Frequently Asked Questions
Coming on retreat at Siena? Here’s what you should know:
At Siena Retreat Center, we believe that retreat experiences have the power to transform individual lives and ripple out into the broader community, fostering a more just and compassionate world. As a nonprofit, our mission is to make these transformative experiences accessible to all while being mindful stewards of the resources required to sustain our mission.
To support both accessibility and sustainability, we have instituted a voluntary three-level registration fee structure for our sponsored retreats, excluding those that allow for a deposit or commuter rate at this time. This approach allows you to choose the level that best reflects your personal financial situation. Your choice will remain confidential and will not affect your retreat experience in any way.
The ‘Partner’ level outlined below represents the historical cost that we have charged for our programs. The ‘Advocate and ‘Sustainer’ levels offer an option to pay a higher registration fee that more fully covers all of Siena Retreat Center’s expenses related to running a retreat. By choosing these levels, you are helping to ensure transformative retreats remain accessible to all.
Description of Levels
Sustainer Level:
This level covers 100% of the full cost of offering the retreat, including both program-specific and operational expenses such as facilitator fees, materials, staff salaries, building use, and other administrative costs. Choosing this level helps sustain our retreat ministry for the long term and ensures that we can continue offering transformative programming for all.
Advocate Level:
This level covers approximately 80% of the full cost associated with running the retreat, covering all of the program expenses such as facilitator fees, materials, printing and more. It reflects a more affordable rate for those who can contribute more toward their retreat experience but cannot cover the full cost at this time.
Partner Level:
This is a reduced fee, made possible by the generosity of our donors and those who choose to pay higher registration fees. It is intended for those who need a lower price in order to have the capacity to attend. This level reflects the historical subsidized rate we have always charged for our retreat programs, covering approximately 60% of the full cost to run the retreat.
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If finances are a barrier even at the Partner Level, we invite you to complete our Scholarship Request Form. While we cannot guarantee that all requests can be fully accommodated, and we do ask that you contribute a portion of the fee, we will do our best to assist as many participants as possible within our available resources.
If you are in a position to give, please consider making a donation to our General Scholarship Fund or the Mary N. (Gallo) Iaquinta Endowed Scholarship Fund. Your gift directly supports individuals who might not otherwise be able to experience the renewal and transformation a retreat can offer, extending the impact of your generosity far beyond your own retreat. While choosing either the Sustainer or Advocate Level in your retreat registrations will also help Siena Retreat Center to sustain it’s operations and provide accessible retreats to all, these are not considered tax-deductible donations.
For Sponsored Events: Sponsored retreat payments are nonrefundable or transferable. Consideration is only given in emergency circumstances; in these situations, 10% of the total payment will be retained for administrative and meal costs.
For Private Retreats: The total balance must be paid at time of making reservation (credit card over the phone or check in the mail to arrive prior to retreat start date). Cancellations received more than 10 business days before the scheduled retreat will be responsible for 20% of the overnight room charge. Cancellations received fewer than 10 business days before the scheduled retreat will be responsible for the cost of all meals ordered and 50% of the overnight room charge.
For Hosted Groups:
Our catering team is able to accommodate vegetarian and gluten free requests. Special needs must be indicated at the time of registration so that we can plan for your needs. Guests with dietary restrictions beyond what the kitchen can accommodate will need to bring their own food. A refrigerator, microwave, & toaster oven will be available for storage and prep.
If you are not sure that you’ve let us know, contact our Arrangements Coordinator as soon as possible but at least 7 days before your scheduled retreat at arrangements@sienaretreatcenter.org or by phone at 262-898-2580.
Bedrooms are pre-assigned. Medical requests (such as ADA accessible rooms and rooms near an elevator) must be made at least 10 days prior to arrival. We cannot honor any other type of room request.
Siena Retreat Center serves adults for the purpose of spiritual renewal, enrichment, individual and group retreats, prayer, and contemplation. Use of the Center is restricted to those activities and pursuits that fit within this aim. Because Siena Retreat Center does not serve minors, minors of any age are not allowed at Siena Retreat Center for retreats or programs.
