Family & Friends
Saturday, August 1 - Saturday, August 8, 2026
Description
Workshops
Conference Leadership
Pricing
Description
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Family and Friends has provided a safe and nurturing community for people of all ages, from all walks of life, since 1979 at Ferry Beach! We come together in community to grow, explore, learn, and build strong and lasting relationships! Family and Friends is the perfect vacation whether you come as a couple, an individual, a young adult, with your extended family, grandparents, or any combination of these. There will be something for everyone, with morning workshops and activities for adults, young adults and children. Multigenerational activities are plentiful in the afternoons and evenings.
No one has to cook or clean up on this vacation! Come off the beach in the late afternoon, join friends for social hour, then join everyone in the DeWolfe Dining Hall, where we have a variety of choices for all kinds of palates. So this summer, bring your spirit to the sea, stand upon the shore, and know you are home! Join us at Family & Friends, and discover or rediscover the magic that happens in the Ferry Beach community! Morning Adult Workshops Each morning there are a variety of workshops for adults to participate In while youth and children are in their own programs. The adult workshop selection is located in the "Workshops" tab above. Family and Friends Youth Groups During the week while the parents are in their morning workshops the children get to have their own workshop with their peers. The groups are broken down by age; examples of past years' groupings include 3-5 year olds (need to be potty trained), 6-7 year olds, 8-9 year olds, 10-12 year olds and Jr/Sr teens. The group age cutoffs can shift based on enrollment. The groups are led by at least 2 adults attending Family and Friends who have completed a background check. During the week you can expect to build a Covenant for the week, play games, create art and music, and learn about local ecology. The Jr/Sr teens may do a day trip. |
Ferry Beach is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year (2026). Join us for an incredible year of celebration!
Young Adults Work Play Program:
The young adults work/play program is intended for those aged 18-25 to learn the values of work while enjoying fun during their stay. Program participants will work 3 hours a day in one of these areas: maintenance, housekeeping, program/set up, & kitchen/dinning hall. In compensation program participants lodging and conference fee is waived. Participants just pay for meals during their stay. Want to be part of this program? Please fill out the form here and afterwards register here. Previous Family & Friends Weeks!
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Family and Friends Intergen Activities
Each evening and some afternoons there are scheduled intergen activities the whole family can take part in. Examples of some of our favorite activities during the week include:
Each evening and some afternoons there are scheduled intergen activities the whole family can take part in. Examples of some of our favorite activities during the week include:
- Trivia
- Sing down
- Ice cream social
- Masked ball
- Sandcastle contest
- UUlympics
- Talent No Talent Night
- Parade, closing circle & s'mores
Workshops
2026 WORKSHOPS COMING SOON...
A glance at previous offerings- 2025 Workshops
Acting with Catherine Bloom and Nick Perron
Come try the Family and Friends Acting Workshop! During this week, we will explore acting in various forms including improv, clown, scene study, and original monologues. The end of the week will culminate in a staged reading of a play.
Catherine is a New York based actor and writer. She’s been coming to Ferry Beach since she was 10, and this is her second time leading the acting workshop! Catherine’s plays have been workshopped at theaters such as Lincoln Center, The Artist Co-op, ART New York, Frigid NYC, and produced at Ars Nova, The Brick Theater, and more very cool places. As an actor, Catherine has performed at New York and regional theaters such as Ars Nova, ART New York, Williamstown Theater Festival, The Fisher Center at Bard College, iO Chicago, Second City, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, HERE Arts, and more. She is currently developing a play about a live in nanny who goes to work for a family that accidentally adopts an adult. She has BA in Theater & Performance from Bard College is a member of Actor’s Equity.
Nick is an actor and creator currently based in Boston. Nick graduated from Dalhousie University’s Fountain School of the Performing Arts in 2015 with a degree in Acting and is proud to have been part of the very first graduating class. As a performer, he has worked in theatre and film internationally and has a deep love of developing new work. He also tours and performs with improv comedy group "Please and Spank You." When not acting, Nick has made podcasts, produced videos, and is currently writing his first full length play. In his spare time, Nick loves to play Dungeons and Dragons with friends, practice martial arts, and talk endlessly about his current obsessions.
