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summer creative writing camps

21 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in 2024

What’s covered:, 21 summer writing programs for high school students, how impressive are summer programs in college admissions, other ways to spend your summer.

Summer programs offer high school students an excellent opportunity to explore subjects that interest them, build valuable skills, get a taste of college life, and meet like-minded peers. They also look awesome on a college application! If you’re interested in writing, you’ll want to check out these 20 summer writing programs for high school students. 

1. Princeton Summer Journalism Program 

Dates: Classes begin mid July, residential portion is July 26 – August 5

Location: Online and in Princeton, NJ

Application deadline: February 15

The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) selects 40 high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds to participate in its revered program. In the PSJP, students explore current events, listen to lectures, and participate in workshops led by professional journalists and Princeton professors. The program culminates with the publication of a student-produced newspaper, the Princeton Summer Journal . To qualify for the PSJP you must: 

  • Be a junior in high school
  • Live in the United States and intend to attend college in the U.S.
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.5 
  • Have an interest in journalism
  • The combined income of custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) plus child support payments, if any, must not exceed $60,000
  • Qualify for free or reduced-price lunch 
  • Qualify for an SAT or ACT fee waiver

Dates: August 3 – 9

Location: Austin, Texas

Application deadline: March 1

JCamp is a free six-day program put on by the Asian American Journalist Association that brings together a culturally diverse group of students from across the U.S. Under the eye of veteran journalists and leading media executives, students take part in workshops to sharpen their journalistic skills and gain hands-on experience producing multi-platform news packages for the program’s website. JCamp is not limited to Asian American students; any student with an interest in journalism—like writing for a newspaper or magazine—is encouraged to apply. 

3. Iowa Young Writers’ Studio 2 Week Residential Program

  • Session 1: June 16 – 29
  • Session 2: July 14 – 27

Location: In-person in Iowa City, IA, or virtual

Application deadline: February 4

Cost: In-person: $2,500; virtual: $575

The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio provides high schoolers the incredible opportunity to have a residential experience and study with graduates of one of the most renowned writing programs in the nation: the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Participants in this program choose a focus—either poetry, fiction, creative writing, playwriting, or television writing—and share their work, practice their craft, and improve their writing while working alongside other high school writers from across the U.S. 

4. Sarah Lawerence Writers’ Week 

  • Virtual: July 15 – 19
  • In-person: August 5 – 9

Location: Virtual or Bronxville NY

Application deadline: TBD. Registration opens in February

Cost: Virtual: $1025; In-person: $1,550

During Sarah Lawerence Writers’ Week, participants (the program welcomes students entering the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades) explore the creative process led by esteemed Sarah Lawrence faculty and alumni. Sarah Lawerence Writing Week celebrates the risk and adventure of the creative process, fosters a non-competitive and non-judgmental environment, and keeps with the Sarah Lawrence tradition of individualized attention—groups are limited to 18 students with two faculty members per workshop. The program ends with a celebration that includes both faculty and student readings.  

5. California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) Writing Program

Dates: July 6 – August 2

Location: Sacramento, CA

Application deadline: February 29

Cost: CA State Residents: $4,600; Out-of-state: $7,000

This summer program for high school students in California is a unique public-private partnership that was founded by the California State legislature in 1987. Approximately 70 students are selected to participate in this program led by professional writers and educators who guide them through work in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and dramatic writing. The program prides itself on its creative environment and looks for young writers who love language, reading, and are ready to share their own stories. 

6. Juniper Young Writers Online Writing Lab 

  • One-week program: July 29 – August 2
  • Two-week program: July 29 – August 9

Location: Amherst, MA

Application deadline: March 7

Cost: $2,600 for one week; $4,950 for two weeks

Students in the Juniper Young Writers Online Writing Lab participate in writing sessions, share questions, and discuss their work and writing-related topics over the course of this program. Led by professional teachers, published authors, and graduate students at UMass Amherst, Writing Lab participants gain insight into the creative process, find inspiration for work, learn tips to improve their writing and develop relationships with other young writers. Students will be provided a written summary of their work, an evaluation toward writing goals, and future considerations for their writing.

7. Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement (AYA) 

Dates: June 17 – July 19

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Application deadline: March 22

AYA is a free, immersive experience for talented high school students from the area surrounding USC. The program allows participants to explore USC Annenberg’s undergraduate programs, gain insight into careers in media and journalism, and meet the people advancing issues of race, gender, and ethnicity in communication and journalism. Over the course of this program, students build a variety of skills, including writing and critical thinking. 

8. Reynolds Young Writers Workshop 

Dates: June 22 – 29

Location: Granville, OH

Cost: $1,500

For more than a quarter of a century, Denison University has welcomed talented high school writers to its acclaimed Reynolds Young Writers Workshop. Led by Denison’s creative writing faculty and notable visiting writers, participants take part in small creative writing workshops and group sessions to explore a variety of writing techniques in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.

9. Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Dates: June 23 – 28

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Application deadline: April 1

The Camp Cronkite program is a summer media enrichment camp allowing high schoolers to dive into the world of media. Led by Cronkite faculty, staff, and students, campers learn about digital journalism, broadcast journalism, or sports media. They will work on reporting, pitching, storytelling, and editing, and receive hands-on instruction in video editing, photography, reporting and writing, script development, and more. There are several scholarships available for students who demonstrate financial need. 

10. Alpha Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Workshop for Young Writers

Dates: July 24 – August 4

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Application deadline: March 10

Over Alpha’s 12 days, students with an interest in science fiction, fantasy, or horror learn how to generate ideas, turn those ideas into drafts, critique each other’s work, make revisions, and submit their work to paying markets. The program also provides students with an introduction to college life and allows them to explore a career as a professional writer. 

11. 92Y Unterberg Poetry Center Young Writers Workshop

Dates: July 8 – 25

Location: New York, NY

Application deadline: May 28

Cost: $2,600

The Unterberg Poetry Center has been home to established and up-and-coming poets since it was founded in 1939. Students at its Young Writers Workshop receive coaching from some of New York’s best writing teachers and explore a variety of forms, styles, and voices in a warm and supportive environment. Participants learn to look critically at their own work and will leave the workshop with a clearer understanding of their goals as a writer and what it takes to make a career in the literary world. 

12. Shared Worlds

Dates: July 14 – 27

Location: Spartanburg, SC

Application deadline: Rolling

This fun writing program is for high school students with an interest in speculative fiction—for example, science fiction, fantasy, and steampunk. Shared Worlds is a residential program for rising 8th-12th grade students to work under the guidance of renowned fantasy and science fiction writers. Over the course of the workshop, students imagine, build, and write their own stories and have their enthusiasm for writing encouraged. 

13. Bard College at Simon’s Rock Young Writers Workshop

Dates: July 7 – 27

Location: Great Barrington, MA

Cost: $3,500

This program is modeled on the well-known Language and Thinking Workshop all students entering Bard College are required to take. Unlike other creative writing workshops, leaders of this young writers workshop encourage informal, playful, and expressive writing and lean on peer response to develop polished pieces of writing. Students will live, eat, and work on campus, gaining firsthand experience living and learning in a college atmosphere while producing pieces ranging from short stories and poems to brief dramatic works and experiments in creative nonfiction.

14. Kenyon Review Summer Residential Young Writers Workshops

  • Session 1: June 23 – July 6

Location: Gambier, OH

Cost: $2,575

Every summer, talented writers from across the U.S. come to the picturesque campus of Kenyon College to participate in its Young Writers Workshop. In this multi-genre program, students experience what it’s like to be part of the literary community while bolstering their talents, discovering new strengths, and challenging themselves in the company of similarly interested peers. 

15. Kenyon Review Summer Online Young Writers Workshop

Dates: June 16 – 21

Location: Online

Application deadline: April 15

For students who can’t make it to Ohio for two weeks, the online workshop is a great alternative. With writing workshops for three and a half hours every day, it’s possible to take advantage of the program without relocating. In the evening, students will attend virtual open mics, social gatherings, and talks and readings by authors. 

