "contract" that you agree to attend the Family Retreat. The fee will contribute to their room stay (even if you are bringing a pack n play, UNR charges us per person staying in the dorm, regardless of age), and in-part to registration materials (tote bags, etc.), presenter fees, event fees and a parking pass.
How can I cancel my registration and are fees refundable?
A percentage of the Family Retreat fees are refundable for cancellations received by select dates. All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to retreat@davidsongifted.org. For details, please visit the Cancellation and Refund Policy on the Family Retreat Registration page.
Why is there a late fee?
We have instituted a late fee of $25 per person. This late fee is applicable to all registrant types. Late registration allows families to still come to the Family Retreat, however, we highly encourage you register your family before the standard registration deadline of April 30, 2025. Please note, Youth Workshop signups are received on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, Family Retreat materials, such as totebags, may not be received due to when the Events Team places material orders.
General
Where and when is the 2025 Davidson Family Retreat?
This year's Family Retreat will be held in Reno, Nevada, starting Thursday (afternoon), July 10 through Sunday (late afternoon), July 13.
Why was Reno chosen as the Family Retreat location?
Reno is also the home of the Davidson Institute and the Davidson Academy and was chosen as the official location for our annual Summit event as well. It is easily accessible from most U.S. cities and is full of attractions that will appeal to Davidson families.
Where will Family Retreat events be held?
The University of Nevada, Reno campus. Lodging is on-campus at a residence hall. Official hall assignments will be made in the Spring. Location of check-in and of specific buildings we will be using on campus will be sent to registered attendees and included in the information book you receive upon check-in.
When will the complete schedule be released?
We will likely be working on the schedule into the Spring. We will continuously update the schedule as events are confirmed and hope to have the schedule completed and posted in DMC by mid June.
Are there any off-site activities at the Family Retreat?
Yes! All off-campus activities in the evening are optional. Families can choose to relax back on campus or explore other parts of the Reno area on their own or in groups. The only off-campus event that Davidson Institute is hosting, is Bowling with themed cosplay. This is included in your registration fee. Otherwise, Davidson Institute does NOT sponsor any other off-site activities for the 2025 Family Retreat. Other optional activities led by Parent Volunteers, such as walking to the Reno Artown events, are solely individual attendee's responsibility. Should you desire a different more structured "off-site activity", we encourage parents to organize such events by giving back to their community and experience and becoming a Parent Volunteer. Reno offers many exciting opportunities, and we would like to allow families freedom to explore the "Biggest Little City" at their own discretion. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Retreat@davidsongifted.org.
Can photos or videos taken at the Family Retreat be posted to social media and/or other websites?
In accordance with the Davidson Confidentiality Policy, participants may not post photos, videos or Family Retreat information (dates or location) on any public websites including social media. According to the policy, if you want to identify your youth as a Davidson participant and post their photo, that is up to you. However, to identify any other youth as a Davidson participant without express permission from the participant's parent/guardian (in a photo, video, or otherwise with any kind of caption or label) is a violation of the programs confidentiality policy and could result in your family being asked to leave the program. A best practice would be to include language such as “shared with permission,” in the caption of your photo should there be any other individuals who have granted permission for the photo to be posted.
How do I give my suggestions?
After the Family Retreat we hope to hear comments from all of you! We will distribute a survey for feedback, which we thoughtfully review to make each Family Retreat better than the last.
Can the dates of the Family Retreat be changed?
Please know it is not the Davidson Institute's intention to exclude any Davidson family from attending the Family Retreat, but there are many variables involved when scheduling these dates each year. By the time we announce the Family Retreat, the dates cannot be changed as we have already started a great deal of planning, signed contracts and have begun the process of booking presenters. We do recognize school schedules vary widely across the country, which is why the primary dates of the Family Retreat are during a weekend.
The scheduling of each year's Family Retreat is based on many factors. Mainly, the same Davidson team members work multiple Davidson summer events and programs. With Davidson Summer Programs (DSP) Session #3 occurring the week prior, and DSP Session #4 occurring the week after, and DSP Sessions #1 and #2 in addition to the Summit in June. The Family Retreat weekend is chosen based on all the tasks involved leading up to and during these events/programs, in addition to the University of Nevada, Reno's summer schedule. As far as we can tell at this time, the Family Retreat will continue to be scheduled in early to mid-July.
If there are other Davidson families in your area, we encourage you to host a Parent-Planned Event for the Davidson youth in your community.
Accomodations
Where do families stay on-campus for the Family Retreat?
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 Preparing for the Family Retreat page.
Can we stay off-campus at a hotel, Airbnb, or in our own home if we are local?