Come try the Family and Friends Acting Workshop! During this week, we will explore acting in various forms including improv, clown, scene study, and original monologues. The end of the week will culminate in a staged reading of a play.
Catherine is a New York based actor and writer. She’s been coming to Ferry Beach since she was 10, and this is her second time leading the acting workshop! Catherine’s plays have been workshopped at theaters such as Lincoln Center, The Artist Co-op, ART New York, Frigid NYC, and produced at Ars Nova, The Brick Theater, and more very cool places. As an actor, Catherine has performed at New York and regional theaters such as Ars Nova, ART New York, Williamstown Theater Festival, The Fisher Center at Bard College, iO Chicago, Second City, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, HERE Arts, and more. She is currently developing a play about a live in nanny who goes to work for a family that accidentally adopts an adult. She has BA in Theater & Performance from Bard College is a member of Actor’s Equity.
Nick is an actor and creator currently based in Boston. Nick graduated from Dalhousie University’s Fountain School of the Performing Arts in 2015 with a degree in Acting and is proud to have been part of the very first graduating class. As a performer, he has worked in theatre and film internationally and has a deep love of developing new work. He also tours and performs with improv comedy group "Please and Spank You." When not acting, Nick has made podcasts, produced videos, and is currently writing his first full length play. In his spare time, Nick loves to play Dungeons and Dragons with friends, practice martial arts, and talk endlessly about his current obsessions.
Outdoor Adventures with Nate Mathews
Come explore the areas around Ferry Beach! This morning drop-in workshop will explore outdoor activities in and around the Ferry Beach campus and Saco Bay area. At least two activities will involve cycling so bring your bike! Some possible examples include a cycling/hiking trip to Peak’s Island, a jetty walk, and mini-golf. The full and final list of activities will be presented at the orientation. Some activities may have extra costs. Also, many of the activities will require driving to a starting point – carpooling will be encouraged!
Come explore the areas around Ferry Beach! This morning drop-in workshop will explore outdoor activities in and around the Ferry Beach campus and Saco Bay area. At least two activities will involve cycling so bring your bike! Some possible examples include a cycling/hiking trip to Peak’s Island, a jetty walk, and mini-golf. The full and final list of activities will be presented at the orientation. Some activities may have extra costs. Also, many of the activities will require driving to a starting point – carpooling will be encouraged!
Drawing with David Lewis
This drawing workshop will invite you to bring your curiosity! Every day, David will set up a pose or image for the group to work on and the group can share ideas about how to develop as an artist. It will be less a “teaching” class than an opportunity to try out (or develop) drawing skills within a context of creativity and conversation. Participants are also welcome to bring images they would like to draw, perhaps photos of their pets or landscapes.
David Lewis is a graduate of Pratt Institute Art School with a major in Illustration. His career spanned 50 years as a freelance illustrator focusing on advertising, television and packaging art. He worked for many of the major agencies and designers in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. His late wife Carolyn Burr and he always loved Ferry each and came together for many years before her death in 2020.
This drawing workshop will invite you to bring your curiosity! Every day, David will set up a pose or image for the group to work on and the group can share ideas about how to develop as an artist. It will be less a “teaching” class than an opportunity to try out (or develop) drawing skills within a context of creativity and conversation. Participants are also welcome to bring images they would like to draw, perhaps photos of their pets or landscapes.
David Lewis is a graduate of Pratt Institute Art School with a major in Illustration. His career spanned 50 years as a freelance illustrator focusing on advertising, television and packaging art. He worked for many of the major agencies and designers in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. His late wife Carolyn Burr and he always loved Ferry each and came together for many years before her death in 2020.
Finding and Sharing our Spirit with Thea Shapiro (This Workshop begins on Monday)
We will delve into how we feed our spirit through writing, art, meditation, movement and sharing.
