Remarks from last year's creatives: "The community was amazing. I can't believe how lucky I was to attend this retreat, and I feel so indebted to PJ Library for supporting me and believing in my writing journey. I still can't believe it all happened and I got to be there! And now I'm trying to […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Picture book writers and illustrators: set aside time to focus on your picture book project! Here is a special retreat just for you. Join fiction and nonfiction author Darcy Pattison, author/illustrator Leslie Helakoski, and their guest M.O. Yukselto immerse yourself in all things picture books. A Working Retreat is lightly structured […]
Join this 3-night/4-day, in-community retreat thoughtfully designed to bring LGBTQIA2S+ creatives together. It is an informally structured retreat where the focus is on your own projects with room to celebrate and cultivate the joys of this community! About the Program Experience our in-community Rainbow Retreat that warmly welcomes queer and questioning authors and illustrators who […]
Join M. García Peña, NoNieqa Ramos, and Alex Villasante for their fifth annual, in-community retreat designed exclusively for Latinx writers and illustrators. About the Program This 3-night/4-day, in-community retreat is the space where you can ignite your creativity and forge connections with a diverse and supportive community of fellow storytellers in the Latine Diaspora. This […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Join Debbi Michiko Florence, Kashmira Sheth, and guests for time to create and connect during this "Working Retreat." A “Working Retreat” is lightly structured with one lecture each day, informal conversations, optional consultations with faculty, and plenty of time to create in the comfort and care of the Highlights Foundation retreat […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Verse Novelists, Novelists, and Poets, join Rajani LaRocca and Chris Baron for time to create and connect during a retreat built just for you. A Working Retreat is lightly structured with one lecture each day, informal conversations, optional consultations with faculty, and plenty of time to create in the comfort […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat This program is a celebration of words: lyrical, poetic, pun-tastic words! Join an exceptional group of picture book creatives, including Sudipta Bardhan-Quallan, Georgia Heard, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, and Leeza Hernandez to create and connect during this Working Retreat. With sessions on lyrical word choice, rhyme (or not), leaving room for […]
Overview In-person 5-Day/4-Night Working Retreat This retreat for experienced authors and illustrators has been thoughtfully crafted to share, grow, and cultivate creativity when you've been working in the industry for a long time. Come retreat in-company with your peers about your career, challenges, deadlines, upcoming projects, and new dreams. This Working Retreat is lightly structured […]
“Time with fellow Native creatives helps sustain me along this author’s journey. I look forward to a weekend together to share our stories, write, create art, and talk practically about how we navigate the publishing industry.” —Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) Join this 4-night/5-day writing retreat designed for Native and Indigenous Voices who (or who aspire to) write, illustrate, or […]
Join this 3-night/4-day in-community retreat thoughtfully hosted by Sona Charaipotra, Lyn Miller-Lachmann, and Katie Mazeika. About the Program Join us for an in-community retreat tailored for neurodivergent writers and illustrators, where you can fully embrace your perspectives and talents in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Connect with storytellers and make progress on your own work. […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Join celebrated poets Charles Waters, Irene Latham, and their guests for time to create and connect during this Working Retreat. We invite writers with a passion for solo poetry collections, poetry anthologies, stand alone poems, and more for an immersive experience where productivity meets inspiration! A Working Retreat is lightly structured […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Join Kekla Magoon and Laurie Calkhoven for a retreat built to spark inspiration through meditation and creative play, and then give you time to harness that spark in your own projects. A “Working Retreat” is lightly structured with one lecture each day, generative activities, optional consultations with faculty, and plenty […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Novelists and Graphic Novelists, join Julie C. Dao and Wendy Xu for time to create and connect during a retreat built just for you. A Working Retreat is lightly structured with one lecture each day, informal conversations, optional consultations with faculty, and plenty of time to create in the comfort […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Join Heidi Stemple, Andrea Page, and editor Eileen Robinson for time to create and connect with fellow nonfiction writers. This Working Retreat is lightly structured with one lecture each day, informal conversations, optional consultations with faculty, and plenty of time to create in the comfort and care of the Highlights […]
This 4-Day/3-Night in-community symposium engages in the rich and important discussions of what it means to grow as Jewish writers, tending to our Jewish joy with care, intention, and faith. There will be ample time for your own work and community building throughout this program. This is an in-person symposium for Jewish storytellers and professionals […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Join the creative duo of Denise Fleming and Ashley Wolff for time to create and connect. Denise and Ashley will be joined by special guests Merrill Rainey and Retreat Assistant Rofa Shuhratzoda. This Working Retreat is lightly structured with one lecture each day, generative activities, optional consultations with faculty, and […]
Join this 3-night/4-day writing retreat designed for authors who are crafting books for kids and teens that center their lived experiences in areas of trauma, mental health, grief, and beyond. About the Program We believe there is hope in harnessing the transformative power of storytelling. Explore therapeutic writing techniques that enable you to create narratives […]
Overview PJ Library invites authors and author-illustrators interested in developing Jewish-themed picture books to apply for the 3rd annual Picture Book Summer Camp for five days of inspiration, mentorship, fun, and creativity! This opportunity is for emerging creatives whose work has not yet been published, or who have no more than one published picture book. […]