16. BYU Young Authors Academy

Dates: July 8 – 13

Location: Provo, UT

At BYU’s Young Authors Academy, students speak with local and nationally-recognized authors, review each others’ writing, work with faculty in the BYU English department, stay in campus housing, take small-group writing courses, and meet other, like-minded peers. Students can choose from two electives over the program, including Creating Believable Tales and Villains, Flash Fiction, and Breaking News. 

17. Fir Acres Writing Workshop

Dates: June 23 – July 6

Location: Portland, OR

Application deadline: March 8

Cost: $3,700

Fir Acres writing program takes sixty rising 10th-12th graders from around the country and forms a community of enthusiastic writers on the campus of Lewis and Clark College. Students participate in daily workshops studying and writing under the guidance of Lewis and Clark’s faculty. They also meet and hear from visiting writers and work on their own poetry, fiction, and other writings. 

18. LMU’s Beginning Screenwriting Program 

Application deadline: March 15

Cost: $5,800 plus a $65 application fee

LMU’s School of Film and Television offers this program to students looking to enhance their writing skills and learn the elements of screenwriting. Students will work on structure, character development, dialogue, formatting, and genre while analyzing both classic and contemporary popular movies. They will learn from faculty members who are also professional screenwriters and leave the program with a short script. 

19. Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Writing and Culture Program 

Dates: June 22 – July 20

Cost: $6,800- $8,995

Over the weeks of the program, students at CMU will examine film, writing, design, art, and culture through various lenses. Learning will take place both on CMU’s campus and around the city of Pittsburgh. Students will produce a body of work perfect for a portfolio during the program under the tutelage of highly distinguished faculty members of the Department of English. Classes are held Monday through Friday, and students emerge with individualized feedback and guidance to enhance their creative pursuits. 

20. Boston University Summer Journalism Academy

  • On Campus: June 24 – July 12
  • Virtual Session 1: June 17 – 28
  • Virtual Session 2: July 1 – 12
  • Virtual Session 3: July 15 – 26

Application deadline: April 19 for in person; May 10 for remote

Location: Virtual or Boston, MA

Cost: $1500 to $6200

Taught by working journalists, BU’s Summer Journalism Academy gives high school students actual reporting assignments to give them a jump-start into the world of journalism. With both virtual and in-person options, there is something for everyone. There are scholarships and financial aid available for students demonstrating financial need. Students must be a rising 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grader in high school to attend. For applicants who get their materials in by March 8th, there is a $400 discount for in-person, and a $200 discount for virtual learning. 

21. The School of The New York Times’ Summer Academy

  • Term 1: June 9 – 21
  • Term 2: June 23 – July 5
  • Term 3: July 7 – 19
  • Term 4: July 21 – August 2

Location: New York City

Cost: $5,935 to $7,220

From DIY Filmmaking to A Million Lives in the Law and Pop Music as Art & Business, The School of the New York Times offers a wide range of fascinating classes to students interested in journalism. In the heart of New York City, students can spend several weeks learning from experienced journalists working in the field. Scholarship applications are only available until the end of February, so interested students should apply ASAP. 

Summer programs—and other extracurricular activities—can help set you apart, particularly at highly selective schools. CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator can tell you how colleges value your extracurricular activities and uses factors like grades and test scores (along with extracurriculars) to estimate your odds of acceptance at hundreds of schools across the country. It even provides insight into how you can improve your profile!

Though summer break provides you with the most time to explore your passions, it is not the only time. Colleges want to see that you are curious about the world around you and are constantly seeking new learning opportunities. 

Instead of participating in a program, you could create your own. Writing a book or mobilizing a team to solve an issue in your local community are examples of independent efforts that look impressive to colleges. 

You can show further initiative by taking on internships and paying jobs. Both demonstrate initiative, a career direction, and key life skills like time management and responsibility. Since most internships are reserved for college students and graduates, it can be a challenge to find opportunities for high school students. To help with the search, here is a list of summer internships for high school students. Looking for more summer programs? Take a look at this list of virtual opportunities for high school students.