No, the Family Retreat was designed to provide Young Scholar families with an overnight on-site community building experience. Staying in the residence hall and having meals on-campus provides ample time and opportunity for parents and children to visit with one another and form lasting connections.
Are meals being provided?
Yes! Once your family arrives Thursday late afternoon, the first provided meal is dinner on Thursday. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The last Family Retreat provided meal will be Monday breakfast, keeping in mind that you must be checked out of your room by 9am Monday. All meals will be served at the resident dining hall: Pack Place. Pack Place features 12 stations, each designed to serve different cuisines on a rotating menu. Located inside Argenta Hall, this is not your typical buffet-style eatery. They provide a customized culinary program, characterized by menus that feature the latest trends in ingredients, flavors, and compositions. Pack Place cooks from scratch, menu by season, source responsibly, is allergen-friendly, and is additive-free. Any families with specific food dietary allergies or restrictions should email Retreat@davidsongifted.org and we will intake your information to share with the dining hall team so that they can plan accordingly for your stay.
Do you recommend we rent a car?
This will be at your discretion. Once you arrive to the University, all hosted activities are walkable on campus or within walking distance of the University.
What is parking like at the Family Retreat?
Families who register for the Family Retreat event will automatically receive a parking pass valid for the whole weekend! Details about where to park and where to collect parking passes will be provided closer to the event date. For information on ADA access and disabled parking permits, please send your questions to Retreat@davidsongifted.org.
Attendees
Can I attend the Family Retreat without my Davidson youth?
No, the Family Retreat is designed for parents and children to attend together. Most of the activities offered throughout the weekend are geared towards the whole family participating together. The only exception is when parents and youth split for workshops. The Family Retreat is also specifically designed for Young Scholar families to form deeper bonds with their community and interact with others who have similar goals, experiences, etc.
Can a Davidson youth attend the Family Retreat without their parent or guardian?
No, each youth must attend the Family Retreat with at least one of their parents or guardians.
What can non-member Siblings participate in?
Non-member siblings of Davidson Young Scholars can attend and are included in ALL family and youth activities. Siblings ages 0-4 cannot participate in youth workshops and must be checked into our provided childcare services during parent/youth workshop times only. More information on childcare for siblings ages 0-4 will be released soon.
Can extended family attend the Family Retreat?
If you have extended family members who want to be in Reno with you, you are free to do so, except they will not be able to attend any Family Retreat activities due to our confidentiality policy which prohibits non-guardians, friends, and extended family members from attending the event. We have worked diligently to design the Family Retreat specifically to serve Davidson Young Scholars and their families. If you have a special circumstance, please contact us at Retreat@davidsongifted.org, as we will handle these requests on a case-by-case basis.
Does the Davidson Institute offer childcare services for non-member siblings?
The Davidson Institute offers childcare services for non-member siblings, ages 0-4, during Youth Workshops only. More information will be released prior to the Family Retreat Registration opening January 8. Non-member siblings can participate in all other youth/family activities throughout the weekend.
What is a good age for a Davidson youth to attend the Retreat?
The Family Retreat aims to foster connections within the Davidson community and program members of all ages are welcome. Our team strives to offer activities suitable for Davidson youth of any age. From the keynote addresses to our hands-on or discussion-based workshops, along with the family social events, we take pride in creating a weekend-long event that is exciting and memorable for all participants in the program. We also understand that it could be helpful for parents and Davidson youth to consider the following when deciding on attending this event:
- Will your Davidson youth enjoy being around large groups of people within a new environment? We do have tips if you feel this would be challenging for your child, but it’s important to keep in mind as the Family Retreat is often a fast-paced event and can be overwhelming for some.
- If your family is traveling to the Family Retreat with multiple children, will everyone get the most out of the event? Will the event generally meet the needs of all family members?
- Would your Davidson youth feel comfortable independently attending a workshop?
Workshops
Why do I have to pick up and drop off my Davidson youth at all of their workshops?
Due to the University of Nevada, Reno policies, unaccompanied minors are not permitted alone on campus. This policy applies to both inside and outside all Family Retreat event buildings. As all Davidson youth are minors under the age of 18, they need to be supervised by an adult at ALL times. Davidson staff are busy working the event, so we do not have dedicated staff for supervising youth when they are not in a workshop or with their parent(s). The Family Retreat is located on a busy university campus which is unfamiliar to most of the Davidson youth attending the event, even the older youth. Thus, we require parents to drop off and pick up their Davidson youth from ALL workshops.
When will youth workshop sign-ups start?
Youth workshop signups will be released in February. Any families who have already registered for the Family Retreat prior to this release will receive an email notification. Once released in February, any new Family Retreat registrations moving forward will access the link to complete workshop sign ups in their confirmation email. Families will choose their own workshops for youth directly through our form. Each workshop is capacity based, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.