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We are excited to announce the 50th Anniversary Workshop and Annual Meeting will be held at WildAcres in Little Switzerland North Carolina, September 28th, 2026 to October 4th, 2026.

Important Dates

• May 18th, 2026- Deposits are accepted STARTING AT 1pm EASTERN TIME.
  • A PayPal Button will become live on this page at 1 pm Eastern time
  • We will use your PayPal or email time stamp to verify your place at the workshop. Places will be given in the order deposits are received.
  • Deposits will be accepted until we reach capacity and then we will start a waiting list.
  • If you prefer to pay by check, contact Bee Shay at Natureprintingsociety.treasurer@gmail.com
  • If your deposit is accepted you will be notified by NPS email within 48 hours
• June 1- Workshop catalog will be emailed ONLY to those members who have sent in their deposit.
• June 11– CLASS SELECTION OPENS STARTING at 1PM EST! Select your classes and submit your preferences.
• June 30th- Notification of class rosters sent to students and teachers

About WildAcres Retreat

Wildacres Retreat is a non-profit retreat and North Carolina conference center serving other nonprofit groups conducting educational or cultural programs on topics such as music, art, science, pottery, lapidary, interfaith dialogue, quilting, and creative writing.

At an elevation of 3,300 feet, Wildacres Retreat is situated on just over 1200 acres atop Pompey’s Knob, not too far from Mt. Mitchell and just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. Check out their website for more detailed information about the retreat!

Getting To Wildacres Retreat

Address: 1565 Wildacres Road, Little Switzerland, NC  28749

Due to the ongoing road repairs from Hurricane Helene, GPS apps might not have the most up-to-date directions to Wildacres Retreat.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is NOT open to Gooch Gap/Wildacres Road at this time.  It is closed from the Little Switzerland exit all the way south to Mount Mitchell.  (Mile markers 334 to 355)

To Wildacres from Marion, NC

• Go north on Hwy. 221N/226N for 6.3 miles from the Hwy. 70 intersection.
• Take a left on Hwy. 226N toward Spruce Pine. (This intersection has a traffic signal.)
• Go 1.1 miles to the intersection of Hwy. 226N and 226A and turn left onto 226A.
• Take 226A 6.5 miles to the Wildacres Retreat sign, and turn left onto the gravel road.
• Go 1.1 miles on Wildacres Road to the paved drive on the right, which is the entrance to Wildacres Retreat.  You’ll see another retreat sign at the entrance to our driveway.
• Follow the paved drive, staying right at the fork, to the retreat office and parking area.

To Wildacres from Spruce Pine, NC.   

• Take Highway 226 to the Blue Ridge Parkway, across from the Minerals Museum.
• At the stop sign, turn right to go south on the Parkway.
• Go 3 miles to the Little Switzerland exit (mile marker 334).
• At the Switzerland Inn, bear right and then take the next left at the stop sign.
• Then turn right/south onto 226A.  Stay to the left at the Switzerland Cafe to stay on 226A.
• About three miles down 226A you’ll see the Wildacres Retreat sign on your right. Turn right onto the gravel road.
• Go 1.1 miles on Wildacres Road to our paved drive on the right, which is the entrance to Wildacres Retreat. You’ll see another retreat sign at the entrance to our driveway.
• Follow the paved drive, staying right at the fork, to the retreat office and parking area.

Please Check the Wildacres website for the most up to date information.

Download a PDF of the Directions

Past Workshop Locations

2025 – Wildacres Retreat, North Carolina
2024 – Western Oregon Univeristy
2023 – Wildacres Retreat, North Carolina
2019 – Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
2018 – Wildacres Retreat, North Carolina
2017 – Pacific University Oregon
2016 – Wildacres Retreat, North Carolina
2015 – Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA
2014 – Wildacres Retreat, North Carolina
2013 – Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
2012 – Wildacres Retreat, North Carolina
2011 – Colorado State University
2010 – Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
2009 – Wildacres Retreat, North Carolina
2008 – La Casa de Maria Retreat & Conference Center
2007 – College of the Atlantic
2006 – University of Washington Marine Labs
2005 – Endicott College
2004 – Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
2003 – Marie Selby Botanical Garden
2002 – Paris/Treguier/Roscoff, France
2001 – Japan Cultural Center of Hawaii
2000 – Asilomar Conference Center
1999 – Driftwood Lodge, Pine River, MN
1998 – Leigh Marine Laboratory, New Zealand
1997 – Sitka, AK
1996 – Beach Head Resort, Port Aransas, TX
1995 – Bend, OR
1994 – North Carolina Aquarium, NC
1993 – Mainz-on-Rhein
1992 – Deep-Portage Conservation Reserve, Hackensack, MN
1991 – Marine Science Center, Catalina Island, CA
1990 – Touchstone Center for Crafts, Uniontown, PA
1989 – (none planned)
1988 – Myrtle Beach, SC
1987 – Hau’ula & Kaneohe, Oahu Island, HI
1986 – Touchstone Center for Crafts, Uniontown, PA
1985 – Research Station, Port Isabel and S. Padre Island, TX
1984 – Pensacola, FL
1983 – Washington, DC
1983 – Santa Barbara, CA
1982 – Washington, DC
1981 – Washington, DC