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summer creative writing camps

Yale Young Writers' Workshop

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summer creative writing camps

About the Yale Young Writers' Workshop 

Virtual high school program: july 7 - 12, 2024.

Yale is excited to offer a one-week online summer writing workshop for 16 - 18 year old rising high school juniors, and seniors. We’re seeking bookish wordsmiths interested in adding to their writerly toolbox! Writers will generate and share their work in an intimate, non-competitive, online community.

Writers choose from one of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. We have capped the workshops at twelve writers per genre to ensure all voices are heard. Participants attend talks on the craft of writing, open mics, faculty and visiting author readings, student readings, and learn about careers in writing.

Each day starts with a craft talk from a visiting writer followed by a small group workshop for three hours in the afternoon. The craft talks expose writers to genres outside of their own. The workshop is a safe creative space to experiment, play, and develop storytelling skills. Students will generate new material and then read it back to the group for feedback with an eye for revision.

Participants will read one assigned book from a visiting writer prior to the start of the workshop. This will create a shared literature and allow students to investigate writing techniques from published work, and then have the opportunity to ask the author about their creative process.

Our faculty are gifted teachers and published writers. They will meet writers where they are and teach them skills to help them write their next story, essay, or poem. Our faculty may be the closest readers you’ve ever had. They will challenge writers to produce their best work.

Before You Begin the Program:

  • Your instructor will assign a short exercise for you to complete before the first workshop.
  • You’ll be assigned one book to read by a visiting writer. The writer will present and then visit with your genre group. Book assignments below.
  • Start writing now in your journal. Activate your muse in preparation for your workshop.

Guest Authors . Writers are required to read the book for their workshop but are welcome to read all visiting authors’ work.

Poetry Guest Author - Allison Joseph  Assigned Reading Confessions of a Barefaced Woman  (For Sean Forbes, Catherine Pierce and Summer Tate's workshops)

Fiction Guest Author - Jennifer McCauley  Assigned Reading When Trying to Return Home  (For Jotham Burrello, Kristin Bair, Sarah Darer Littman and Lara Ehrlich's workshops)

Graphic Forms Guest Author - Trung Le Capecchi-Nguyen  Assigned Reading The Magic Fish  (For Anne Thalheimer's workshop)

Non-Fiction Guest Author - Jane Wong Assigned Reading This Is the Place: Women Writing About Home  (For Catina Bacote’s workshop)

  • Application Opens: January 16, 2024
  • Application Deadline: April 1, 2024
  • Decisions Released: will be released on a Rolling Amissions Basis Every Week
  • Payment Due (to secure your spot): Within 2 weeks of Admission

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must be between 16 - 18 years old and a rising high school junior or senior.

Admission Process:

  • A writing sample is required. It needs to accompany your application for admission and must be uploaded electronically. Submit your writing sample as a Word document: 500 words, double-spaced in Times Roman, 12-point font, one-inch margins. Each page must include your name. Note genre of the submission: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry or Graphic Forms.
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation 

Refund Policy:

  • We will refund 75% for cancellation requests received by April 26, 2024, and 50% for cancellation requests received by May 3, 2024.   We will be unable to honor refund requests received after May 3, 2024.

Courses & Programs

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Creative Writing Academy

  • How to Apply

Summer 2024 Applications are CLOSED. Summer 2025 Applications will open in late Fall.

Transform your dreams, ideas, and stories into organized, compelling, creative written works with dynamic lectures in craft topics, workshop sessions with graduate student instructors, and insightful, productive feedback from your peers. This combination of instructional approaches will help you generate and polish a wealth of new poems, stories, and essays, and allow you to experiment with innovative forms in the field of creative writing. The Academy will also focus on the publishing and professionalization aspects of the industry, exploring what markets are available for your writing, what jobs are available to creative writers, funding opportunities for your work, undergraduate and graduate programs in writing, and how to get published. Topics for discussion will include literary form and targeted craft points, often in relation to social, political, and environmental themes. In addition, this week-long program will feature excursions to sites around Washington, D.C., including an exercise in ekphrastic writing at the National Gallery of Art and the chance to read your work aloud at Busboys and Poets, a famous D.C. literary hub.

