Boyds Mills

06/11/2026

Celebrating Carolyn P. Yoder and Calkins Creek Books!

Earlier this week, we celebrated Carolyn P. Yoder, a longtime friend of Boyds Mills and the founding editor of Calkins Creek Books. Friends and colleagues came together to make it happen, toasting her many years of publishing inspiring and educational books!

As part of the celebration, we honored Carolyn with a commemorative stone near the real Calkins Creek here on campus. We also announced the Carolyn P. Yoder Scholarship, which will support nonfiction writers.

So many stories and memories were shared throughout the day, from conversations about Chautauqua to stories of visiting campus before the Barn was built, when it was just the farmhouse. What a celebration!

06/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Community Retreat with Meg Medina and special guest Ernesto Cisneros!

06/05/2026

Congratulations to our friend and faculty member, Meg Eden Kuyatt, on her new middle-grade novel, PERFECT ENOUGH, out now!

“I worked on multiple rounds of drafts at Boyds Mills retreats! I made so much progress, and still remember the moment where I had one of my favorite discoveries from the story, in the Barn loft, looking out the window! I’m so grateful for the time, support and space there to work on PERFECT ENOUGH!”

Congratulations, Meg!

06/04/2026

Campus is in full swing at Boyds Mills!

In May, we welcomed our first 2026 scholarship recipients to campus: Chris Choi, Emily Li, and Autumn Allen (not pictured).

Plus, we welcomed fellows, mentors, advisors, and guests from our Storyteller Fellowship program: Maya, Darla, Camie, A-M & Elliot, and Alex.

Also, off-campus, at One Grand Books in Narrowsburg, A-M held a book launch with a chat with friend and faculty member Alexandra Villasante. Congratulations!

Summer is just starting, and there are so many great things coming up!

06/01/2026

Our 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 Workshop Schedule!

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗻𝗲!
Starting July 8 (1 spots left)

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝘄𝗼!
Starting July 12 (SOLD OUT)

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
July 28 & July 30 @ 7pm ET

05/26/2026

Join George in mowing the trails!

Our Executive Director, George, noticed the grass was getting a little high on the trails and gave us a quick preview of the mowing process! He’s helping make sure the trails are ready for everyone to enjoy during the summer season on campus.

A hike at Boyds Mills is a great way to take a break from writing. You might walk to Eagle Bridge, get an up-close look at Calkins Creek, or discover a hidden beaver dam along the way!

05/22/2026

Take a closer look at recent episodes of The Children’s Book Podcast.

This roundup features Boyds Mills faculty member Ernesto Cisneros, along with Matthew Cordell, Carole Lindstrom, Matthew Swanson, and Robbi Behr.

This year, we’re partnering with The Children’s Book Podcast to help bring some of our friends, faculty, scholarship recipients, and alums onto the show.

This year, Boyds Mills is partnering with The Children’s Book Podcast. As partner, we’ll be helping to bring some of our friends, faculty, scholarship recipients, and alumni onto the show.

05/21/2026

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 & 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

Sara Holly Ackerman received a scholarship in 2024 and brought a book project with her to Summer Camp. The illustrations from that Summer Camp project—Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver—are featured in the barn this year!

We’re honored to feature Naoko Stoop’s artwork and feature Woods & Words this year, an inspiring picture book biography that celebrates the life and work of Mary Oliver and her belief that poetry lives all around us in nature.

Like the book’s subject, we believe the woods offer clarity for the creative soul. The natural beauty of Boyds Mills also served as inspiration for Sara. In the dedication, she writes: “To the Highlights Foundation, a haven of woods and words.”

Illustrated by Naoko Stoop, and published by Beach Lane Books.

05/20/2026

Should you take our Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing? 👀

We made a quick flowchart to help you decide if it’s right for you.
Follow along and see where you land… you might be more ready than you think!

Send this to a friend who should take our Crash Course with you!

05/17/2026

National Little Library Week!

Did you know we have one on campus?
Bobbie Combs, our blog manager, donated the Little Library on campus to honor her late wife, Laurina Cashin, a picture book champion and enthusiastic supporter of Boyds Mills.

Next time you are on campus, be sure to look for it!