The May Retreat with Khenpo Sherab Sangpo

MOUNT OLIVET CONFERENCE & RETREAT CENTER

 

Enjoy teachings, meditation, and quiet time at a retreat center surrounded by 150 acres of woods, lakes, and prairies.

 

Mount Olivet Conference & Retreat Center
7984 257th Street West
Farmington, MN 55024

The retreat center is located approximately 45 minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. You can call Mount Olivet Conference & Retreat Center at (952) 469-2175. In case of an emergency, you can reach the on-call manager at (952) 201-1663.

MEDITATION SEATING
We will have chairs and fifteen sets of meditation cushions and mats. If you have your own meditation cushion and mat, you are welcome to bring it and place it in the chapel for the duration of the retreat.

PACKING LIST
Optional items to bring with you:

• reusable water bottle or thermos mug
• meditation mat and cushion, if you prefer to use your own
• personal practice texts and mala
• Tibetan ceremonial prayer scarf (katak) and teacher’s donation for Sunday evening’s blessing ceremony
• alarm clock, preferred bed pillow, or earplugs, if you are sensitive to sounds at night while sleeping
• necessary medications
• notebook and pen
• flashlight or headlamp for campfire area
• bathing suit and towel for pool and sauna
• suitable clothing for a variety of cold to warm weather conditions
• flower offering (potted flowers or flowers in a vase) for the shrine

What will be provided to you:

• chairs in the meditation chapel, including 15 sets of meditation mats and cushions
• retreat folder with printed retreat schedule and retreat text
• sheets, towels, linens, and pillows are provided by the retreat center
• vegetarian/vegan meals
• water, coffee, tea, and snacks during breaks
• thank you cards for our teacher’s donation for Sunday evening’s blessing ceremony

LODGING & ACCESSIBILITY
Overnight room check-in time is 3 PM on the day of your arrival and check-out time is 10 AM on the day of your departure. Please strip your bed and prop your room door open when you leave. Keys should be turned in at the front desk in the Youngdahl Lodge.

The retreat center has hotel-style rooms and dorm rooms. The Cornell House hotel-style rooms include two full-size beds. Single occupancy means one person per hotel-style room. Double occupancy means two people per hotel-style room (one bed for each person). Dorm rooms sleep eight people in four single beds and two sets of bunk beds. These rooms can accommodate nine people with the addition of a roll-away bed.

All of the retreat center buildings are handicap accessible and have automatic front doors. Elevators are located in both multi-level buildings. All guest room door handles are lever style. Handicapped bathroom stalls exist in all public bathrooms. Lodging room 301 is ADA-compliant.

When you fill out your registration form, you can state your preference for lodging and meals.

DINING
Vegetarian and vegan meals will be served in the Trillium Dining Room on the main floor of the Youngdahl Lodge. Breakfast starts at 8 AM, lunch at 12 PM, and dinner at 6 PM as noted on our retreat schedule. Mt. Olivet’s kitchen can accommodate special dietary requests, such as gluten-free, lactose-free, and nut-free. Please note that Mt. Olivet cannot 100% guarantee to maintain a gluten-free, lactose-free, or nut-free kitchen environment. If you have severe food allergies, please bring your EpiPen or other emergency food allergy medication.

When you fill out your registration form, you can state your preference for vegetarian or vegan meals. You can also let our coordinators know of any special diet needs you may have, including gluten-free, lactose-free, and nut-free. Please communicate any special diet needs no later than May 15, 2025, as we must give Mt. Olivet’s kitchen staff two weeks notice.

RELAXATION & RECREATION
Recreation amenities will be available to our group, including the pool, whirlpool, sauna, campfire area, and hiking trails. For more information and hiking maps, see Frequently Asked Questions about Mount Olivet Conference & Retreat Center.

HOTELS NEAR OUR RETREAT CENTER

There are four hotels within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of our retreat center. If you would prefer to stay in a hotel, please select the commuter option when you register. We won’t be able to provide shuttle service from these hotels to our retreat center. You will need to arrange your own transportation.

Compare hotels options and pricing in Lakeville, Minnesota on Tripadvisor:

• Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites (20800 Kenrick Avenue, Lakeville, MN, 55044)
• Hampton Inn (20851 Keokuk Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044)
• Candlewood Suites (21060 Keswick Loop, Lakeville, MN 55044)
• Baymont by Wyndham (17145 Kenyon Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044)