Estimated Tuition:

Price includes tuition, housing, and meals. Commuter Student tuition is $2,625.

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How You'll Benefit

  • Participate in writing workshops
  • Awaken your powers of observation, imagination, and description
  • Learn concrete elements of the craft of writing in daily workshops
  • Attend readings from published authors, who will lead interactive classes and conduct group discussions
  • Work with Georgetown's expert creative writing faculty to bring out your most creative ideas
  • Read excerpts from award-winning works and use them to develop your own original works
  • Visit local monuments, world-renowned theaters, museums, and literary organizations
  • Take part in peer critiques and learn how to revise and refine your writing

Program Format & Subject Areas

As a student in the Creative Writing Academy, you'll spend your day immersed in a blend of classroom lectures, field trips, hands-on activities, and group discussions. Throughout the week, you'll have the opportunity to explore the following subject areas:

  • Personal prose
  • Literary history
  • Technique (story structure, character development, theme, description, dialogue)
  • Finding good ideas and turning them into polished pieces
  • Using great literature and art for inspiration

Headshot of Zeyneb Sekin

All in all, I fell in love with the program. I got to meet so many amazing people not only from the D.C. area but all around the country.

Headshot of Anthony DuPrau

Having the chance to experience once in a lifetime opportunities and getting to meet people from around the world made it so I got to really experience what college life was like.

Headshot of Trevor Dalton

My #SummerHoya experience was enriching, inspiring, and rewarding; if I could turn back the clock, I’d do it all over again.

Headshot of Nicole Lyon

It was amazing to be surrounded by such high caliber students and staff who were all encouraging and fabulous to work with. I took away many positive things from my week as a Summer Hoya.

Headshot of Grace Hermes

As I am filling out my college applications, I am able to think back to my memories from the summer and I am reassured that I am pursuing the right educational path.

Headshot of Jazzelle DeLaney

The program offers so much–from the off-site visits to the daily lectures and the on campus activities. The lectures were interesting, meeting new people was great and the off-site visits were interactive and intriguing.

Want to learn more?

Request information to find out the latest on the Summer Programs for High School Students.

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Writing Summer Camps for High School Students

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Specialties

The Emerging Writers Institute™  creative writing camp is a summer writing program for teens. Rising 10th-12th graders experience a unique curriculum designed to develop and support students’ imaginative writing across literary genres. Immersive workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry encourage students to challenge themselves technically and artistically as they discover their own literary voices. Through our intensive MFA-style workshops and engaging literary outings, EWI offers a rigorous and challenging writing experience for students. Supported by the guidance of experienced authors and instructors, young writers hone their craft in a collaborative environment. Students will learn through guided daily writing workshops, one-on-one instructor evaluations, group editing sessions, and creative presentations of their work. Our unique program lets young writers from around the world form and sustain literary friendships that can last a lifetime.  The program culminates in students presenting their work and having it published in our literary anthology.  

Note:  In order to attend the EWI, students must demonstrate their potential as writers by submitting a creative writing sample in any of the four major areas of focus. This program assumes that its students possess a significant understanding of the English language and are prepared to employ this familiarity in inspired and inventive ways. Students should be writing at or above grade level and be eager to continue to hone their literary skills and voice.  

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Education Unlimited offers both in-person and online options of its popular Emerging Writers Curriculum.

Online: online emerging writers 10-12 attendees may choose between three majors: fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.  students may repeat the course up to three times during the summer doing each of the three majors once.  the online courses are each one week in length. to learn more about the online version of this program, click here . in-person:  in-person emerging writers 10-12 courses are each two weeks in length and will be held at uc berkeley, stanford, and ucla in summer 2024.  during the course, students will explore all three majors (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry), but will select one major to focus on.  they will complete their final capstone work in this area.   please read below to find out more about our on-campus emerging writers program. .

