About the Maryland Kite Society
Organized on January 25, 1969, The Maryland Kite Society (MKS) is the second oldest active kite club in the United States. While its membership hails mainly from the mid-Atlantic states, the MKS boasts members from across the nation and several foreign countries.MKS's official set of purposes include sharing information about kitemaking and kiteflying, providing ongoing continuity and support for local kite festivals and subsidiary groups of kiting enthusiasts, and providing a community education resource for the development of kite craftspeople and flyers of present and future generations.
2026 Retreat is full! Click here to be waitlisted.
Winter 2026 Retreat News
- The retreat will take place February 13 - 16 at a new facility for us, the Chesapeake Bay Environmental
Center, just off Route 50 in Grasonville on Maryland’s Eastern
Shore. CBEC is about 10 miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Check it out at Chesapeake bay environmental center. You can even fly kites over Chesapeake Bay during our long weekend.
- Sleeping
accommodations are at the Holiday Inn Express, 2 miles away from
CBEC. Room rates start at $89.00 per night plus tax. You can call 410) 827-4454 for a reservation (room code is MKS) or click here.
- One of our featured projects will be Chris Hanson’s Hargrave Double Box Kite, the ite that just won Grand National Champion at AKA’s convention in Niagara Falls:
It will be available in 2 sizes: kites that are 3-foot or 4-foot in depth. The kit prices look like they will be $115 for the 3' version and $130 for the 4' version. Subtract $10 if the student supplies their own custom sail. You’ll have your choice of which to build and you’ll have plans in advance of the retreat. - Rich Cairncross will also be a featured presenter with his ultra-light Sweet Gum Leaf single-line indoor kite:
Kite construction does not involve a sewing machine. Kit cost TBD. - Other presentations will include Ben Huggett’s no-sew Delta Conyne, Adam Grow’s “Sew What, Part 4” talk about getting the most out of your sewing machine, and one or two more projects featuring kite designs that you haven’t seen before. Phil Broder will be there with lots of kitemaking supplies from his Fly Market Kitemaking Supplies company.
- Celebrating our new location, we’re delighted to announce a SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED REGISTRATION RATE of $100.00 per person for attending the retreat. Because the registration fee is so small this year, you can bring a lot more $$$ for fun at the auction! (And do bring those wonderful auction donations too.) You can send registration checks made out to the Maryland Kite Society, 10113 Lloyd Road, Potomac, MD., 20854. A special Saturday night banquet and an optional lunch on-site are uncluded!
- We can accommodate 30 registrants in our work room. Don’t wait to be the last person trying to register! You don’t want to miss this great event.
Please click here for our registration form. Got questions? Ask them here.