SOAR 2026: Meet Your New Instructors!

My first opportunity to attend SOAR was in 2024 at Heritage Hills Resort in York, Pennsylvania. Surrounded by rolling hills and perfect fall colors, and of course, spinners, it was truly a week in paradise. This year, SOAR 2026 is returning to Heritage Hills Resort, and we’re excited to welcome several new instructors.

Monica Jo Raphael

Born to the Ginew “golden eagle” clan of the Anishinaabek, Monica Jo Raphael is an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa, a descendant of Chief Spotted Tail of the Sičánğu Lakota, and the Huron and Pokagon Potawatomi. She learned the traditional art form of quill and birch-box making while living in the village of Peshawbestown on the Grand Traverse Band Reservation. A fifth-generation quill worker, Monica uses natural materials, including birch bark, sweetgrass, porcupine quills, and natural dyes in her own work and in workshops around the country. Monica’s artwork can be found in museum and personal collections, including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. She is curator of Great Lakes Native Art, Cultures and Community Engagement at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Visit the Eiteljorg website to learn more about Monica and her work.

T.J. King

TJ King—a.k.a. the Peahen—is a spinner, writer, and teacher with nearly 20 years of experience in helping others find joy in fiber arts. While her passion is supported spinning, she also weaves, knits, felts, and crochets. TJ shares her spinning knowledge, invaluable tips, and personal projects on social media, her own podcast—The Peahen’s Ponderings—classes, and more. She and her husband, Mike of the Spanish Peacock, are working on a new passion project—building the Cedar Springs Fiber Arts Center in West Virginia. Learn more about TJ and her supported spinning adventures at thepeahenspod.com.

Terri Guerette

Terri Guerette began spinning in 2004 and has never been more than an arm’s reach away from a spindle ever since. Demonstrating and teaching fiber arts at living history events, schools, farm days, and fairs, Terri is always happy to share her knowledge. She was selected as a SOAR scholar in 2011 and went on to publish handspinning articles in a number of publications, teach workshops around the country, and earn many awards for her textile work. While she loves learning and sharing a wide variety of fibery topics, she is especially passionate about silk spinning and reeling, lace spinning and knitting, and spindles of all shapes and sizes.

What Else Can I Expect at SOAR?

For more than 40 years, the Spin Off Annual Retreat (SOAR) has been a beloved institution, gathering far-flung spinners every fall. Like many long-running events, it can mean something different for each attendee. It can be a chance to see friends each year or an opportunity to learn from instructors from around the world. It can also be an escape and a great shopping experience. Here's a peek at a past SOAR:

Will We See You at SOAR?

Classes are filling up! If you’re considering joining us, note that only a handful of spots remain. With fewer than 80 spaces in the retreat, you’ll want to make sure to register soon. We can’t wait to see you at SOAR!

Get your SOAR tickets today!

Event dates: The SOAR 2026 event will be held in York, Pennsylvania, from October 11–16, 2026. If you’d like to join us for five days of spinning, special evening events, and a lot of fun, tickets are on sale now!

Note: When class selections open in May, selections open in the order tickets are purchased. That means the earlier you are on the list, the more class choices you’ll have, so don’t delay!

You can find returning instructors and general information at SpinOffRetreat.com. The SOAR team will announce class topics in March 2026, so stay tuned for more!