Acadia Retreat 2025
Oct 23, 2025 - Oct 27, 2025
Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Maine
SCBWI New England is thrilled to announce the second annual Acadia Retreat for PAL members! Open to traditionally published authors and illustrators, the Acadia Retreat will be held October 23-27, 2025 at the Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park in Maine. Amidst the beauty of the park and Maine's rugged coastline, attendees will gather new tools and perspectives on writing and illustrating, gain insight into effective marketing, and have the opportunity to promote published titles to young readers. Come for the landscape and the kidlit community! Our stellar faculty for this year’s retreat are: Samara Cole Doyon (Author), Andie Krawczyk (Sales & Marketing Director, NorthSouth Books), and Kristen Nobles (Art Director, Charlesbridge Publishing). In addition to faculty presentations, working time, play time, plus optional portfolio critiques and marketing consultations, on October 26th we will host the second annual Foggy River Children's Book Festival to celebrate our books and each other out in the community!
What is the Acadia Retreat?
The Acadia Retreat is open to traditionally published authors and illustrators, whether you are celebrating your debut or your 100th book! It is also open to editors and agents. The goal of the retreat is to play, flex creative muscles, restore, connect with ourselves, each other, and the natural world around us. There will be campfire. There will be lobster. There will be hikes, deep salty-ocean-breeze breaths, music we make together, an evening of Moth-style storytelling, dark skies and stargazing, creative time, and a brand new festival celebrating you and your books! You'll come away refreshed and inspired!
Where is the Acadia Retreat?
The Acadia Retreat will be held at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor, Maine.
Meet the Faculty:
Kristen Nobles, Charlesbridge Art Director
Kristen Nobles has worked in children’s literature for over twenty-five years as a Publisher, Art Director, and Designer at well-respected, independent publishing houses including Candlewick Press / Walker Books Group, Chronicle Books, and Page Street Publishing. Currently, as an Art Director at Charlesbridge Publishing, she loves to collaborate with debut talent on strong characters, global narratives, or evocative ideas. Kristen graduated from the University of Buffalo, New York, with degrees in Communication Design and Art History, and has pursued further studies at SVA, Harvard, and Mass Art. With 2 kids under 6 years old, she spends her free time napping – whether in her historic home near Providence, Rhode Island or lakeside at her camp in rural Maine.
Andie Krawczyk, Sales and Marketing Director and Managing Director NorthSouth Books
Andie Krawczyk is currently the Sales and Marketing Director and Managing Director of NorthSouth Books. She was previously the Children’s Marketing Director at Chronicle Books and the Director of Library Marketing and Outreach at Candlewick Press. She holds a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature and Master of Science in Library Science from Simmons University. Andie lives on the North Shore in Massachusetts.
Samara Cole Doyon, Author
Samara Cole Doyon is a poet and award-winning children’s book author with Haitian roots, living on unceded Wabanaki / Abenaki territory. She is a neurodivergent mother of neurodivergent children, continually learning more from her progeny than they could ever learn from her. Samara earned both a Lupine Award and an International Literacy Association Award for her debut picture book, Magnificent Homespun Brown. Each of her books has received the coveted starred designation in prepublication review from Kirkus, and her most recent picture book, Next Level, was a runner up for the Best Black Joy category in the 2024 Black Kidlit Awards. She works for Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and lives with her husband, two children, rescue pup, and tabby cat in central Maine.
Schedule of Events:
*Times subject to change
Thursday, 10/23
- 3:00pm: Registration and check-in
- 4:15pm: Welcome and Meet the Faculty Panel
- 5:30-7:00pm: Dinner
- 7:30pm: Moonlight mingle
Friday, 10/24
- 6:00am: Optional sunrise walk
- 7:00-8:30am: Breakfast
- 9:00-10:00am: Tide Talk: Faculty Presentation
- 10:30am-11:30am: Optional Wave Works/Critiques/Consultations/Creative Time
- 12:00-1:30pm: Lunch
- 2:00pm-3:30pm: Optional Wave Works/Critiques/Consultations/Creative Time
- 4:00pm: Tide Talk: Faculty Presentation
- 5:30-7:00pm: Dinner
- 7:30pm: Starlight Stories (a Moth-style storytelling event!)
Saturday, 10/25
- 6:00am: Optional hike
- 7:00-8:30am: Breakfast
- 9:00-10:00am Tide Talk: Faculty Presentation
- 10:30am-11:30am: Wave Works/Critiques/Consultations/Creative Time
- 12:00-1:30pm: Lunch
- 2:00pm-4:00pm: Wave Works//Critiques/Consultations/Creative Time
- 5:30-7:00pm: Lobster Bake Dinner
- 7:30pm: Campfire evening
Sunday, 10/26
- 6:00am: Optional sunrise walk
- 7:00-8:30am: Breakfast
- 9:30-10:00am: Festival Pep Talk
- 10:30-11:30am: Optional Wave Works/Critiques/Consultations//Creative Time
- 12:00pm: Lunch
- 1:00pm: Leave in carpools for festival
- 2:00-5:00pm: Foggy River Children's Book Festival OR bonus working/hiking time at Schoodic
- 5:30pm: Dinner
- 7:30pm: Cookies and milk
Monday, 10/27
- 6:00am: Optional sunrise walk
- 7:00-8:30am: Breakfast
- 9:00am: Oyster Offerings: A Closing Session
- 10:00am: Checkout
Foggy River Children's Book Festival:
All retreat attendees will receive an exclusive invitation to participate in the brand new Foggy River Children's Book Festival! Open to the public, this will be a wonderful chance to celebrate our books and each other out in the community, and to connect with young readers and their caregivers. The inaugural festival will be held 2-5pm on Sunday afternoon at the Fogtown Brewing Company in the nearby city of Ellsworth.* The festival vendor will be the local independent bookstore Union River Book and Toy Co. We are so grateful to both organizations for their partnership!
