Quoddy Writing Retreat for Teacher Renewal

Lubec, Maine
Session 1
July 27 through August 1
Session 2
August 4 through August 9

Refresh. Write. Connect.

Next summer give yourself a treat. Refresh. Write. Commune with like-minded writers. Rediscover what drew you to teaching in the first place. We invite you to join us this summer for a unique experience in Lubec, Maine.

Ralph Fletcher

Ralph Fletcher

Georgia Heard

Georgia Heard

A Time for Renewal

As a teacher, you give and give during your career. But what do we do to recharge our batteries—as a teacher, a person, and a writer? Quoddy Writing Retreat for Teacher Renewal will provide an opportunity to replenish your spirit and help you find your stride as a writer. We feel renewed when we get in touch with our inner selves. Renewal happens by connecting to the body, the natural world, a community of like-minded professionals and, especially, by personal writing. Writing has a unique way of putting us in touch with what’s important in our lives.

This five-day retreat will take place in Lubec, Maine, the easternmost town in the United States. There you’ll be able to experience the countless pleasures of Downeast Maine, a place few people ever see, one that features rugged coasts, unspoiled nature, stunning scenery and harbors. All that plus the freshest lobster you can get!

Time for Writing

The headquarters for the retreat will be the Cobscook Institute, a vibrant learning center located in Lubec. Each day we’ll meet at Cobscook for breakfast and lunch. The Quoddy Retreat for Teacher Renewal will focus on personal writing. Bring a piece of writing for poetry, a picture book, memoir, a middle grade novel, adult fiction, or an article for a professional journal. Or come with an idea for some writing you’d like to work on. Each morning before we start writing Ralph and Georgia will give practical tips on the craft or writing. After an hour of writing, you’ll get into a small response group where you can get supportive feedback for your writing. Participants will also have individual conferences with Georgia and Ralph.

Morning Schedule

Time
Activity
7:00 – 8:00 am
Yoga with JoAnn (optional)
8:00 – 9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 – 9:45 am
Craft talk with Georgia and Ralph
9:45 – 11:00 am
Writing time and individual conferences
11:00 am – noon
Response groups
Noon – 1:00 pm
Lunch

Afternoon Schedule

Personal time to wander, explore, write, or hang out with friends. Each day we’ll suggest local outings for those who wish to participate.

You’ll be able to experience the countless pleasures of Downeast Maine, exploring Lubec, the easternmost town in the US. It’s a place few people ever see, one that features rugged coasts, unspoiled nature, stunning scenery and harbors. All that plus the freshest lobster you can get!

COST: $995   This includes tuition for the 5-day retreat, five breakfasts, five lunches, two wine receptions, one lobster dinner with the group, and one other group dinner. See below for detailed payment information.

NOTE: The retreat fee does not include lodging or other dinners. We encourage participants to stay at the retreat headquarters at Cobscook Institute, but don’t require it.

OTHER INFO:

The Quoddy Retreat for Teacher Renewal will focus on writing, but it won’t be all serious work. There will be plenty of time for guided sightseeing, nature walks, and exploring deserted beaches. It’s often said that you can’t take a bad picture in Lubec, so don’t forget your camera!

Bring your passport, too. Campobello Island (New Brunswick, Canada) is barely twenty minutes away from downtown Lubec. We’ll have the opportunity to visit the cottage where President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his family spent many happy years. Participants can sign up for “Tea with Eleanor.”

Next summer give yourself a treat: The Quoddy Retreat for Teacher Renewal. Refresh. Write. Connect with other writers. Rediscover what drew you to teaching in the first place. Lubec Maine is the first town on the east coast of the US to receive the sun’s rays. Come bask with us in that fresh new light.

Quoddy Writing Retreat - Dinner Night

All Educators (including retired teachers), Writers, and Writing Enthusiasts Welcome!

Registration and Payment

Cost of the 5-day retreat is $995.  Send a $250 deposit to hold your spot.

The balance will be due on April 10th. If you’d like to pay by Venmo, shoot me an email and I’ll send you my business Venmo handle. You can also mail a check made out to me (Ralph Fletcher). Mail to: Ralph Fletcher, PO Box 855, Durham, NH 03824.

If you have any questions, email Ralph at: figpudding@gmail.com.

Quoddy Retreat Group Photo 2024
“I left this retreat carrying so many beautiful gifts—priceless bits of writerly wisdom from Ralph and Georgia, the quiet renewal that only time spent in nature can bring, and a piece of writing I’m truly proud of thanks to the thoughtful guidance of my feedback group. But what I treasure most is the new circle of incredible people who will forever hold a place in my heart, for there is nothing like writing and witnessing each other’s stories to bond a group of people.”
—Dana Clark, 8th grade teacher New Jersey (2024)
“I came to the Quoddy Writing Retreat to connect with Ralph, Georgia, and to get some writing inspiration. I left with treasured memories of shared belly laughs, colored sea glass hunts, postcard worthy seascapes, hugs and tears in my writing group, creative strategies for students, and a bubbling excitement for my own writing journey.”
—Laurie Kotzen Miller, retired 4th grade teacher from Edina, Minnesota (2024)
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this retreat. It reignited my passion for writing, deepened my connection to a community of teachers, and inspired me to keep creating, both in and out of the classroom. I can’t recommend it enough to any teacher who is looking for a space to grow, reflect, and rediscover their love for writing and teaching.”
—Laurie Hemmerly, Reading Specialist, Paramus NJ (2024)
Share! Use the button below to download this page to share a PDF or use the icons below to share via Facebook or your default email program.