Teacher Residencies at GilChrist

Note from the program sponsor: We are deeply saddened to share news of the passing of our founder and inspiration, Douglas M. Yeager, on December 24, 2022. While we continue to navigate the loss, we are committed to carrying on this work and building upon the legacy he initiated to honor the memory of his wife and our mother, friend, and grandmother.

Applications accepted April 19 - May 5, 2023

In honor of those who educate our youngest students, the Nancy M. and Douglas M. Yeager Family Foundation sponsors teacher residencies at GilChrist Retreat Center in Three Rivers, Michigan, each summer. 

Offered to teachers working at the preschool through fifth-grade levels, the residencies provide the opportunity to spend a quiet week of reflection, writing, reading, and planning for the following school year and beyond. In 2023, there are ten residencies available.

Application Deadline: May 5, 2023
Notification: On or before May 15, 2023
Residency Dates: July 6 -13, 2023

Eligibility: Individuals who are currently teaching an organized class or classes at the preschool- through fifth-grade level in a private or public school.

Interested applicants who are not current teachers (such as school counselors, administrators, part-time instructors, or student teachers) may be considered based on potential benefits to students and/or availability of residencies.

History: Offered annually since 2003, the GilChrist Teacher Residencies are rooted in Nancy Yeager’s lifelong interest in and commitment to childhood education. She was first an elementary school teacher and later a teacher/director of a preschool in Kettering, Ohio. Her love for teaching inspired her family to establish the residencies at GilChrist, a place she had visited a number of times and found to be a truly serene and beautiful setting.

Residency Details:

• These opportunities are limited to selected teachers (no family members or guests) during the scheduled dates.
• Recipients stay in fully furnished cabin at GilChrist.
• Recipients are responsible for their travel expenses, materials, and meals (cabins have full kitchens). There may be some common meals offered; we will update as details become available.
• Transportation from and to the Kalamazoo Airport may be available, as well as assistance with grocery shopping, for those arriving by air.

GilChrist Retreat Center is approximately 25 miles south of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and about five miles west of Three Rivers, Michigan. Learn more about GilChrist.

To apply: Please complete and submit the application form by May 5, 2023. 

Questions? Please email Deborah Yeager.