Here are a few of the questions we will be asking:
We will delve into how we feed our spirit through writing, art, meditation, movement and sharing.
Here are a few of the questions we will be asking:
- What is spirit?
- How does feeding our spirits help us offer more to the world.?
- What are some of the ways we can bring our love into action for the things that are important to our community and the world?
Working Around the Beach
If you would like to give back to The Beach and enjoy doing odd jobs, gardening, repairs, painting, cleaning, this is a workshop for you.
If you would like to give back to The Beach and enjoy doing odd jobs, gardening, repairs, painting, cleaning, this is a workshop for you.
Writing
In this memoir and personal narrative workshop we will free write to prompts, give each other feedback, and enjoy expressing our creativity in a supportive group. It’s fine to come with no idea about what you’re going to write – we all have a multitude of stories, and the prompts, and the group’s suggestions will help you discover yours. No writing experience necessary. The only risk is having too much fun.
In this memoir and personal narrative workshop we will free write to prompts, give each other feedback, and enjoy expressing our creativity in a supportive group. It’s fine to come with no idea about what you’re going to write – we all have a multitude of stories, and the prompts, and the group’s suggestions will help you discover yours. No writing experience necessary. The only risk is having too much fun.
Yoga with Maggie Stonecash
Come spend the week mindfully moving, breathing, feeling, learning, and being present in new ways in your body. We will dive into establishing safety and trust in your body and developing an intelligent movement practice that supports functional strength, builds mobility, and allows you to experience more joy, ease, and connection with yourself. In addition to typical yoga practices, you will gain a foundational understanding of breathing, alignment, and core engagement strategies that support core and pelvic floor health. You will explore movement tools for your shoulders, upper back, hips, and feet. We will also explore a variety of practices to reset the nervous system. Come home to your body with confidence, love, and compassion.
All levels are welcome. No experience necessary.
Maggie Stonecash (MEd, RYT, RYC teacher) is a yoga & mindfulness instructor, educator and professional development coach in schools, and Restore Your Core ® teacher who specializes in core and pelvic floor rehab, back pain, hip pain, and shoulder mobility. Maggie’s classes weave together intelligent functional strength, mobility, and somatic releasing movements for an empowering and relaxing experience. She has been a teacher since 2012 and loves helping people soothe their nervous systems, and live with less pain and more kindness. Maggie lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania with her husband and two young children.
Come spend the week mindfully moving, breathing, feeling, learning, and being present in new ways in your body. We will dive into establishing safety and trust in your body and developing an intelligent movement practice that supports functional strength, builds mobility, and allows you to experience more joy, ease, and connection with yourself. In addition to typical yoga practices, you will gain a foundational understanding of breathing, alignment, and core engagement strategies that support core and pelvic floor health. You will explore movement tools for your shoulders, upper back, hips, and feet. We will also explore a variety of practices to reset the nervous system. Come home to your body with confidence, love, and compassion.
All levels are welcome. No experience necessary.
Maggie Stonecash (MEd, RYT, RYC teacher) is a yoga & mindfulness instructor, educator and professional development coach in schools, and Restore Your Core ® teacher who specializes in core and pelvic floor rehab, back pain, hip pain, and shoulder mobility. Maggie’s classes weave together intelligent functional strength, mobility, and somatic releasing movements for an empowering and relaxing experience. She has been a teacher since 2012 and loves helping people soothe their nervous systems, and live with less pain and more kindness. Maggie lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania with her husband and two young children.
