Pocono & the Three Bears 2026: Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a scholarship available to help with retreat costs?

Yes. The scholarship application window opens Friday, November 14, 2025, and closes Friday, December 12, 2025. Scholarship applicants will be informed of the decision on or before January 5, 2026.

Are housing and meals included in the retreat tuition?

No. Housing and meals must be purchased separately through the Highlights Foundation. Once you register for the retreat, the link to pay for your housing (full weekend retreat) or meal plan (Saturday only) will be located under "More information" in your scbwi.org My Events feed.

What if I need to cancel my retreat registration?

A $100 programing cancellation fee will be applied from Eastern PA SCBWI for cancellations after April 11, 2025. Additional cancellation fees may be applied on housing cancellations by the Highlights Foundation or off-campus sites.

I just registered for the retreat. Does my housing get booked automatically?

Participants MUST book their own housing for the retreat. Once you register for the retreat, the link to pay for your housing will be located under "More information" in your scbwi.org My Events feed.

Can I stay off campus?

Eastern PA SCBWI has only arranged a room block at the Highlights Foundation this year. If you would like to stay off campus, please feel free to research and book another local establishment. Meals will still need to be purchased through the Highlights Foundation. To purchase a meal plan for the entire retreat weekend, please contact the Highlights Foundation directly.

Is it okay to register for the retreat today and book my housing at Highlights at a later date?

As housing is first come first served, we highly recommend booking housing on the same day as registering for the retreat. Eastern PA SCBWI cannot guarantee housing at the Highlights Foundation. If rooms are sold out, there are other options for housing nearby, and off-campus attendees will be able to join us for meals with a full-weekend meal plan purchase. Eastern PA SCBWI has reserved the full campus of the Highlights Foundation for this event; however, the Highlights Foundation reserves the right to release any rooms not reserved 45 days prior to the retreat (Tuesday, March 10, 2026). After that date, Eastern PA SCBWI will not be able to hold any remaining unreserved rooms for retreat participants, and housing on campus may not be guaranteed.

Where is the retreat center? And how do I get there?

The Highlights Foundation is located in Milanville, PA. For more information about getting to campus, click the following link: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/visiting-our-campus/

Is the retreat center ADA compliant?

The Highlights Foundation Retreat Center has one ADA Compliant cabin, and two ADA compliant rooms in the Lodge. Please note your needs in the Comments section of your housing registration with the Highlights Foundation to request one of the ADA compliant options. The campus does include gravel roads and other terrain. If you have limited mobility, or any other accessibility concerns, please let us know so we can better serve your needs. For more information, go to https://thebarnatboydsmills.com/mobility-accessibility/.

I have dietary restrictions. Can I bring my own food?

The retreat center can accommodate most any dietary needs on an individualized basis and can consult with you accordingly. No outside food and beverages are allowed except in personal rooms. More information can be found here: https://thebarnatboydsmills.com/meals/#meals.

Can I stay at Highlights for additional days/nights?

You can arrange additional personal retreat time with the Highlights Foundation as space is available. For more information go to https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/personal-retreats/.

I registered for a one-on-one faculty critique. What do I submit?

Please visit the One-on-One Critique Meetings page for critique submission specifications.

I registered for a portfolio critique. Do I send my work ahead or just bring it with me to the retreat?

For portfolio critiques, please send six portfolio-ready illustrations .jpg, .png, or PDF file (5 MB max) to Kristen, [email protected], by the Monday, March 16, 2026 deadline. Your selected faculty member will review and prepare written feedback for these six pieces ahead of the event for you to discuss during your one-on-one. But you may also bring along your larger portfolio to share during this time. Keep in mind that one-on-one meetings are 15-minutes in length.

Can I purchase a second critique?

Participants are limited to one critique at the time of registration. However, if spaces remain the week before the retreat, we may open up the option to purchase a second critique. Please, watch your email for retreat communications.

Can I change my critique selection?

If you see a space available with your preferred faculty member and would like to make a change, please contact Kristen Strocchia at [email protected] with your request. We will do our best to accommodate this request. However, if the spot fills before the change can be made on the administrative end, the original registration will stand.

What if I need to cancel my critique?

Critiques may be cancelled at no penalty until Monday, March 9, 2026 which is one week before the submission deadline. From Monday, March 9 through the submission deadline of Monday, March 16, 2026 a full refund is only available if we are able to resell the spot to another participant. No refund is available for cancellations after the faculty receive their submissions on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

I just registered for the retreat. Does my bonus webinar get booked automatically?

Yes! Although it may not appear in your My Events feed right away, we will add your free registration for the bonus webinar after we receive your retreat registration.

I already paid to register for the bonus webinar before I decided to register for the retreat. Will I get a refund?

Yes! Although it may not happen immediately. We will issue you a full refund for the webinar registration cost (premium members: $15; preview plan: $25) after we receive your retreat registration.

What if I can't attend the bonus webinar live? Will it be recorded?

Yes. The webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be available for one month following the event. Attendees will receive a link and a password by email about two days after the event.

Can I pay to add a written critique with the bonus webinar faculty to my free webinar registration?

Yes. If critique spaces are still available, you may pay to add a written critique with the bonus webinar faculty to your registration. Please contact Kristen Strocchia at [email protected] with your request in order to get the instructions for making this addition..

Do I have to indicate on my registration if I plan to participate in the FREE opportunities?

No. To participate in any of the FREE opportunities simply follow the instructions and deadlines for any submissions needed to participate.

For portfolios, can I participate in the Portfolio Showcase AND still bring my portfolio to my one-on-one critique?

Yes. You may display your portfolio in the showcase for your time at the retreat, and then take your portfolio with you to your one-on-one critique. After the meeting, you may return your portfolio to the showcase display area.

What exactly is a Silent Pitch?

Pitch your story idea to our faculty members without saying a word. Display your book aesthetic or mood board in our Showcase area. The faculty will peruse these silent story pitches right alongside the illustrator portfolios. For a visual idea of what this might look like, see the example provided on the Showcases page or Google/search social media for more examples and/or inspiration for your board.

Do I have to dress up to participate in the Storytime Mashup & Mingle Ball social on Friday night?

No. Feel free to come however you feel most comfortable. Dress up if you like, and/or bring a copy of the two books that you would love to see mashed up, and/or just come have fun mingling and chatting all things #KidLit with fellow creatives.

For First Looks and First Pages, can I submit to more than one of the sessions?

Yes. You can send one submission for each session. Or, if you both write/translate and illustrate, you may send submissions for both the author/translator AND the illustrator portion of the same session. However, please be sure to follow the specifications for each session. (Just-Right Agent-Client Fit is a more traditional First Looks and First Pages session; Just-Right Character Introductions is specifically looking at a character introduction.) We regret that there may not be time to review all submissions, but we will try to accommodate a variety of submissions and as many samples as possible in each session.

Is the Illustrator Assignment the same as the Art Director Assignment from years past?

It is similar in that you would create a piece to illustrate this year's prompt. It is different in that: 1) spaces are not limited, so there is no charge to participate; 2) you will display your illustration assignment piece in our Showcase area throughout the retreat (NOTE: You do not have to display a portfolio to be able to display your Illustrator Assignment); 3) all faculty members and retreat goers will have a chance to see your work; 4) the faculty will select which of the Illustrator Assignment pieces to include in the queue for the Trying Out Chairs: Pitch Tank Panel feedback on Sunday morning.

For the Just-Right Endings Panel on Sunday, what if I can't think of a question to send ahead?

There will be a brief time of on-the-spot Q & A at the end of this session. We will try to get to as many additional participant questions as possible during this time.