CALL FOR INTEREST IN 2024 MUSLIM STORYTELLER RETREATS at THE HIGHLIGHTS FOUNDATION RETREAT CENTER May 22 - 25, 2024 or September 5 - 8, 2024 Experience an in-community retreat designed for Muslim storytellers. Applicants will receive full lodging and meals, along with a $300 travel stipend. This immersive experience offers a supportive space […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night, In-Community Retreat This in-community retreat is designed to bring to Jewish creatives together. Days are for your personal projects and to connect with fellow Jewish writers and illustrators who care about creating authentic books for children and teens. This is an in-person retreat for Jewish creatives who currently (or wish to) write […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night, In-Community Retreat This in-community retreat is for writers and illustrators from the Latinx Diaspora. It is an informally structured retreat where the focus is on your own projects, plus a celebration of community, sharing ways to amplify and support Latinx voices. This is an in-person retreat for Latinx creatives who currently (or […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night, In-Community Retreat This in-community retreat is designed to bring to LGBTQIA+ creatives together. It is an informally structured retreat where the focus is on your own projects with room to celebrate and cultivate the joys of this community! Hosts Jas Hammonds and Rob Costello will lead informal evening activities. Special guest Antonio […]
Overview In-person 5-Day/4-Night Workshop and Retreat If writing poetry for children is your passion, join celebrated poets Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich for this 5-day/4-night retreat to work on your own poetry through guided writing exercises, peer workshopping and sharing, lectures, and a private consultation. We also include ample private retreat time so that you can write, wander, and connect […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Workshop and Retreat Deepen the magic in your middle grade or young adult novel with novelists Anna-Marie McLemore and Nova Ren Suma. In this generative writing workshop, you’ll enjoy in-depth craft lectures from experienced faculty authors, small group workshopping, 1:1 faculty consultations, and ample private time to retreat so that you can write, wander, and […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Workshop and Retreat Do you want to bring joy and confidence to kids who are picking up a book on their own for the very first time? Whether fiction or nonfiction, learn how to bring your stories to life for these beginning readers. This is an in-person workshop at our Retreat Center with presentations, […]
Overview PJ Library invites writers and writer/illustrators of Jewish-themed picture books to apply for our 2023 Picture Book Summer Camp for five days of inspiration, mentorship, fun, and creativity on the beautiful campus of the Highlights Foundation. A majority of the spaces are reserved for emerging creatives (unpublished, or no more than one published picture […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Working Retreat Picture book writers and illustrators: set aside time to focus on your picture book project! Here is a special retreat just for you. A “Working Retreat” is lightly structured with one lecture each day, one consultation, one guided manuscript workshopping of a picture book, and informal conversations held fireside. This […]
Overview In-person 5-Day/4-Night Workshop and Retreat Mentorship, hands-on activities, presentations, and ample time for retreating will help you on your path to energizing readers through science and nature-themed fiction or nonfiction. This is an in-person workshop at our Retreat Center with ample time to relax, retreat, and work on your own writing. Lodging and meals are included. There […]
Overview In-person 5-Day/4-Night Workshop and Retreat Get away for five days at our Summer Camp in Nonfiction for inspiration, guidance, mentorship, community, fun, creativity, and growth. At the Highlights Foundation, “summer camp” is different than s’mores by the fire and hiking in the woods. (Though we do that, too.) Our summer camp is a time […]
Overview In-person 5-Day/4-Night Workshop and Retreat Get away for five days at our Summer Camp in Fiction for inspiration, guidance, mentorship, community, fun, creativity, and growth. At the Highlights Foundation, “summer camp” is different than s’mores by the fire and hiking in the woods. (Though we do that, too.) Our summer camp is a time […]
Overview In-person 5-Day/4-Night Workshop and Retreat Join us in company to share, grow, and cultivate creativity when you’ve been working in the industry for a long time. Talk with your peers about your career, challenges, deadlines, and upcoming projects. Offer your wishes for pushing boundaries of your work, and the industry! This is an in-person workshop at our […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Retreat Professional & Personal Development for Educators, Librarians, Storytellers, & Publishing Professionals. Build the skills you need to analyze children’s books for meaningful representation, reader engagement, visual literacy, and more. This is an in-person workshop at our Retreat Center with presentations, implementation plans, book talks, and time to meet informally with fellow literary advocates and […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Workshop and Retreat From start to finish, the skills needed to craft a verse novel are unique– part poetry, part narrative, all heart. Join verse novelists Rajani LaRocca and Chris Baron, with special guest Cordelia Jensen, to explore this emotionally packed form of storytelling. We also include ample private retreat time so that you can […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Workshop and Retreat Join editor and writer Sunita Apte (Reycraft Books/Benchmark) and award-winning, bestselling authors Emily Jenkins and Elise Broach for this writing retreat focused on creating funny and emotionally satisfying picture books. There will be three opportunities for feedback, and ample private retreat time so that you can write, wander, and […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Workshop and Retreat Poetry anthologies, stand alone poems, lyrical picture books, narrative picture books, and verse novels make up the colorful fabric of poetic offerings to children. Learn ways to weave words, sounds, and stories into engaging poems, and find new markets and opportunities in writing poetry for children. There will be […]
Overview Come play in paint, explore collage, and dive into the unexpected during this hands-on retreat weekend for everyone. Creativity will be front-and-center, and all are welcome: writers, artists, teachers, librarians, publishing professionals, and art lovers! NO previous art experience is required. This is an in-person workshop at our Retreat Center with hands-on explorations in […]
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The Highlights Foundation positively impacts children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves. Learn more about our impact.
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