"Education, like faith, is the evidence of things not seen." Charlotte Mason
2026 Charlotte Mason Maryland Retreat
All Living
With special guests Dawn Duran and Carole Jenkin, please see their bios below.
"Our aim in education is to give a full life...Life should be all living, and not merely a tedious passing of time; not all doing or all feeling or all thinking - the strain would be too great - but, all living; that is to say, we should be in touch wherever we go, whatever we hear, whatever we see, with some manner of vital interest.”
-Charlotte Mason in School Education, pg. 170
We look forward to gathering on April 18th for an immersive experience in a Charlotte Mason education. We will explore what Charlotte Mason meant by a living education and see what that looks like in real life at various stages of homeschooling. We hope you will find encouragement, greater understanding of her philosophy, and practical advice that you can apply in your own home.
Retreat Information
Saturday, April 18, 2026
9 am - 3:30 pm
Redeemer Anglican Church
1309 Bay Ridge Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403
Registration $40
Sign up
Registration will open on Friday February 20, 2026 at Noon.
- Sign up here: Registration Form will be posted on 2/20 at noon.
- For questions, please email Amanda Akerberg at ara101313 at gmail dot com
Retreat Details
Participation will be limited to 45 attendees. Registration closes on March 28. You may join the waitlist after the registration deadline. Financial assistance is available.
The registration fee is non-refundable but it is transferable, should you need to pass your spot on to someone else.
We ask that participants bring their own lunch. Breakfast, snacks, and drinks will be provided throughout the day.
Snapshot of the Day
- Various presentations on elements of a living education will approach areas of study within a Charlotte Mason philosophy that are life-giving for the student and the mother!
- Dawn Duran will once again give us an encouraging talk this year. She will remind us that we can learn well and live well alongside our children as we raise them. Our education doesn’t have to end when our children graduate - Charlotte Mason’s principles facilitate lifelong learning.
- "You Probably Think This Book is About You" with Carole Jenkin: Figuring out what counts as a “living book” is about finding those timeless threads that bind us to deeper human thoughts and ideals. This talk will explore how we can open ourselves to these discoveries throughout our lives and those of our children, and how to avoid sabotaging ourselves along the way.
- Breakout session with two options: Navigating The Younger Years and How to Guide and Support Older Students
- Helpful Resources: We will share resources in handicrafts, nature study, self education, literature, and more to help you in your homeschool journey
Our Speakers
Dawn Duran
Carole Jenkin
Carole Jenkin
Dawn Duran encountered the philosophy of Charlotte Mason nearly fifteen years ago and has been serving in the roles of “guide, philosopher, and friend” ever since. Having graduated their oldest son, Dawn continues to learn alongside one son in high school and a small group of scholars that meets in their home weekly for the pursuit of “truth for truth’s sake.” She has undergraduate degrees in physical education and physical therapy as well as a graduate degree in health sciences. Her pre-motherhood career choices were influenced by her experience as a Division I athlete, and she worked as a physical therapist full time prior to taking on her most prized roles of stay-at-home wife and homeschooling mother.
Dawn created Swedish Drill Revisited to assist homeschool families effectively embrace a forgotten form of physical education, and is the author of A Reasoned Patriotism: Critical Thinking and Civic Duty in an Age of Polarization. She also co-hosts The New Mason Jar podcast.
Carole Jenkin
Carole Jenkin
Carole Jenkin
Carole Jenkin is (probably) about halfway through her lifelong education. She was homeschooled for part of her developmental years and in college, she received a B.S. in Psychology. She then dove into social work helping victims of domestic violence as well as serving as a Case Worker in the Florida foster care system. Before becoming a mother, she also ran a self-sufficiency program for at-risk young adults. When she had her first son, she never dreamed she would homeschool, but that is exactly what she did! Pulling her son out of first grade public school was scary indeed, but she has found it to be the biggest blessing! A dear friend introduced her to Charlotte Mason’s method which resonated with her from the start, especially her thoughts involving children are born persons and the importance of reading living books. She also appreciates Miss Mason’s ideas that inspire the importance of learning as a way of life and looks forward to many more years of enjoying the feast!
Carole has homeschooled all three of her boys: her younger are in Ambleside Online Years 7 and 11, and her oldest is now a sophomore in college studying Mechanical Engineering. Along with reading (one of her book clubs has been meeting for 15 years!), Carole enjoys playing the piano, gardening, spending time with extended family and watching every British murder mystery series possible. She currently lives in South Jersey with her husband, sons, 2 cats, 1 dog, and a chipmunk under the patio. Her favorite Charlotte Mason quote is “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.”