Two months ago we kicked off the start of IRW’s school season—and what better way to begin than with community, creativity, and a little island adventure! Our first school program of this busy year featured long-time friend and author/artist Kevin Hawkes. Kevin—along with IRW team members Lisa Herrington, Celine Martin, and Courtney Waring—met bright and early at the Northeast Harbor Ferry to make their way to Great Cranberry Island.

Lisa and Kevin on their way to the ferry at Northeast Harbor!

Ferry tickets? √
Easel paper, watercolor paper, watercolor pencils? √
An assortment of Kevin’s books spanning 25 years of creativity? √√

Each IRW school visit is unique, special, and tailored to meet the needs of our students and partner schools. What made this visit extra special was our collaboration with Maine Seacoast Mission’s Teaching & Learning Collaborative (TLC). For more than 30 years, TLC has worked with island schools on Chebeague, Cliff Island, the Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, Matinicus, and Monhegan to organize a multi-day kickoff to the school year. Families from across the islands come together for three days of camping, nature, connection, and creativity. This year, Great Cranberry Island hosted families from Chebeague, Cliff Island, Isle au Haut, and Monhegan.

Upon arriving on the island, we were warmly greeted by Gloria Delsandro, Teaching Principal at Cranberry Isles School. Gloria generously loaded our materials into her van so we could take a short, scenic walk to the school—a lovely way to soak in the island views before the day began.

The day begins with fun introductions for all ages!

Soon after, families, teachers, and community partners gathered outside in a big circle to learn more about the day’s activities. Yvonne Thomas, Sunbeam Education Coordinator, led the group in a series of fun, get-to-know-you games. Laughter filled the air as kids and grown-ups alike moved, played, and connected—setting the perfect tone for a day full of art, stories, and imagination.

And we certainly put our imaginations to work!

Kevin’s first presentation gathered all the island families together as he talked about his creative process—what inspires him, how he develops ideas, and how he brings stories to life through art. As he spoke, he filled sheets of easel paper with quick sketches that captivated everyone. His spontaneous drawings set the tone for the rest of the day, inspiring students (and adults!) to later create their own watercolor masterpieces.

Student shows their artwork with Kevin.

Student shares their artwork with Lisa.

Grownups also participate in the art activity.

The visual storytelling was so creative!

A day of laughs, smiles, creativity, and conversation.

After the group presentation, families divided into smaller age-based groups that rotated through three activities:

• Braided bracelets with art teacher Kaitlyn Miller
• A nature hike with Renee Duncan from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust
• An art workshop with Kevin Hawkes

Kevin tailored each workshop to the group’s age and interests. For the younger students, he focused on the power of lines—how horizontal, vertical, and diagonal strokes can create calm or motion. He also shared simple but effective tricks for drawing expressive faces, showing how small changes in the eyes or eyebrows can convey emotion.

Drawing can feel intimidating at any age, especially when what’s in your head doesn’t quite match what appears on paper. But Kevin’s words of wisdom offered both reassurance and inspiration:

“You’re not trying to make a photograph—you’re trying to make it interesting.”

Each student received a personalized copy of Weslandia, signed by Kevin.

Older students explored the art of world-building, dreaming up imaginary places filled with extraordinary details. As Kevin added a horizon line to his picture, one student suggested, “Maybe you should also add a sun.” That simple suggestion opened up a great conversation about the time of day in the picture and how subtle details can help tell that story. Confidence grew as students not only contributed ideas to Kevin’s drawing but also began sketching their own imaginative worlds.

The workshops were also a wonderful example of intergenerational learning in action. Parents joined in alongside their children—asking questions, taking notes, recording moments, and creating their own works of art. Everyone, regardless of age, became part of the creative process! After Kevin shared about his book Weslandia—the story of a boy who builds his own civilization over summer break—one parent commented, “As a parent, you sometimes think you’ve read all the picture books out there. And then you discover a new one, and you think —there are so many more I need to read!”

Selfie of Celine, Lisa, Courtney, and Kevin at the end of the day on Great Cranberry.

Events like this remind us why we do what we do. Bringing authors and artists like Kevin Hawkes to schools isn’t just about learning new tips and techniques—it’s about sparking curiosity, building confidence, and fostering connection through the power of storytelling.

A huge thank-you to Kevin Hawkes, the Maine Seacoast Mission’s Teaching & Learning Collaborative, Cranberry Isles School, and all the families and educators who made this day possible. What a beautiful way to begin the school season—with imagination, collaboration, and inspiration that will carry through the year ahead!

At IRW, we’re proud that all of our programs are offered free of charge to the schools and families we serve. If this mission speaks to you, we invite you to support our work through a donation of any size. Together, we can keep imagination and storytelling alive for Maine’s kids.