Information for Program Participants and Other Visitors

General

Environment and Accommodations:

Shambhala Mountain Center is in northern Colorado, situated in mountain valley of pine forests and alpine meadows at an elevation of eight thousand feet. We offer a wide variety of courses in Buddhist meditation, yoga, contemplative arts and outdoor adventures. The climate is generally dry in the summer, although rainstorms and even hail do pass through, often in the afternoon. Summer days are usually sunny and warm, but it cools down quickly at sundown. The temperature may drop more than thirty degrees Fahrenheit by midnight, and it may drop below freezing at any time of the year.

Because of the abundant sunlight and high elevation, we suggest taking precautions against dehydration, altitude sickness and ultraviolet rays. So please drink more water than you think you need, wear sunscreen and prepare for our changeable weather by wearing layers of clothing. Depending on the type of accommodation you have chosen, you may be hiking on uneven terrain for much of your stay here. Please be sure to read the What to Bring section below so that you can prepare to come with what you will need for the duration of your stay.

Medical Information:

It is very important that you let the Shambhala Mountain Center staff know of any medical condition(s) that may affect your stay while you are attending a program here. In particular, let us know of any medications that you will be taking. Please ensure that you have enough medication for the duration of your stay; the closest pharmacies are an hour away. It is imperative that you do not alter your medication dosages without your physician's approval. Please note that if you have asthma, it can become more aggravated at this altitude. If you use asthma medication, be sure to bring along more than you would normally require (at least half again of your usual amount). 

The altitude and environment at Shambhala Mountain Center can be physically demanding and may aggravate other otherwise stabilized medical conditions. With professional medical care more than an hour away, please take the necessary precautions to look after your physical well-being. If you have any specific concerns regarding how this environment may affect your health, please consult your physician before your program begins. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office. 

Shambhala Mountain Center Code of Conduct:

• Please, no illegal drugs. Possession of drugs is not only disrespectful to the view inherent in all activities at Shambhala Mountain Center, but it is illegal and potentially harmful to not only yourself, but to the Center itself. Anyone possessing and/or using illegal drugs will be asked to leave the land, no second chances.
• Please, no firearms.
• Please leave your vehicle off the land in the designated parking lot. If you have a special need requiring use of your vehicle, please contact us.
• Please, no pets.
• Please, no amplified music. Music is only allowed on certain occasions.
• Please, no drinking in public. Alcoholic beverages are allowed only on certain occasions sponsored by Shambhala Mountain Center. Underage drinking is not tolerated at any time.
• Please observe posted speed limits when on the land.
• Please do not litter.
• Please do not smoke, except in designated fire-safe areas. Fieldstrip cigarettes.
• Please do not stray from marked trails and roads. The land is fragile.

Registration

A 50% deposit is required upon registration for stays of four nights or longer in all accommodation types. For shorter stays, full payment is required upon registration.

If you have registered and paid your deposit on-line, you are considered registered. If you are paying by check, you are considered registered once we receive your deposit check in the mail. You can also phone us with your credit card information to complete your registration.

Payment may be made by credit card, check or money order in U.S. funds. Final payment is due 14 days prior to the start of any stay. We cannot guarantee your space if full payment is not received at least 14 days prior to arrival. If you make your deposit with a credit card, we will charge that card for the balance due 14 days prior to arrival. Some programs have unique payment schedules that supersede our general payment policy, and they are described on the program registration page on our web site.

If you cancel your reservation more than 14 days prior to arrival, you will receive a full refund less a $50 processing fee. If you cancel 2 to 14 days prior to arrival, we will hold your payment, less a $50 processing fee, for up to one year for you to use toward another stay. No refunds or credits will be issued for cancellations received less than 48 hours prior to arrival. Certain programs have unique cancellation policies that supersede our general policy, and they are described on the program registration page on our web site.