Emerging Writers Institute creative writing camp is a two-week summer writing program for teens. Rising 10th-12th graders experience a unique curriculum designed to develop and support students’ imaginative writing across literary genres. This creative writing summer program encourages students to challenge themselves technically and artistically through guided daily writing workshops, one-on-one instructor evaluations, group editing sessions, and creative presentations of their work. Similar to our program for younger writers, students are challenged through small group seminars. In these seminars, and at daily writing workshops, students investigate the fundamentals of storytelling and discover how to read like writers. Writers will also read and experiment with new sub-genres in a safe, exploratory environment. Scheduled writing time and one-on-one instructor evaluations help students develop good writing habits that will serve them year-round. By the end of the two-week , students will share polished pieces for publication in our literary anthology.  Copies of the anthology will be mailed to families at the end of the summer. 

What makes our summer creative writing programs so distinctive?

With a curricular emphasis on expressive writing as a process rather than in rules or formulas - students will discover and refine their own voices

The inclusion of critical reading exercises as an essential tool for growth

Seminars to ready students' work for professional submission to youth publications, such as The Claremont Review, The Writer's Slate, Stone Soup, and Teen Ink

Specific Skill Development

This creative writing summer program encourages students to challenge themselves technically and artistically through guided daily writing workshops, one-on-one instructor evaluations, group editing sessions, and creative presentations of their work. Emphasis is placed on expressive writing as a process rather than in rules or formulas. Instructors consistently encourage students to discover and refine their own unique voices. We know that successful writers are also critical and voracious readers; as a result, the inclusion of reading exercises and analysis are woven into the program as an essential tool for growth.

Curriculum & Environment

Students have three blocks in the day. The first block is called Read Like a Writer; Write Like a Reader. They build skills, do generative writing exercises, read mentor texts, and practice with different types of voices and styles. The second block is called Genre Exploration where students learn about, read and try out the writing of different sub-genres, such as Science Fiction and Thriller. Finally, each day ends with Writers Block, where students work on their capstone piece, have one on one conferences with their instructor, and workshop their piece with peers.

This Year's Writers Blocks

In EWI, Students select a major focus area called a Writer’s Block. In each Writer’s Block, students read classic and contemporary examples of the genre, craft and hone their writing composition, and prepare to present their piece to an audience of readers and listeners.

  • Short and Sweet: Short Story Seminar (includes playwrighting) 
  • Well-Versed: Poetry Seminar
  • The Real Word: Nonfiction Seminar

For maximum options in summer 2024, this program will be offered in-person at West coast locations, as well as online!

To register for the Emerging Screenwriters Institute, please follow the below steps

  • Click "Apply Now" on the top right of this screen.
  • Follow the prompts to enter parent and student information on screens 1 and 2.
  • On screen 3, select the following options:
  • Camp Category: Emerging Writers Institute
  • Camp Name: Emerging Writers Institute 10-12
  • Camp Session: Select the Session you prefer
  • Camp Major: Select a Camp Major: Fiction/Non-Fiction/Poetry
  • Price Option: Select Online Camp, Extended Day Camp or Overnight Camp
Program Grades Location Start Date End Date Price Options Register

EWI 4

Click here for a downloadable information sheet. 

Don’t see a class you want in your time zone? Check other time zones to flexibly fit your needs!

9:00 am to 3:00 pm Includes a 1-hour lunch break plus shorter 10-15 min breaks
9:00 am to 12:00 pm Includes 10 min breaks as needed

*Poetry and Non-Fiction courses may run 11am to 5pm EST and 8-4pm PST in order to merge Pacific and Eastern time zone students.

*Schedule subject to change - Final schedule posted in Google Classroom the Wednesday prior to the start of class.

