Frequently Asked Questions About Attending and Registration
Yes! (Sort of).
This year, we’re expanding the traditional Young Adult Weekend to welcome adults of any age. This offering is available to young adults and returning SI community members to whom it is the best option at this time.*
Registration includes access to community programming only and does not include morning seminars. Beds will be provided for all weekend participants (no floor sleeping), and meals can only be purchased directly at Oberlin’s cafeteria, which accepts credit cards.
*We do want to emphasize: the intentional community we create at CERSI is a unique and deeply meaningful experience, which builds and strengthens over the course of the full week. Whenever possible, we strongly encourage participants to attend the entire week, and scholarship support is available to help make that possible.
Everyone has to register! This means, infants, children, youth, young adults, adults, part-time attendees, commuters, full-time and part-time staff – including theme speakers, workshop leaders, touch group leaders etc. Everyone attending CERSI must register!
We have two age groups for Children: Age 5 or younger, and Kindergarten – 6th grade.
Youth are participants who are entering 7th grade through recent high school graduates. Youth and children must attend with either a parent/guardian or a sponsor who is not their legal guardian.
Young Adults are adults ages 18 to 35 who wish to participate in the Young Adult Programming and/or room in the Young Adult wing.
Adults are everyone else.
Several morning workshops have a limited number of spaces available – sign up right away to save your spot! Several styles of dorm rooms have limited availability and they are all distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Most importantly, if you sign up before May 31 we waive the $75 registration fee for the event.
Morning seminars are classes designed for adults and young adults to learn a new skill, get creative, move, meditate, or contemplate a deep topic in the company of others who share a similar interest. They run Monday – Friday after the theme talk and you attend the same seminar the entire week as each day builds upon the day prior. Before registering, check out this year’s seminars in our Catalog. Seminars are filled on a first-come first-served basis. They are not required, but if you wish to participate in one you must select your seminar choice during the registration process. Youth and children attend Religious Education each morning and do not need to select a workshop.
Dorm rooms at Oberlin are Singles and Doubles, either with or without Air Conditioning. Restrooms are located in the dorm wings.
As part of our registration process, you can request to stay in community focus dorm wings, which each focus on one section of our community. You and your family can select a wing that will help you have the best experience at CERSI:
Accessible Wing – This is a ground floor wing. Please note: Not all rooms in the “Accessible wing” are accessible for those with physical disabilities.
Quiet Wing – for individuals with sensory needs.
Young Adult Wing – aged 18 to 35.
General Population
Child-Care Co-Op Wing – for families wanting to share childcare responsiblities over the week.
Family Focus Wing – not interested in childcare co-op.
Youth Family Wing – for families with youth and children.
Due to space limitations, we may not be able to guarantee your dorm wing, but we will do our best.
Yes! When you make your room selection on your registration form, select “Double room with randomly assigned roommate” and we will find someone for you to share a room with. Please email registrar@cersiuu.org with any questions.
Yes! Your children aged 10 and younger can sleep on the floor in your dorm room, provided all beds in the room have been filled first.
No! At a cost of $30, Oberlin will provide a Linen Package which includes one fitted sheet, flat sheet, pillow with a zippered case, pillowcase and a bath towel. Does not include bath mat. You may select this option, or you may pack your own linens.
If you are an adult over the age of 25 you may sponsor up to 2 youth or children for whom you are not a legal guardian. The parent / legal guardian will need to 1) fill out the UUA permission forms emailed to them when they registered their child, and 2) Print, sign, and notarize a Child Temporary Guardian form or Youth Temporary Guardian form and bring it to CERSI. They will need to show the form at registration and keep it with them during the week in case of emergency. Exception: Adults who are attending as Youth Group sponsors for their church may sponsor up to 5 children each.
Frequently Asked Questions about Costs, Jobs & Scholarships
Costs vary by age, dorm room type, and meal plan. Visit the CERSI cost estimator for more info.
No, the deadline to submit workshops was October 30 but you can prepare for next year! Applications typically open in September and close at the end of October. All workshop leaders are offered a campership to help offset the cost of attending SI for the week.