Arrival/Departure Days:

Your program's arrival and departure days are those dates filled in on the registration page. The arrival day of your program is dedicated to registering and getting settled in. Please plan to arrive by 5:00 pm on arrival day. Please see the travel information section below for details on departure days. You may be welcome to arrive before your designated arrival day or depart after departure day, provided that we have space. Therefore, please make such arrangements in advance. The fee for each extra night will depend on your housing choice.

Planning Your Expenses:

If your program will be serving meals Zen-style (for Dathün, Shambhala Sutrayana Seminary and Shambhala Vajrayana Seminary), you will need an oryoki set. These can be rented from Shambhala Mountain Center for $15/week, plus a $50 refundable deposit. Please call us ahead of time at x232 if you wish to rent or purchase a set.

Commercial laundry service will be available only for programs longer than two weeks. The flat fee for this service is $30, and it includes a laundry bag. There are no laundry facilities available at the Center.

Other expenses to consider include the shuttle fare from Denver International Airport to Fort Collins ($28 each way, paid to the driver) and Shambhala Mountain Center travel service between Fort Collins and the Center ($40 each way), as well as any items that you might wish to purchase at our Gift Store over the course of your stay.

All payments to Shambhala Mountain Center should be made in U.S. funds via cash, check, Visa/Mastercard, traveler's check or money order payable on a U.S. bank. We charge $20 for handling any checks returned unpaid. We do not accept American Express or Discover. Our Finance Office can cash checks and give credit card cash advances. All credit card cash advances are subject to a 3% surcharge.

Internships, Work Exchange & Scholarships:

If you need financial assistance, please consider enrolling in our primary internship programs: Spring Set-Up and Fall Take-Down. We offer $100 of program credit for each week of Spring Set-Up or Fall Take-Down worked. In the spring (early May through mid-June), the set-up crew erects our summer village, which includes large program tents and smaller tents for participant housing. The take-down crew dismantles the village in September. Both programs offer a variety of classes in Shambhala Buddhism, yoga, Shambhala Arts and other disciplines. You can register for these programs on this web site.

In addition to Spring Set-Up and Fall Take-Down, there are summer and year-round work exchange opportunities which provide a small amount of program credit and room/board in exchange for volunteering with one of our departments on the land. An example of this would be many Summer Volunteer Staffing positions, which run for three to five months and offer program credit or a small stipend; and the opportunity to live on the land and participate in the community, take Buddhist studies classes offered to the staff, and participate in programs on the land as availability and schedules permit.  If you are interested in this type of work exchange opportunity, please go to our Staffing Opportunities page or contact our Human Resources department at hr@shambhalamountain.org.  

If you are unable to participate in these programs, you may want to consider other sources of funding, including borrowing from a friend, a relative or the Ashoka Credit Union. The Ashoka Credit Union, at (303) 444–9003 or ashokacu@indra.com, makes loans for practice programs to qualified applicants.

A limited number of partial scholarships are also available for many of our programs. Scholarships are granted based on financial need in cases in which participants are unable to participate in our work-study programs or obtain funding through other sources. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please print out our Scholarship Application (in PDF format), complete it and mail it to The Shambhala Mountain Center Scholarship Committee, 4921 County Road 68-C, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545, or fax it to us at (970) 881–2909. Note: If you are applying for a scholarship for Courageous Women, Fearless Living: A Retreat for Women Touched by Cancer, there is a different application process. Please click here and download the scholarship application by clicking on the appropriate link in the section entitled SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION.

