2024 Scholarship Opportunities 

We welcome you to practice at Vallecitos. Please choose which scholarship option below most supports you. 

1) Are you working at least half time in a profession that is in service to others? (For example: Essential workers, educators, anyone who works for a non-profit, artists and more.) 

          Learn More Here      |     Applications will open February 2025

2) Are you between the ages of 18 – 25?  

          Learn More Here      |     Applications will open February 2025 

3) Are you a person who identifies as black, indigenous, or a person of color?

          Learn More Here      |      Applications will open February 2025

4) Are you in general need of a Scholarship?

          Learn More Here      |      Applications will open February 2025 

Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center has long been grounded in the tradition of generosity. Vallecitos is excited to offer multiple opportunities for financial assistance and are committed to helping those who are genuinely unable to afford the cost of a meditation retreat. We ask those who need assistance to pay the highest amount you can reasonably afford so that we may support others in their needs as well.

Due to limited resources, we recommend that you apply for financial assistance as early as possible. Please know that we will do our best to help and that our funds are finite so we cannot guarantee that every application will result in a scholarship.

Fellowships for those working half-time in a profession that is in service to others or those aged 18-25 (Hemera Contemplative Fellowships)

Fellowships are available to anyone with a commitment of service – a deep desire to devote oneself to serving others through their profession. Eligible applicants must either be 18 to 25 years of age or if older must work at least half-time in a helping profession.

Examples of eligible fellows:

• Educators: pre-K through college, including Master of Education (M.Ed.) students.
• School administrators and staff: principals, guidance counselors, advisors, nurses, librarians and school safety officers.
• Health care professionals: physicians, nurses, orderlies, medical technicians, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, chaplains, medical school students and hospice staff.
• Artists: full-time visual, performance, writers, multi-disciplinary artists
• First responders: police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, disaster response teams.
• Military: active duty, reservists and veterans.
• Others:
  • Anyone ages 18-25 (they do not need to work in a profession that is in service to others.)
  • public defenders, legal aid attorneys, victim advocates, human rights advocates;
  • employees working for any 501(3)(c) non-profit organization or private foundation;
  • employees working in direct human services (government or private). Examples include health and human services, child protective services, workforce development.
  • and more.

Levels of Support: 

• Those who are new to meditation or have never attended a retreat longer than two nights are eligible for 75% support.
• Those with previous meditation retreat experience or those who have received a fellowship from Hemera before are eligible for 50% support.
• There is an opportunity for those in need of additional financial assistance to receive up to 85% support of retreat costs.
• Financial support is limited to one fellowship per individual per calendar year.
• Fellowships are available on a first-come, first-served basis based on eligibility.

Eligible Retreats: All teacher-led retreats are eligible. Self-retreats are not eligible.

Instructions for applying: 

1. 1. Review our scholarship page in its entirety to be sure you choose the appropriate scholarship or fellowship for you. If you qualify for Hemera, please select this option first as this will allow us to grant the most number of scholarships. 
   2. Fill out the registration form for the retreat you would like to attend first! Choose “Apply for a Scholarship” as your payment option. (You will NOT need to make a payment at the time of registration).
      1. If the retreat has an application process, apply to the retreat first. If you are accepted, then complete your registration and apply for a scholarship.
   3. Hemera Applicants Please Click Here (Applications will open February 2025) to fill out the online scholarship application. Please note that you will be taken to a different web site to fill out this application directly with Hemera. There is a $5 application fee and you will be asked to create and account to apply.
   4. Your application will NOT be reviewed until we have received BOTH your retreat registration and your fellowship application.
   5. We will contact applicants within 14 business days. Please note your retreat registration is not guaranteed until your scholarship application has been reviewed. If your scholarship is approved and there is a balance owed, your deposit of 50% of that amount will complete your registration. If you receive a full scholarship, a written acceptance is required to complete your registration. If your application is not approved, you may still secure your spot by paying a 50% deposit.

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Scholarships for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

• Thanks to the generosity of our own alumni and donors who support the Vallecitos BIPOC Fellowship Fund, we are able to offer needs based funding for black, indigenous and people of color to attend retreat at Vallecitos.
• To allow us to award as many scholarships as possible, please ONLY apply for this Scholarship if you do not qualify for any of the other scholarship or fellowship opportunities.
• Financial support is limited to one scholarship per individual per calendar year.

Eligible Retreats: All teacher-led retreats are eligible. Self-retreats are not eligible.

Instructions for applying: 

1. Review our scholarship page in its entirety to be sure you choose the appropriate scholarship or fellowship for you. To allow for the maximum number of scholarships to be awarded, please only select this option if you do not qualify for Hemera funding for those who work at least half-time in service to others.
2. Fill out the registration form for the retreat you would like to attend first! Choose “Apply for a Scholarship” as your payment option. (You will NOT need to make a payment at the time of registration).
   1. If the retreat has an application process, apply to the retreat first. If you are accepted, then complete your registration and apply for a scholarship.
3. BIPOC Applicants Please Click Here (Applications will open February 2025) to fill out the online scholarship application.
4. Your application will NOT be reviewed until we have received BOTH your retreat registration and your fellowship application.
5. We will contact applicants within 14 business days. Please note your retreat registration is not guaranteed until your scholarship application has been reviewed. If your scholarship is approved and there is a balance owed, your deposit of 50% of that amount will complete your registration. If you receive a full scholarship, a written acceptance is required to complete your registration. If your application is not approved, you may still secure your spot by paying a 50% deposit.

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Needs-Based Scholarships 

Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and donors, we are able to provide some financial assistance to those who truly could not otherwise afford a meditation retreat. To allow us to award as many scholarships as possible, please ONLY apply for this Scholarship if you do not qualify for any of the other scholarship or fellowship opportunities. Financial support is limited to one scholarship per individual per calendar year.

Eligible Retreats: All teacher-led retreats are eligible. Self-retreats are not eligible.

Instructions for Applying:

1. Review our scholarship page in its entirety to be sure you choose the appropriate scholarship or fellowship for you. Please only apply for this scholarship if you do not qualify for any of the other scholarship or fellowship opportunities.
2. Fill out the registration form for the retreat you would like to attend first! Choose “Apply for a Scholarship” as your payment option. (You will NOT need to make a payment at the time of registration).
   1. If the retreat has an application process, apply to the retreat first. If you are accepted, then complete your registration and apply for a scholarship.
3. Needs Based Applicants Please Click Here (Applications will open February 2025) to fill out the online scholarship application.
4. Your application will NOT be reviewed until we have received BOTH your retreat registration and your fellowship application.
5. We will contact applicants within 14 business days. Please note your retreat registration is not guaranteed until your scholarship application has been reviewed. If your scholarship is approved and there is a balance owed, your deposit of 50% of that amount will complete your registration. If you receive a full scholarship, a written acceptance is required to complete your registration. If your application is not approved, you may still secure your spot by paying a 50% deposit.

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