Yes! Please find out more on the Work At SI Page. If you have a campership, you must know your Campership Title and Tier discount before you complete your online registration form. We will provide you with this information, with instructions to fill out the forms and background checks required of all CERSI Volunteer Staff. If you believe you have a campership and have not received this information, please contact us at registrar@cersiuu.org.
YES! The Scholarship application deadline is May 31. See the scholarships page for detailed information and to apply online. You may submit one scholarship application per family. Indicate in your application how many members of your household you are including on your application. After scholarship decisions are communicated you will be given an invoice with your adjusted amount. If you have questions please contact us at scholarships@cersiuu.org.
Absolutely! There is a section on the Registration Form where you can add a donation to the Scholarship Fund to your registration fees. These donations may be tax deductible, per IRS regulations – request a receipt if you would like one! Not registering? Donate here!
First, select your morning workshops and complete the online registration form. You will receive an email with additional instructions on making payment, signing up for workshifts, and filling out needed paperwork for parents and youth. If you register and do not receive an email confirmation, please contact us at registrar@cersiuu.org.
No. You can request an invoice for one or more registrants. Unless you are applying for a campership or a scholarship, a 50% deposit is due by May 31. The remainder of your fees are due at Registration on the first day of SI. Please note: If you have a campership or are applying for a scholarship, you do not have to pay a deposit.
If you cancel by May 31 you will be refunded the total amount of your registration. After May 31, a $75 Cancellation fee apply to cover administrative costs. If you cancel between May 31 and June 20, you will be refunded the total amount minus $50 per person. After June 20 all cancellations will be refunded the amount minus $100 per person.
Yes! Immediately upon registering you will get an email that explains your next steps. If you do not receive this email, we did not get your registration. If you requested an invoice, you should receive it from the registration team within 3–5 business days. As summer institute approaches, First-Timers will receive an email from the first-timer liaison, and many registrants may be contacted by their workshop facilitator or coordinators of the activities they selected. In early July, all registrants will receive an email confirming housing, workshops, programming, and final payment balances.
While we will be meeting in person at Oberlin College, we are excited to offer this virtual offering for those who are not ready or able to meet in person. We will be utilizing an online platform for events that we are streaming live or will be available on demand until the end of July. We will be streaming Morning Worship, Theme Speaker, Vespers and Opening Ceremonies.
Questions About COVID-19
Read about our Covid Protocols and Masking Guidelines, which are designed to protect the most vulnerable of us.
Yes! Everyone 5 and over is required to be vaccinated. Currently boosters are not required. See our current COVID policy.
Masks will be required for events in the performance center, including opening and closing ceremonies, morning worship, evening vespers and the theme talk and in the convocation center. Decisions are still being made about masking policies in smaller groups. Please see the COVID protocols for current details.
A full refund is available to everyone for any reason through May 31. After May 31, we do incur some administrative fees – see full cancellation policy above.
Questions about Oberlin College
Yes! The entire campus, indoors and out, is non-smoking.
Yes! There will be a pub available in the evenings, but no alcohol is permitted outside the pub on the campus.
Some dorms have A/C.
Yes! While Oberlin is bound by Ohio law to include gender on multi-stall restrooms, all single-stall restrooms on campus are labeled as “All-Gender” restrooms. Oberlin is committed to providing a place for everyone to pee. A map of all of these restrooms including showers can be found on their website.
Yes! Oberlin has a laundry facility in each dorm at reasonable cost. More information to follow soon.
Yes! The Dining Hall is accustomed to serving large groups of people with diverse dining needs. There is a station with non-dairy milks and gluten-free bread products, there are gluten free pastas available, and people with allergy needs can request that their meal be made by campus chefs. This may require a wait, but the campus staff is available and happy to help.
Yes! There are paths into, out of, and in between all buildings that are stair-free and accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters. There will be regular golf cart routes during planned activity hours to drive people between buildings. Personal mobility scooters can be brought from home or rented in advance for the week. All buildings have elevators and first-floor dorm requests will be honored as space permits. Please reach out to registrar@cersiuu.org with any questions or requests for accommodations, or for information about renting a scooter for the week.
Please check back.