What to Bring

• A flashlight w/spare batteries.
• Your own meditation cushions (summer programs only; international travelers excepted). If you do not own meditation cushions, we recommend Samadhi Cushions at samadhicushions.com or (800) 331–7751. For off-season programs (September through May), you do not need to bring your own cushions, but may do so if you prefer.
• If you have selected dorm or tent housing, warm bedding such as blankets or sleeping bags suitable for below-freezing temperatures, pillow with case and twin- size sheets. Couples or parents with small children may prefer to bring king-size sheets for putting beds together in tents.
• Clothing appropriate for practice, work and play. You will need layered clothing as the temperature changes quite dramatically over the course of a day. A hooded windbreaker, hat (for both sun and cold), gloves, rain gear and warm layers are all nice to have on hand. You may also want to have one or two dressy outfits for social events.
• Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. We recommend warm, water-resistant, over- the-ankle boots. You will be doing a lot of walking over rough ground in a variety of weather conditions. As we require shoes off indoors, it is also preferable to have shoes that can slip off and on easily.
• A shawl or blanket, and slippers or thick socks for cool mornings in the meditation hall.
• A poncho (summer), coat and snow boots (winter).
• Toiletries (including sunscreen, lip balm, lotion) and towels.
• A battery-powered alarm clock.
• A daypack to hold the things you will want to have with you over the course of each day.
• A water bottle.
• Money for laundry fee (programs longer than two weeks only); a prepaid phone or calling card (may be purchased in our Gift Store); and Gift Store books, snacks, toiletries, practice materials, cards, clothing and gifts.

Communications:

You can expect to enjoy simplicity and the space to sense your own life while at the Center: cell phones do not work here, nor is there access to the Internet. We have a few public phones available, and, of course, the Postal Service comes by regularly! You will need a calling card to make long-distance phone calls while you are on the land. Long-distance calling cards are available at the Gift Store.

Please make the necessary arrangements for any communication you must have. Your family and friends can get messages to you by calling (970) 881–2184 x0 during the day, and their message will be posted for you. Any emergency calls must be identified as such by the caller in order to be handled urgently. Emergency messages involving detailed information can also be faxed to (970) 881–2909, where they will be picked up regularly throughout the day.

Rotating Work Assignments:

One of the ways we practice mindfulness and celebrate community at the Center is through rotating work assignments, or rota. No matter our responsibility or position, we all take turns cleaning up after each other and ourselves through rota. Rota is the ground and basis of contemplative community life, and it may be a part of your program. If you have special needs or concerns regarding rota, please contact us.

Advance Luggage & Mail:

Use UPS rather than the U.S. Postal Service when shipping bulky items to Shambhala Mountain Center. Your name and program name, as well as your mailing address, should be posted on your UPS packages. The local post office does not deliver large items to the Center. Please do not forward your bills, magazines or any other mail to Shambhala Mountain Center, as you cannot issue any forwarding orders when you leave (as we are considered a business). If you will be here for a long program, you should ask a relative or friend to package your mail and send it to you periodically.

Transportation

Please be certain to read the following information regarding our travel policy. Please note that if you require transportation assistance from Fort Collins to Shambhala Mountain Center, you will need to contact our transportation department with your arrival information at least two weeks prior to your program arrival date in order for us to accommodate your needs. Some programs require earlier notice; check with our office. You may reach our transportation department at (970) 881–2184 x298, or smcshuttle@shambhalamountain.org.

We provide transportation service between Fort Collins and Shambhala Mountain Center for travelers arriving on the scheduled arrival and departure days for their program. The nonrefundable fee for this service is $80 round-trip per person, payable in advance; we will charge the credit card you have on file for this service. If you arrive in Fort Collins before the scheduled arrival day, or if we do not receive your transportation information with enough advance notice and are unable to pick you up that day, you will need to make arrangements to stay in Fort Collins (we recommend the Hilton on Prospect Street at (970) 482–2626) www.hilton.com or find alternative means for getting to the Center. Please consider using our Ride-Share Board.

If you would like to arrive at Shambhala Mountain Center before the scheduled arrival day, you will need to make arrangements with the registration office in advance. For some of our programs we cannot accommodate early arrivals, so please be certain to contact us with your plans. There will be a charge for each extra night that you stay at the Center. Please read the specific information that follows regarding how to schedule your itinerary and arrange for transportation assistance to the Center.