*Please note that the festival location is about 40 minutes from the Schoodic Institute -- as you'll see, the coastline makes everything downeast a bit more complicated! We are seeking volunteers to host a carpool from the Institute to the festival. Thank you in advance for helping to make this special day possible!
Lodging Information:
Please note that attendees are responsible for booking their own lodging. To stay on site, book with Schoodic Institute. Lodging information below.
$450 for 4 nights (single-room occupancy) lodging at Schoodic Institute. Every attendee will have a private bedroom. Note: If you would like to request a specific roommate for your apartment, please include their name on your form. Book your lodging reservation directly with Schoodic via this link after registering for the conference: https://schoodicinstitute.org/nescbwi-acadia-retreat/
Schoodic Shores Apartments. Each modest and comfortable 2-4 bedroom apartment is outfitted with a shared bathroom, kitchen, and common area. If you would like to share an apartment with someone(s) in particular, please indicate so on your lodging registration form.
Learn more about the apartments. (Click on "Schoodic Shores Apartments" to see pictures and layouts)
Pricing:
Tuition (does not include housing):
$925 member/$1025 non-member, includes all meals and retreat activities.
Portfolio critique for illustrators: $75, Receive a 20-minute professional review of your portfolio to make it as strong as possible.
Marketing critique/consultation: $75, Receive a 20-minute professional critique of an individual title’s marketing plan, or get feedback and tips on your online presence. For newer/debut creators, get advice on self-promotion, working with your publisher, and marketing and publicity guidance.
Who Can Attend?
The Acadia Retreat is open to PAL (Published and Listed) members and nonmembers. This means:
- traditionally published authors and illustrators
- editors from traditional publishing houses
- agents who have sold work to traditional publishers.
To find out if a publisher is traditional according to SCBWI guidelines, follow these steps:
- Log into your SCBWI profile. Please note that even if you do not pay for a premium membership, you can create a free member profile.
- Check the box with your profile picture. Is there a little black banner that says PAL Member (see example below)? Great! You're PAL!
- If there isn't a banner, that doesn't necessarily mean you're not PAL. Click on "Share My Work" then "Add a Book."
- Search for your publisher in the Publisher box above the dropdown menu (pictured below).
- If your publisher comes up, you are PAL!
- If your publisher does not come up, but you believe it should have, you can always email us to check. Please verify your PAL status before registering.
Traditionally published also includes:
- Traditionally published pieces in magazines for children
- Traditionally published books in other markets such as adult or academic
- Traditionally published pieces in anthologies, journals, newspapers, magazines etc.
If you are not PAL, please know that there are other events such as the Squam Lake Retreat (happening in September!) open to all types of creators, and we would love for you to join us at those!
PAL Policy:
We encourage you to verify your PAL status (see above) before registering. Anyone who registers who does not meet PAL criteria will receive a refund (minus a $50 processing fee).
Cancellation Policy:
Given the limited spaces available for this event, no refunds can be provided for cancellations unless a replacement is secured. If the spot can be filled, the initial registrant will receive a refund (minus a $50.00 processing fee).
Meet the Retreat Coordinators:
Casey W. Robinson, Retreat Co-Director
Casey W. Robinson is an award-winning writer of children's books and poetry. Her latest picture book, Small Things Mended, is longlisted for the 2025 Massachusetts Book Award. It is also a New England Book Award winner, a Christopher Award winner, a Golden Poppy Award finalist, a Golden Kite Award finalist, a Kids’ Indie Next Pick, and was chosen for SLJ’s Best Picture Books 2024 list. Her debut picture book, Iver and Ellsworth, was a finalist for the Crystal Kite Award and Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award. Casey grew up in Maine and used to keep a shoebox of favorite words and phrases under her bed. She now lives with her family just west of Boston, in a yellow house overflowing with books. When she’s not writing, Casey manages book events for her local indie bookseller. Casey is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and served as Acadia Retreat Co-Director in 2024. We look forward to seeing you Downeast in October!
Annie Gregoire, Retreat Co-Director
Annie is a graphic collage and mixed media illustrator represented by Jennie Kendrick at the Red Fox Literary Agency. She has a M.Ed with a minor in Children’s Literature. Annie’s portfolio won the NESCBWI New Jersey Showcase in 2024, judged by Sasha Illingworth at Little Brown Books for Young Readers. Annie is New England SCBWI's Co-Illustrator Coordinator. She gives a second life to discarded objects-recycling bits of trash and using them in her art. These objects create unique textures in her collage papers. Annie grew up with sandy toes and salty hair, spending her Maine summers on Monhegan Island. Annie's favorite part of creating art is pleasantly surprising herself with interesting prints made accidentally, mostly through the experimentation process. She loves to discuss different art processes and to analyze her own craft. Annie thrives on setting goals and helping to energize or influence fellow creatives and picture book lovers.