Frequently Asked Questions

Yestermorrow courses are designed for students 18 and older. We can make an exception for a student as young as 16 with instructor approval and an adult takes the course with them. 

Yes, all Yestermorrow programs are open to everyone. All courses are taught in English and students are expected to be able to understand and speak the language. We are not able to sponsor or assist with acquiring visas and students must be able to legally enter the country on their own.

There is a simple application form for our Certificate Programs. We ask for this application so that we can make sure the course is the right fit for your learning goals. It is not a competitive process; applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. Applicants will be notified of the admissions status by the middle of the following month. For example, if you apply on April 5, you will be notified by May 15. If the start of the course is approaching, you may request an expedited application review by emailing info@yestermorrow.org. We recommend starting the application process at least 6 months in advance. 

Click here for admissions information specific to the Semester in Design/Build.

For our short form (2 day-2 week) courses, we typically open registration at least 6 months in advance, and space is available on a first come, first served basis. We recommend registering at least 2-3 months in advance; although, we will continue to accept registrations on a space-available basis until a class reaches its capacity.  When there is space available, we can accept registrations up until the day before the class begins. Most classes have a maximum between 6 and 15 students.

If the class you hope to take is full, you can add your name to the waitlist and we will notify you when a space is available. There is no fee to add your name to the waitlist and there is no obligation to attend if you are accepted. We cannot predict if a space will become available and may not be able to respond to inquiries about your place in line (in the summer months, we get a lot and it's hard to keep up!). If a space becomes available in a course within a week of the start, we may email the entire waitlist and offer the seat on a first-come, first-served basis. 

A materials fee, in addition to class tuition, pays for materials used by individual students in classes that have a personal project component. In essence, the fee enables students to purchase those materials, and bring their project home with them after the class.

To hold your space in a class, we ask for a 20% non-refundable deposit when you register. The balance is due no later than thirty days prior to the course start date. Please refer to our cancellation policy for more details. 

Yes, students enrolled in courses involving hands-on site or shop work must have major medical insurance coverage in effect for the duration of the course. All students must fill out an Emergency Contact Form and Hold Harmless Agreement prior to the course start.

Yes! Learn more about using your AmeriCorps Segal Award here. 

You can fill out the course inquiry form to receive updates on specific courses!

We welcome visitors on campus while our office is open from 8:30-5 pm Monday through Friday. If you would like to plan an extended visit, please contact us to schedule a good time. 

If you are taking a shop class or hands-on building course, please bring appropriate and comfortable work clothing and sturdy work or hiking boots. Safety glasses and ear protection are provided for all students, though you are welcome to bring your own. It is not necessary to go out and purchase tools before a class. In fact, it is better to try out the tools we have to allow you to make more informed purchasing decisions. 

If you are taking a design class, please bring personal project information, site plans, articles, drawings, photos, clippings, or whatever else will assist you with the design process. If you are staying in one of our cabins or in our camping area, please bring a sleeping bag, pillow, towel, and flashlight or battery-powered lantern. We provide linens and towels for students staying in dormitory rooms. In general, a flashlight, a notebook, camera, rain gear, and comfortable clothing are recommended.

Not necessarily, though it certainly simplifies things. Getting to and from the airport, or bus and train stations will require taxi service, but if you are staying on campus, you can be fairly self-sufficient once you are here (especially if you are on the full meal plan). There is also a free bus service throughout the Mad River Valley during the ski season, with a bus stop at the end of our driveway.

The nearest airport is Burlington International (BTV) which is about 50 minutes away. At the airport you can access all major car rental companies. You can also get cab service from the airport, bus station or train station to our campus. See our Travel Directions and Resources page for more details. Please note - if you will need a return trip to the airport after your course is complete, it is important to schedule a taxi several days in advance. 

Check in begins 1 hour before your course begins. A campus tour will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of class. Please arrive at least 20 minutes early to have time to check in and join the tour. 
 

If you are staying on campus, your accommodations will be ready by 3:30 pm on the day you check in. If you are staying on campus, and will be arriving outside of our normal office hours (8:30am to 5pm), please let us know in advance and we will happily arrange for your arrival after hours.

We are located in the Mad River Valley, in the geographic center of Vermont. We are about midway (2-3 miles) between two small villages, Warren and Waitsfield. Waitsfield is the Valley's commercial center, with grocery and hardware stores, restaurants, etc. Though rural, the area is a resort center with Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas nearby, so there are quite a few amenities.

Cell phone reception is limited here in the Mad River Valley, depending on your phone carrier. We have campus-wide wifi through a fiber optic connection and a dedicated computer for students to use for checking email and printing documents.

We work with local community groups as well as private clients to find the best possible project for each class. Our goal is always to provide the best learning opportunity and meet each courses' teaching goals - our clients are aware and supportive of this goal. If you are interested in becoming a client, please visit our Course Projects page.

Depending on the course, some project work may take place at the client's site, and we will provide transportation to and from the site. 

For a reasonable cost, we offer 3 meals a day, 7 days a week cooked and served right here on campus. Complete details can be found on the Meal Plans page. There are also numerous restaurants (from pizza to 5-star) in the immediate vicinity and we offer a self-service kitchen for students who want to prepare their own meals.

Our dorm rooms and cabins sleep 2-4 people, depending on the room. We do not offer single occupancy rooms. 

Unfortunately, campus lodging (dorms, bunkhouse, cabins and campsites) are for students only. 

Students are not allowed to bring their dog or any other pets to campus. 

We partner with non-profits, community organizations, schools, and private clients. When selecting projects, we consider factors such as course learning objectives, distance from campus, budget, timeline, and public benefit.

Yes, depending on the project. Many courses build projects on our campus, and completed projects can be delivered to clients. Delivery costs vary based on distance and project size. The further away from campus, the more expensive delivery becomes. 

On-site projects must be within one hour of our campus, with preference for sites within 15 minutes.

Many of our spec projects are sold for a flat fee, as listed on the project page.

For custom projects, we charge competitive rates for staff time related to design, carpentry, and project management. Work performed by students and instructors as part of a course is generally included at no cost to the client. A detailed fee structure will be shared during the initial consultation.

Possibly, but this is decided on a case-by-case basis. Because client and student roles must remain separate, personal projects can create challenges. Clients who join a course must pay full tuition — no discounts are offered.

We generally use new materials so students gain experience with what they’d find at a lumberyard. Used or salvaged materials may be accepted at staff discretion.

No. At this time, we do not take on renovations, additions, or restorations.