Flying:

• Choose Denver International Airport (DEN) as your destination.
• Schedule an early flight. You should schedule a flight that arrives before 1:00pm (there are situations when you should arrive even earlier—recommended timing varies depending on the season, type of program, and whether or not you are coming on a designated arrival day. Please email smcshuttle@shambhalamountain.org or Shambhala Mountain Center Transportation at x298 before you book your flight.) Please schedule your return flight to depart at least five hours after your program concludes, which is noted on the program page on our web site and in your email
  confirmation letter.
• Take the Shamrock Airport Express to Fort Collins and get off at the Fort Collins Hilton on Prospect Street. The Airport Express costs $32 each way, payable to the driver. Tips are appreciated. It is a two-hour ride from DEN to Fort Collins. Reservations are recommended. Go to www.rideshamrock.com or call (970) 482–0505 to get the latest schedule and make a reservation. Get off at the Fort Collins Hilton on Prospect Street (not the Marriott or the Holiday Inn).
• If you arrive in Fort Collins after normal business hours, you may need to spend the night in Fort Collins; we will pick you up the next day. If you are only able to schedule an evening arrival, you should schedule it a day in advance so that you catch the arrival-day shuttle and do not miss any of your program. If this is the case, we recommend making reservations at the Fort Collins Hilton on Prospect Street at www.hilton.com (970) 482–2626.
• For most programs, the last day of your program (the date noted on your registration page on this web site) is dedicated to packing, saying good-bye and getting to the airport on time, which means that you will want to schedule your departing flight for late afternoon or early evening (after 2:30pm). The possible exception to this is if you are flying to attend a short program that ends in the afternoon of the departure day. If you are flying in for a program of one week or less, please check with our program office for the time your program will end so that you can book a departure flight that ensures you will not miss anything. For some programs, this may require an extra night's stay at the Center.

Driving:

• View a printable map of Shambhala Mountain Center in GIF format or in PDF format. (Get the PDF reader here.)
• Plan to arrive at Shambhala Mountain Center by mid-afternoon on your arrival day so that you will have time to complete registration and settle into your accommodations before dark.
• Please be aware that use of your vehicle on the land at Shambhala Mountain Center will not be permitted.

Bus Transportation:

• Choose Fort Collins as your destination.
• We will pick you up at the Fort Collins downtown Transit Center bus station (250 North Mason Street).
• Let us know well in advance when you will arrive (must arrive by 5:00pm at the latest on arrival day).
• If you arrive after normal business hours, we will pick you up the next day.
• For most programs, the last day of your program is dedicated to packing, saying good-bye and getting to the bus station on time—so please schedule your bus ride for late afternoon or early evening. The possible exception to this is if you are coming by bus to attend a short program that ends in the afternoon of the departure day. If you are taking the bus in for a program of one week or less, please check with our program office for the time your program will end so that you can book your departing bus at a time so that you won't miss any of your program.

Transportation from Boulder:

Greyhound Bus from Boulder to Fort Collins. $14.25 one-way or $28.50 roundtrip. Greyhound has three buses from Boulder to Fort Collins every day: leaving Boulder at 9:00am and arriving in Fort Collins at 10:35am; leaving Boulder at 7:15pm and arriving in Fort Collins at 9:20pm; and leaving Boulder at 11:00pm and arrriving in Fort Collins at 12:30am. Call (800) 231–2222 to make reservations and verify their schedule. Catch the bus at the Amoco Station at the junction of 30^th and Diagonal Highway.

Greyhound Bus from Fort Collins to Boulder. $14.25 one-way or $28.50 roundtrip. Greyhound has two buses from Fort Collins to Boulder every day: leaving Ft. Collins at 1:00pm and arriving in Boulder at 3:15pm; and leaving Ft. Collins at 3:10am and arriving in Boulder at 5:20am. Call (800) 231–2222 to make reservations and verify schedule.

Transportation from DEN to Boulder:

Supershuttle Boulder makes frequent runs between Boulder and DIA. Call (303) 444–0808 to get their schedule and make reservations.

RTD-Denver, Denver's public transit system, provides frequent bus service

between Boulder and DEN for $10 ($18 roundtrip). Call (800) 366–7433 or visit www.rtd-denver.com for more information.

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