Forest Refuge – Fees

Fee structure & payments
Deposits
Cancellations and date changes
Rates

Fee structure & payments

IMS's Forest Refuge fees are on a sliding scale basis. This allows participants to pay according to individual means. The Forest Refuge has three rates – Sustaining, Mid and Base. Some financial assistance is available for those who cannot afford the entire cost.

Payment at the Base rate covers just over 50% of what is needed to run our centers. To balance our budget and to wisely steward our resources, donations must supplement our registration income.

The Sustaining rate represents the actual cost to IMS to operate our programs. If you can afford this level or higher, you assist our efforts to offer lower sliding-scale rates and ongoing financial subsidies.

See below for 2013 rates. Fees for 2014 will be posted in July 2013, and will apply for any retreat nights in 2014, starting January 1, 2014.

Teacher support

Here at IMS, our teachers are continuing the ancient Buddhist monastic tradition of freely offering the teachings. For a sustainable income here in the midst of contemporary Western society, they rely on the generosity of retreatants. There is an opportunity to offer contributions to the teachers at the end of your retreat.

At the Forest Refuge, where participants often stay for long periods, IMS supplements donations to teachers as needed to provide an adequate offering. (IMS reimburses teachers’ travel to and from our centers, and provides teachers with meals and housing while they’re teaching.)

Your contributions help teachers to lead a life devoted to teaching both at IMS and in other parts of the world, including communities without the means to donate. Your gifts also allow teachers to take time for their own practice, ensuring that their teachings are continuously enriched.

Click here to learn more about teacher 'dana.'

Deposits

A deposit of approximately one-third of your total retreat cost is due once your application has been approved. Deposits are accepted online – a link will be sent to you if your application is approved. You can also pay by mail, by phone or in person. Please make your check or money order payable to IMS, or include Visa or MasterCard information.

Cancellations and date changes

Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel. If you let us know more than 60 days before your retreat begins, the fee is $100 (or your full deposit if less than $100 was paid). If you cancel 60 days or less before your starting date, you forfeit your full deposit.

Changes that move or shorten the dates of a confirmed retreat are considered cancellations. If you change part of your retreat more than 60 days before the confirmed start date, the fee is $100. If you change part of your retreat 60 days or less before the confirmed start date, you forfeit a deposit amount proportional to the length of time cancelled, with a minimum fee of $100.

Date changes that lengthen your confirmed retreat incur no fee.

2013 Rates

Any amount paid above the Base rate is a tax-deductible donation.