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Find out more about Commencement 2025: https://cottey.edu/cottey-commencement/

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Vacation College 2026: May 18-23

A Week of Learning, Connection, and Unforgettable Experiences

Vacation College is a wonderful opportunity to combine a Cottey experience with personal enrichment; it’s a special time to reconnect with old friends and build new relationships.

Participants experience campus life from the inside out as they stay in one of the residence halls, enjoy meals in Raney Dining Room, and attend classes taught by Cottey College faculty, staff, alumnae, and P.E.O.s without the pressure of mid-term exams or finals.

We’ve welcomed:

  • Class groups holding reunions
  • P.E.O. chapters
  • Friend groups who return year after year

We do our best to place groups in a suite together so they can fully enjoy the experience side by side.

More Than Classes

Each day brings opportunities for:

  • Nightly entertainment
  • Recreational activities
  • Hands-on learning
  • Extraordinary fellowship
  • A relaxed, welcoming atmosphere

It’s truly a week you’ll never forget.

Two women laughing and playing cards.

Cost and Registration

Registration opens January 20 at 12 PM (Central Time). Class selection is first-come, first-served, so early registration is encouraged.

  • Early Bird Rate: $710 (available until March 1, 2026)
  • Regular Registration: $810 (beginning March 2, 2026)

An additional $50 fee applies for the optional round-trip airport shuttle.

Additional Information

THE FOLLOWING REFUNDS FOR VACATION COLLEGE WILL BE AVAILABLE.

  • If guests are unable to attend Vacation College due to extenuating circumstances and cancel their registration in writing before March 15, they will receive a partial refund of $550, and they will be credited with $50 towards their registration fee the following year.
  • If guests are unable to attend Vacation College due to extenuating circumstances and cancel their registration in writing between March 16 and April 15, they will receive a partial refund of $350, and they will be credited with $50 towards their registration fee the following year.
  • Because items for classes and evening activities/giveaways are purchased in advance, no refunds will be made after April 30, but they will be credited with $150 towards their Vacation College registration fee the following year.
  • Cancellations must be received in writing.
  • Cancellations made after April 30 may not be credited as tax-deductible gifts to the College, but registration cancellations received prior to April 30 may be donated as a tax-deductible gift.

A Cottey College residence hall will be your home during Vacation College. Air conditioning is provided in all bedrooms.

The suite area is made up of a living room; a shared, multi-unit bathroom; and a small kitchenette. Double and single bedrooms surround the perimeter of the common area, housing about 10 people. A small number of single rooms are reserved for those with health concerns on a first-come, first-served basis.

Suites are located on the first through third floors with designated couples suites located on the third floor; shared bathrooms are designated women’s or men’s. Robertson Hall is equipped with a wheelchair ramp, an elevator, and air-conditioning.

FLYING

Participants flying into Kansas City International (MCI) may rent a car and drive approximately 100 miles to campus or take advantage of Cottey’s shuttle service.

A car will not be needed once you are on campus, and shuttles will be available for activities that are not within an easy five-minute walking distance.

Shuttle to Cottey: Cottey arranges a shuttle to campus for those who arrive at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) before 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18. As the commute from the airport to campus is approximately 2 hours, the shuttle will arrive at Cottey in time for dinner. To ensure you meet the shuttle, your flight should arrive no later than 3:00 p.m.

The shuttle is an additional cost; shuttle times are non-negotiable.

Return Shuttle: The return shuttle on Saturday, May 23, will depart campus at 6:30 a.m. and arrive at the Kansas City airport at 10:00 a.m. Your flight should depart after 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 23.

The shuttle is an additional cost; shuttle times are non-negotiable.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Driving south on Interstate 49 to Nevada: Upon leaving the airport, take I-29 South downtown. I-29 merges with U.S. Highway 71. Follow the signs downtown to stay on Highway 71 South. Highway 71 becomes Interstate 49 and leads directly to Nevada. The trip from the airport to Nevada will take 2 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic.

Follow the directions below to find Cottey once you have reached Nevada. When you arrive at Nevada heading south on Interstate 49, you should take the fourth, and last, exit. This exit is Austin Street but is listed on the exit sign as “K Highway, Camp Clark.” Once exiting the highway, turn right, or west, onto Austin.

