When to Arrive

The first YAY Gathering event is dinner on Wednesday, July 2.

Before you finalize your travel plans consider whether you will need to arrive early in order to

• Attend mandatory training for Junior Gathering staff (starts Tuesday, July 1 at 7pm for group coordinators, and Wednesday, July 2 at 9am for all other staff) OR the mandatory training for High School staff (starts Tuesday, July 1, time tbd)
• Fulfill the responsibilities of another workgrant or volunteer role. FGC staff will let you know if you are in a role that will require early arrival. If in doubt, just ask!

As much as possible, parents/guardians of High School Program participants should arrange for them to arrive at Colombiere on Wednesday, July 2, and not before. Read more about High School early arrivals.

Travel Options

• Driving
• Carpool
• Plane
• Train
• Bus
• Taxis, Shuttles, and Commercial Rideshares
• Travel Grant Opportunities

Driving

Colombiere is a half-day’s drive from major midwestern cities like Chicago, Toronto, Indianapolis, and Cleveland, and within a full day from many other locations in the eastern U.S. and southeast Canada. For detailed driving directions, see the Colombiere website. 

Carpool

Everyone who registers for the YAY Gathering will be invited to opt-in to a carpool list. Whether you’re driving from home, renting a car at the airport, calling a taxi from the train station, or just looking for a ride, we encourage Friends to be in touch with each other to make a new friend, save money, and minimize environmental impact by making plans together.
If you are registered, you can access the carpool list by following these instructions.

Plane

The closest major airport to Colombiere is the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, about an hour’s drive away. Car rentals are available at the airport, as well as taxis and shuttles– see below for more info.

Please be advised that REAL ID is now required in order to fly within the United States. Check here to make sure you are ready: Are You REAL ID Ready? | Homeland Security

Train

Amtrak trains run to Detroit, as well as to a smaller-but-closer station in Pontiac, Michigan. Keep in mind that, depending on your direction of travel, waiting for the local train to Pontiac may add significantly to your total travel time. 

Bus

Greyhound and Flix Bus offer service to Detroit, as well as to Southfield, Michigan. Southfield is only slightly closer to Colombiere versus Detroit, and may have more limited transit options once you arrive– but on some routes, it’s a little faster than going to Detroit.

Taxis, Shuttles, and Commercial Rideshares

If you take a plane, train, or bus to Michigan, you will need to find a way from the airport or station to Colombiere. The YAY Gathering carpool list is one place to begin. If no other YAY attender is available to offer a ride, you may wish to contact others arriving around the same time and place to share a paid ride.

Colombiere staff report that it is generally easy to get to Colombiere via Uber or Lyft, and sometimes harder to call a ride from there. If you plan to use one of those services, consider pre-scheduling your departure ride.

The following taxi and shuttle companies serve the Detroit metro area, including Clarkston. Prices are estimates, not guarantees: contact the company directly for more information or to make a reservation.

Metro Cab
Roughly $121-130 from Detroit Airport to Colombiere, up to six passengers.
Metro Cab – Official Taxi Transportation of DTW & GRR

Detroit Shuttle Service:
$115-135 from Detroit Airport to Colombiere, depending on vehicle size (up to six passengers). Larger vehicles also available. Discount for booking online at least 24 hours in advance.
Detroit Shuttle Service — Provided by Detroit Airport Town Cars

Travel Grant Opportunities

The following grants may be able to offer assistance with covering travel costs for Gathering attenders. See the “More Financial Aid Info” page for details:

• The Bayard Rustin Fund: for Friends of Color. Priority consideration given to applications received by April 14! See link for details and application form.
• Western travel grant: for Western Friends 35 and under, as well as parents of children 18 and under (apply when you register)
• Philadelphia Yearly Meeting grant: for young adults age 18-35 from the PhlYM area (apply when you register)