Frequently Asked Questions

We are in southwest Michigan, approximately seven miles west of Three Rivers. By car, GilChrist is 35 minutes from Kalamazoo and 60 minutes from South Bend, Indiana.

Directions are available here.

Please note that we are in the Eastern time zone.

GilChrist is located in a rural area on 67 acres of woods and rolling hills, with walking trails, ponds, and a prayer labyrinth. We have eight cabins; a house for longer term solo retreats and small groups; a small, stone chapel; and a common space called WindHill Gathering House, which includes the library, meditation loft, and community area. All buildings, with the exception of the Stone Chapel, have modern heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and kitchen facilities. Outdoor surfaces are generally rugged terrain such as dirt roads and mowed grass trails. WindHill Gathering House and our Hawk’s Nest cabin have features specifically designed for accessibility, and our staff is happy to assist with adaptations for specific mobility needs.

GilChrist is named after Sister GilChrist Lavigne, a Trappist nun who was a close friend and inspiration to its founders. The name “GilChrist” is of Gaelic origin, from gille, a servant, and Chriosed, Christ — “the servant of Christ.” While the name is based in the Christian tradition, GilChrist welcomes people of all faiths and affiliations.

Provided in each cabin or lodging space are:

• Bed sheets, blankets/comforters, and pillows
• Bath towels, hand towels, dish towels
• Filtered drinking water
• Kitchen essentials: dishware, silverware/utensils, pots, pans, aluminum foil, reusable storage containers, basic spices and oil, assorted tea bags, sugar packets
• Hot water kettle, small coffee maker with filters, and toaster, in addition to the fridge and stove (most spaces do not have a microwave or coffee grinder)
• Earth-friendly cleaning supplies and cleaning rags
• Hand soap at the sinks and Castile soap in the shower
• First aid kit, flashlight, blaze orange safety gear, and natural insect repellent
• Tea light candles and matches (and Duraflame fire logs in cabins with open fireplaces)
• Birdseed for bird feeders
• A portable hammock and outdoor chair

Apart from the usual items people pack when traveling (like toiletries and clothes), regular visitors to GilChrist tell us they like to bring the following:

• Books, journal, and art supplies
• Hat (for protection from the weather and just because they’re fun to wear)
• Yoga mat
• Water bottle (for long walks, especially in the summer)
• Binoculars (fun to be able to see the wildlife close up)
• Blanket (for sitting outside)
• Camera
• Comfortable clothes, with layers for changing weather
• Shoes for romping outdoors
• Slippers
• Favorite pillow and whatever you need to sleep well
• Simple food items that do not require use of a microwave
• Coffee and a grinder or any other beverage that will bring you joy

Please note that we strongly discourage use of scented candles, incense, plug-ins, perfumes, and other strong-smelling items inside our buildings out of consideration for our guests and staff. Smoking of any kind is not allowed in any buildings.

Our practice at GilChrist is to lovingly prepare the space for the next guest by leaving it as you found it. Collecting used linens, sweeping floors, cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, and removing trash, recycling, and compost are basic responsibilities for all guests. Detailed guidelines for departure can be found in the informational binder in the cabin. Each cabin has earth-friendly cleaning supplies.

Cabins are left empty for at least 24 hours between guests. During that 24-hour period, a staff member will retrieve the laundry, restock supplies, and check for cleaning standards.

In each guest space, we provide dishware and essential cookware, along with filtered water, tea, and basic spices. Each space has a complete kitchen, with a stove, oven, and a refrigerator, though most do not have a microwave. Small appliances include a toaster, a hot water kettle, and a drip coffee maker with filters. Most guests simply bring their food, snacks, and any specialty beverages they desire.

Just a 10-minute drive from GilChrist, you’ll find chain grocery stores Meijer and Aldi, as well as the locally owned Bullseye Marketplace. The Corey Lake Orchards farm stand is also a good nearby option in season, with a bakery, eggs, local dairy and meats, and a full selection of produce. In addition, the GilChrist vegetable garden is available to guests in season.

GilChrist offers space for individual, self-guided retreats, as well as private and public group retreats that support contemplative practice and social transformation. Check out our calendar of group retreats here. To inquire about spiritual guidance, contact us here or call the main office at (269) 244-1130. Other daily, weekly, and monthly practices may be offered by our neighbors at the Hermitage Community, St. Gregory’s Abbey, and Apple Farm Community.

