Retreat Tuition
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.
Housing & Meals
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.
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.
Is it okay to register for the retreat today and book my housing at Highlights at a later date?
Housing is first come first served. Please, book your housing arrangements the SAME DAY that you register for the retreat to ensure housing availability. The Highlights Foundation reserves the right to release any rooms not reserved 45 days prior to the retreat (Wednesday, March 12, 2025). After that date, Eastern PA SCBWI will not be able to guarantee housing availability.
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: 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/.
Faculty Critiques & Career Consultations
I registered for a Career Consultation. What do I submit?
The Career Consultations are discussion times only. Submit nothing ahead. But DO prepare questions and/or bring any printouts you need to pitch a project during the conversation with your faculty.
Can I change my critique or faculty consultation selection?
If you see a space available with your preferred faculty member and would like to make a change, please contact Kristen Strocchia at epa-ara@scbwi.org 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 or faculty consultation?
Critiques may be cancelled at no penalty until Monday, March 10, 2025 which is one week before the submission deadline. From Monday, March 10 through the submission deadline of Monday, March 17, 2025 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 March 17, 2025.