To find our way, we must get lost

- Bayo Akomolafe

A three-month immersion in Meditation, Community Living and Nature Connection for 18-25 year olds.

Feb 1 - May 8, 2026
Potash Hill, Vermont

APPLICATIONS OPEN - APPLY NOW

Interested in living in contemplative community?

Get updates on the Spring ‘26 Contemplative Semester!

Cultivate authenticity, courage and peace in yourself and the world

These times are calling us into new ways of being. CS will support you to:

Slow down to find what really matters to you
Feel secure & balanced inside yourself
Take back your attention
Listen to your inner guidance
Navigate uncertainty with greater resilience & inner peace

“I learned in ways that I did not imagine that I would. I learned that life can be a practice. There is a way to relate to my life from a balanced place, which is amazing to actually try out. I didn't expect how much I would actually embody and learn practices in my daily life.”

Josie, CS ‘24 Alum

What is the Contemplative Semester?

CS is a 3-month immersion in Contemplative Wisdom, Community Living and Earth Connection for 18-25 year olds.

4 Weeks of (mostly) Silent Meditation Retreats
A holistic curriculum integrating Buddhist Wisdom, Meditation, Nonviolent Communication, Nature Connection & Contemplative Discernment
Living in Community based on collaboration & shared ethics
College credits offered and optional

What will I learn?

At CS, you learn and practice how to…

Find Peace Within Yourself

Integrate Buddhist wisdom & meditation into daily life
Rebuild your attentional capacity
Discern & embody your deepest values
Work with strong emotions & habitual thoughts
Live with connection & harmony to the natural world
Develop a resilient heart & mind that can face anything

Build Peace Together

Access & speak your truth
Listen deeply to others with care
Skillfully navigate conflict & power dynamics
Respond to the polycrisis of ecological, social & political breakdown with compassion & wisdom
Apply Buddhist ethics and nonviolence in communication, relationships & issues of social change

PROGRAM FEES

Tuition: $15,400

Tuition fees go toward fourteen weeks room & board at the Potash Hill campus, a living wage for our staff (teachers, mentors, and on-site chefs), program supplies, and other program expenses. Travel to/from Potash Hill not included; we do help coordinate ride shares.

College Credit & 529 Funds

For those seeking a full semester of college credit, we offer up to 16 credits through Naropa University for an added $2000 ($500 per course).

Families are able to use 529 funds to pay for at least a portion of the semester. Please inquire and consult with your financial advisor.

Financial Aid & Work Study

We are committed to making the Contemplative Semester accessible to young people who would not be able to attend without financial support.

We offer need-based scholarships, and have several scholarships reserved for BIPOC folks with financial need. If you are in need of scholarship support in order to attend, please mark that on your application and we will send you a scholarship form via email. We cannot offer full scholarships, but will try our best to work with you based on what you can afford.

VISITING TEACHERS (more to come!)