GilChrist was founded as an independent organization in 1995 and merged with the Fetzer Institute in 1998. As a public, contemplative retreat center, GilChrist was envisioned as a physical expression and embodiment of Fetzer’s mission “to help build the spiritual foundation for a loving world.” GilChrist does not engage in grantmaking activities and is not able to connect you to Fetzer’s philanthropic programs. If you are looking for support for a personal retreat, please refer to the GilChrist Retreat Equity Fund for more information.

We welcome individuals for self-guided retreats or as participants in the events offered at GilChrist. If you would like help structuring a self-guided retreat, please let us know!

Groups offering programs that engage contemplative practice in service of healing self, society, and the natural world are welcome. Please click here to review our guidelines for group retreat requests and to submit a request.

Yes! We warmly welcome children and believe peaceful time in nature with trusted adults is a powerful support in building their capacity for compassion and resilience. We lean on their adult companions to guide them in safely exploring our grounds and preserving a quiet environment for all our guests and wildlife.

As much as we here at GilChrist all love animals, we do not allow pets, comfort animals, or therapy animals. We trust you will enjoy visiting with our cats, goats, and wildlife while you’re here! Service dogs and miniature horses that are “individually trained to do work or perform tasks that are directly related to and mitigate the handler’s disability” are very welcome. Service animals must be housebroken and remain under control of their handlers at all times. Please kindly alert GilChrist staff of your intention to bring a service animal by providing the following information:

1. Is the animal a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the animal been individually trained to perform?

Request a reservation using our online form or call us at (269) 244-1130. The best times to call are Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

If it’s your first visit, a staff person will be watching for you at the main office at your stated check-in time to orient you to the grounds and help you get settled into your cabin. With the exception of a couple of spaces designed for guests who have mobility issues, we do not allow vehicles in the area by the cabins. If you are running late for your arrival time, or if you’re having trouble finding GilChrist, please call our on-call staff person at (269) 244-6021 so we know when to expect you. Guests who have been to GilChrist before may make arrangements to get themselves into their cabins, using the sturdy wagon or golf cart in the parking lot for this purpose.

Expectations for departure are detailed in an informational binder in each cabin, and we are grateful for your attention in preparing your space for the next guest. Our staff is happy to pick you up from your cabin at your stated check-out time. Or, we have a sturdy wagon and a golf cart in the parking lot that you are welcome to use to bring your belongings from your cabin to your car. Upon check-out, please pay by cash, check (made out to the Fetzer Institute), or Venmo and leave the key on the desk.

We accept cash, check, and Venmo for payment. Kindly make checks out to “the Fetzer Institute.”

Ticks are increasingly common in Michigan, including the black-legged tick, a smaller variety that can be a carrier of Lyme disease. To prevent getting bitten by ticks when you’re outdoors:

• Wear a tick repellent spray. Repellent with essential oils is available in guest spaces and varieties with DEET or picaridin are located in the coat room in WindHill. Consider researching and bringing your own repellent.
• Wear long pants tucked into your socks.
• Walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing up against the ends of plants where ticks like to hang out.
• Check yourself carefully after you’ve been outdoors.

If you get bitten by a tick, use a tweezers or tick-removing tool (provided in the first aid bag in each cabin) to pull on its body gently until it releases its grip. If you experience a rash at the site of the bite or any flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately.

Please notify us as soon as possible. We understand that most sudden changes are unavoidable, and we do not charge for individual cancellations. Groups assume full financial responsibility for reservations three weeks prior to their event.

To purchase a gift certificate, please mail a check or money order for the desired amount to GilChrist Retreat Center, 56265 Day Road, Three Rivers, MI 49093, or make a payment on Venmo. Include a note with the name of the person you’d like the certificate made out to and an address where we can mail the certificate. Nightly rates can be found here.

Wi-fi is NOT available in the cabins or Tree of Life House, and cell phone signals vary depending on your carrier. Some guests have had success using hotspots to create an internet connection in their cabin, while others have not. We do offer wi-fi access at the WindHill Gathering House or the main office, which are both a short walk from the cabins.

No, we do not have phones in the cabins, and cell phone signals vary depending on your carrier. An emergency landline phone is mounted on the outside of the main office by the garage service door. Landline phones are also available in the WindHill Gathering House and in the Tree of Life house. We welcome you to make a plan with staff if you anticipate someone needing to reach you in an emergency.