Poetry + Environmental Science + Community = A joyful rising in our climate-changed world

The Hellbender Gathering of Poets aims to nurture a community hellbent on finding the words that protect and repair our climate-changed world. Through an annual festival that celebrates the power of poetry, we welcome writers and readers alike into a joyful rising—one galvanized by environmental science, awareness, courage, and hope.

Our inaugural gathering will take place this coming October 5-11, 2026, at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. 

Applications to participate open at 8:00 am, ET, on Monday, April 13, and close at 11:50 pm, ET, on Monday, May 11, or until all seats are filled. As we’ll consider applications on a rolling basis, we highly suggest you submit early! 

Tuition for our gathering is $2,550 double room / $2,050 commuter, but there is an "early bird" discount for those who can pay in full by June 17 ($3,090 single room / $2,490 double room / $1,990 commuter). Some financial aid is available. To apply for that assistance, follow the instructions within our application. 

Tuition includes:

• Poetry workshops (5 classes totaling 13 hours).
• Outdoor classes / guided “awe” walks with our ecology faculty (3 classes total).
• Craft talks from our poetry faculty (4 total) as well as a group panel featuring both our ecology and poetry faculty.
• Four nights of readings and book signings, including those by our poetry faculty and our special keynote guest. We’ll also have readings for fellows, interns, and all participants (which may just mean you!) to share their work.
• Invitation to our mid-week dance party celebration.
• Invitation to our ceremonial American Chestnut tree planting.
• Personal time set aside for your writing (8.5 hours)—though you might make far more time, these hours are intentionally set aside to help assure that you’ll have time for your poems.
• All meals from Monday evening to Sunday morning (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners).
• Six-night stay in hotel-style room with private baths, air conditioning, and elevator access to all floors.

For more details about our week together including cost, lodging, and more, please visit https://www.hellbenderpoets.org/application.

Application Guidelines:

To apply, you'll be asked to complete and provide the following:

• A short application form providing us with your details.
• A cover letter of no more than 400 words that tells us a little about yourself and addresses the question of why you want to attend the Hellbender Gathering. 
• Five pages of poems. 
• A non-refundable application fee of $25. This is to help us cover our administrative costs. Should you end up coming to our gathering, this amount will be credited to your balance.
• Fellowship and scholarship opportunities: To apply for the Miles Coon Fellowshipplease provide five additional poems plus a statement of merit (250 words). This fellowship covers the cost of tuition, room, & board for one poet of sixty years or older who has not yet published a full-length book.  To apply for a Julia Community Fund Scholarship of $500, please provide a statement of need (250 words).