Driving north on Interstate 49 to Nevada: If you are arriving on Interstate 49 north into Nevada, you should take the first exit, which is listed as “Camp Clark, K Highway.” Turn left, or west, onto Austin Street.

Once on Austin Boulevard: Proceed west for approximately 2.2 miles. You will pass Main Hall on your right and the Rubie Burton Academic Center on your left. Immediately beyond the stop light at College Street, you will see the circle drive in front of the Chapel on your left.

You may park temporarily in the circle drive to unload your bags and check in at Robertson Hall. Parking is available behind Robertson off of Tower Street. The handicap entrance is located at the rear of the building.

Vacation College is open to P.E.O.s, BILs, alumnae, and friends of the College ages 21 and older. Whether attending individually or as part of a group, men are warmly invited and fully included in all classes, activities, and evening events. Mixed-gender suite options are available to ensure everyone feels welcome and comfortable during their stay.

Classes

Classes represent a wide range of interest areas and are located all across campus. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may not switch classes upon arriving on campus or during the week.

When registering, please indicate first, second, and third choice for classes. If your first choice is full or the class is canceled, you will be placed in your second choice.

Shuttle transportation is available for all activities that are not within an easy five-minute walking distance, but transportation to and from class is not provided by the College. Classes have limited enrollment and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The size of a class is limited to ensure a pleasant experience for all guests. The limits are set by Cottey faculty and are non-negotiable.

Classes will be either 2 ½ hours in length or one hour and 15 minutes in length, with a schedule that includes options so that attendees may schedule in free time, if they so desire.

Class Offerings

The full 2026 class catalog will be available very soon, in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of some of the classes we are planning to offer:

Creative Arts & Crafts
  • Design Made Easy: Unlocking the Magic of Canva
  • Beginning Fused Glass
  • Van Gogh Pet Portraits
  • Golden Tales & Timeless Frames
  • Signed, Sealed, and Adorable!
  • Sarcastic Stitching and Sipping
  • The Happy Hookers – Crocheting 101
  • Pastels Made Easy
  • Crazy for Daisies II
Wellness & Fitness
  • Full of Yoga
  • Musical Solutions for Wellness
Games & Recreation
  • Pickleball Mania
  • An Afternoon of Canasta
  • The Adventure of Geocaching
Food & Cooking
  • The Human Microbiome, Diet, and Health
  • Basic Firearms Course
  • Did You Know? The Untold Stories of Film, Television, and Theatre
  • Genealogy: An Intro to Online Ancestry
  • How to Play the Native American Flute and Therapeutic Aspects
  • Movie Journeys to Faraway Places

These are just a few of the exciting options available, the full class catalog is coming very soon with even more opportunities to explore and enjoy.

Testimonial-Cathy Groves

“Vacation College was an absolutely amazing experience! Everyone did a fantastic job creating a fun-filled week for all of us. The meals were incredible, the hospitality was exceptional, and getting the chance to return to Cottey and share the experience with three of my chapter sisters—and so many other P.E.O. sisters—was truly rewarding. Thank you to everyone who made this an unforgettable memory that I will always cherish!”

Cathy Groves, Florida

Testimonials-Cheryl & Dave Denslow

“Having grown up in a small Midwest agricultural community, Cottey and Nevada evoke a sense of coming home.  The minute I step onto campus, I feel as if arms are pulling me into a warm welcome home.  It always feels as if students, faculty, and staff are happy for my return and eager to pick up where we left off.”

Cheryl Denslow, Colorado

 

“I have always had a passion for learning, and Vacation College allows me to stretch my experience horizon every year.  Being in a classroom with others who have similar interests and unique life experiences provides an opportunity to broaden my perspective on the subjects in a way that is not possible any other way.  With the guidance of the expertise of the faculty members who teach these classes, it keeps me young in thought and current with the issues of a changing world.”

David Denslow, Colorado

Testimonials-Donna Steinfort

“Cottey Vacation College is an incredible experience—a week-long slumber party with sisters in the suite life! The professors challenge us with engaging classes each day, while the staff pamper us with amazing food and delightful surprises. Dr. Niles and her husband treat us like royalty. Put it on your bucket list—you don’t want to miss it!”

Donna Steinfort, Alaska