Conference Leadership
2026 Leaders to be Announced Soon!
Last Year's Conference Leaders:
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Adult Coordinator:
Caitlin Peale Sloan Caitlin is the Adult Coordinator for Family and Friends this year, organizing the workshops and helping all the other coordinators with their work. Caitlin is a Ferry Beacher since early childhood and she and her family have been attending Family & Friends since 1994. Caitlin is a former member of the Ferry Beach Board of Directors and a former Family & Friends Childrens' Coordinator. She lives with her husband, child, and two cats near Boston, MA and works as an energy and climate lawyer for Conservation Law Foundation. |
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Intergenerational Coordinator:
Alice Corvo Alice is one of the Intergenerational Coordinators for Family and Friends this year. She has been coming to Family and Friends since she was born, and it’s absolutely her favorite place in the world. She led the 3-5 year olds for ten years, and is excited to now take on the challenge of helping to coordinate the conference. When not at Ferry Beach , Alice enjoys making theatre and music and reading voraciously. |
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Children's Workshop Coordinator:
Diane D’Amour Diane is the Children’s Programming Coordinator for Family and Friends this year. She is a life long Unitarian-Universalist, an artist, teacher, mother, and dog lover, who meditates, writes poetry and loves helping people find joy and their own voice as well as laughter and perspective! |
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Minister of the Week:
Reverend Rosemary Dodd Rev. Rosemary is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist who was ordained into UU ministry in March 2025. Originally from Sonoma County, California, Rosemary has spent the majority of her young adult years in the Boston area. After college, she worked in arts museum fundraising and then made a quick return to school. She holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Harvard Divinity School and a BA in Political Science and Spanish from Wellesley College. She served the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento as Intern Minister from August 2023-June 2024, and now is the Contract Minister with First Parish Bridgewater. She is passionate about youth empowerment, ritual design, UU theology, crocheting, color theory, and community dinner. Her dog, Stella, is a rescue standard poodle who is a source of joy and delight. |
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Musician of the Week:
Stephanie Ortolano Stephanie Ortolano was the Music Director at First Unitarian Society of Ithaca (NY) for the past 14 years. While she recently retired from that post, she is also the organist for the Freeville United Methodist Church. She has been a church musician for a variety of denominations since her early teens. Stephanie has been to Ferry Beach as Musician of the Week several times, and jumped into the position at the last minute one year when the original Musician decided to cancel at the last moment! She loves creating collaborative worship and singing a capella. After hearing so many stories about Ferry Beach from her longtime friend from freshman year at college, Meghan O'Sullivan Chan, it has been fun creating memories together with our families in this special place. |
Pricing
Conference Package (Pricing per Person) |
Conference Package for Lodgers: (Includes conference fee/access to all programming, plus all daily meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner for the entirety of Family & Friends). Adult: $658 Youth: $525 Conference Package for Commuters: (Includes conference fee/access to all programming, plus all daily meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner for the entirety of Family & Friends). Adult Commuter: $658 Youth Commuter: $525 Meals are included, there is no way to separate meals from the package price. Note: Lodging is not included in the conference package price, it's added on, the price varies depending on your desired lodging accommodation, see below. |
Lodging |
View our Lodging Page HERE for more information/photos of lodging options. Cottages/Cabins Morris Cottage: $550 per night Kelley Cottage: $515 per night Claflin Cottage: $515 per night Metz Cabins: $250 per night Cross Rooms: $205 per night Dorms: Quillen Family: $170 per night Ocean Queen: $165 per night Ocean Twin: $155 per night Queen Dorms: $145 per night Standard Dorms: $130 per night Camping: $45-55 depending on site *NEW* - LINENS are now INCLUDED in your stay, for ALL lodging spaces in 2026! |
Membership |
Membership must be paid to attend any Ferry Beach program and is due annually. Individual Membership: $40 Family Membership: $65 See our Membership Page to learn more and to purchase or renew a membership. You can also renew your membership on your reservation. |
Register |
To register online click here, by phone, call the office at 207-282-4489 You can also email [email protected]. |
Our LocationFerry Beach is a beachfront retreat center in Southern Maine (Saco, ME). Experience a respite away from the everyday world, with 32 acres including many porches, a wonderful dining center, volleyball court, playgrounds, art studio, outdoor chapel and of course the beach!
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Lodging |
What to Expect
Wondering what to pack, what a retreat at Ferry Beach is like and more general information about your stay click read more below. |
Our mission at Ferry Beach is to awaken hearts to explore, grow and renew the spirit of universal love.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