The front desk is staffed for check-ins 9:00am – 4:30pm Monday through Friday and 9:00am – noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
Doors lock at 5:00pm on weekdays and at noon on weekends. The door code is provided at check-in.
If you are coming for one of our sponsored retreats you will receive an email approximately one week before the event with instructions on when to arrive.
The bedroom floors are silent spaces. Each guest bedroom includes:
- Private bathroom
- Individual temperature control (including A/C)
- Wi-Fi
- Bed linens & towels
- Soap (please bring your own personal toiletries)
- Writing desk and chair
- Rocking chair or recliner
- Small dresser
Guests are not permitted to use candles in the private bedrooms or anywhere else within the facilities. There are a small number of hairdryers available in the guest laundry room on each of the bedroom floors.
We accept cash, check, and credit cards.
Please make your own arrangements for transportation.
Continental breakfast is available at any time in the Retreat Dining Room.
Currently, lunches & dinners are served one of two ways at the Retreat Center.
- When there are 16+ guests signed up, lunches and dinners are served hot from the buffet line
(Lunch 12-12:30 pm and Dinner 5:30-6 pm)
OR - When there are less than 16 guests dining, meals are preplated and made available for guests to heat & eat at their convenience.
The meals provided are the same menu items regardless of method of serving. Meals must be ordered at least 7 days in advance through our Arrangements Coordinator.
Our catering team is able to accommodate vegetarian and gluten free requests. Special needs must be indicated at the time of registration so that we can plan for your needs. Guests with dietary restrictions beyond what the kitchen can accommodate will need to bring their own food. A refigerator, microwave, & toaster oven will be available for storage and prep.
A freezer, refrigerator, toaster oven and microwave are available in our dining room. When using the refrigerator and freezer, please clearly label your food with your name. Bedrooms do not have their own refrigerator.
Please take unused food with you when you leave.
The Beverage Center in the dining room is open 24/7.
Drink options include:
- coffee (hot and iced)
- tea
- hot cocoa
- juice (flavors vary)
- ice and water dispenser
- low-fat milk
- almond milk
Please note while we make every effort to accommodate individual needs we are currently only able to supply dairy and almond milk in the dining room. Should you require additional lactose-free alternative please plan to bring your own and we will supply refrigerator space for storage. Thank you!
- Our outstanding bookstore is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, on Saturdays from 9:00am – noon, and closed on Sundays and holidays. Click here for more information about what we carry in our bookstore.
As you come along the drive, you will notice a sign for Retreat Parking, which will be located on your left just after you reach the stop sign at the end of the drive. There are additional handicap stalls closer to the building around the retention pond which you are welcome to use if needed. You are also welcome to stop at the front door to unload before going to park.
If you are an overnight guest, we will need your license plate number upon check-in.
A washing machine, dryer, iron, and ironing board are provided on both bedroom floors for your use. Laundry detergent is available.
Bring comfortable shoes and clothes. We recommend bringing a sweater as room temperatures and individual comfort levels vary. We are located directly on the shores of Lake Michigan and the lake effect weather often means it is 5-10 degrees cooler on campus than reported temperatures for the area.
Unfortunately we are not able to ship items purchased from the Bookstore.
A hermitage is not on the Siena campus, but a rustic hermitage is located at the Eco-Justice Center, four miles to the north. The Eco-Justice Center is also a sponsored ministry of the Racine Dominican sisters.
For more information, visit the Eco-Justice Center website at https://ecojusticecenter.org/hermitage.
Siena Retreat Center permits service animals in accordance with Americans with Disabilities regulations. No other animals are not allowed.
No. Urgent health matters would be treated as emergencies, and emergency medical staff (911) may be called.
The entire Siena campus is intended as a place of healing, peace, and wholeness and thus smoking is not allowed on the campus. Smoking is only permitted in private vehicles with the windows rolled up.
Siena Retreat Center makes every effort to be a place of peace and wellness. Hand sanitizer and areas for hand washing are available throughout the building. Siena Retreat Center continues to follow CDC guidelines for health and safety precautions.
Please take care of yourself and others by staying home if you have a fever or other COVID-19 symptoms. Please stay home if you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last five (5) days.
Questions may be directed to Claire Anderson at (262) 898-2588 or canderson@sienaretreatcenter.org.