8:00 am Breakfast in the dining hall (overnight campers)
9-9:15 am Extended day camper check-in
9:15 am "Major: class (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or play-writing)
11:0 am Writing Workshop
12:30 pm Lunch in the dining hall (included for all campers)
1:45 pm Elective #1
3:15 am Elective #2
5:30 pm Dinner in the dining hall (included for all campers)
6:30 pm Group Seminar
8:00 pm Evening recreation activities
9:00 pm Extended day camper check-out
10:00 pm Floor check
10:30 pm Room check

Education Unlimited believes in small-group, immersive learning with subject matter experts and experienced teachers. We strive to provide industry-leading instruction to all of our students and hold all staff to the highest possible standards. Staff assignments vary by program and location. Some of our recent staff members for this program include:

Elizabeth Bull, MFA - Camp Director

Elizabeth Bull is a writer and filmmaker. Her writing has been published in various journals, including the Los Angeles Review of Books, H.O.W. Journal, Third Coast Magazine, and Gulf Coast; her work has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes.  Her involvement in television and film began at AMC Networks, where she worked in original series development during the creation of “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad.” In addition to writing and directing several short films, she co-wrote the feature film “Song of Sway Lake,” released in the fall of 2017. Elizabeth has also co-produced two feature films and a television series for Fuse.

Elizabeth received her Bachelor’s degree from the School of Theater, Film, and Television at the University of California Los Angeles. She also holds a Master in Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing (Fiction) from The New School in New York City.  In addition, she has studied directing at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design, and Technology in Dublin, Ireland on a Rotary International Fellowship.  She has taught writing at the University of Zadar in Croatia on a Fulbright Fellowship.  Elizabeth has been with Education Unlimited since 2010.

Patrick McHugh, MFA - Instructor

Patrick McHugh is a native Arizonan with a background in English literature, creative writing, and critical theory. He is a graduate of Arizona State University's Barrett Honors College with a degree in English literature. Patrick received his Master's degree in English literature from the University at Buffalo. Experienced in a wide variety of classroom settings, Patrick initially taught at SIAS International University in Henan, China before returning to Arizona. While in the states he has worked with EU he has taught creative writing at the Emerging Writers Institute for both middle school and high school students. Currently, Patrick is teaches in  English department at Grand Canyon University, with a focus on English Composition courses for freshman students. He is passionate about guiding each student using their own voices and talents, fostering unique reading and writing skills as well as empowering critical thinking. On a personal level, Patrick is a devoted music lover and performs as a clarinet player, drummer, and electronic composer. He also indulges his interests in contemporary art and 21st-century literature.

Ploy Pirapokin, MFA - Instructor

Ploy Pirapokin is a writer and instructor currently teaching Nonfiction for the Creative Nonfiction Foundation.  She is also an adjunct instructor for the University of Los Angeles Extension program and does freelance training for The Writer, a global brand language agency.  Ploy has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and English from the University of San Diego.  During her time at SFSU, Ploy lectured in Creative Writing and also worked as a Creative Writing Admissions Reader for the MFA and MA program.

Ploy’s own work has been featured in Tor.com, Apogee Journal, Entropy Magazine, the Bellingham Review, HYPHEN Magazine and more.  She has received multiple Pushcart Prize nominations for her work. She is a Writing by Writers Workshop at Tomales Bay fellow, a Community of Writers at Squaw Valley scholar, and was a Visiting Writer at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center.  She has been the recipient of grants and fellowships from the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Ragdale Foundation, the Anderson Center, the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, Kundiman and others.

Brett Shanley, PhD, MFA - Instructor

Brett Shanley is a writer and English lecturer who earned his PhD at Columbia University in New York City.  Prior to his doctoral work, Brett received his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing - Nonfiction from The New School in NYC.  In addition to his dissertation research, which looks at methods of promoting sincere engagement between undergraduate writers and the work that they produce, Brett lectures in advanced writing at Pace University.  Brett has been teaching in the classroom and at academic camps since 2012, and it was these experiences that inspired his dissertation topic. He has been an instructor with Education Unlimited since 2014, teaching both creative and academic writing.

In addition to his advanced degrees, Brett also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and German from University of Oregon.  In the rare moments that Brett is not working on his research or teaching, his favorite thing to do is enjoy time in New York City’s famed Central Park with his fiance and their dog Huxley.

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  • Elementary Camps

Great Summer Creative Writing Programs for High School Students

Immersive Summer Programs for Budding Writers

Summer is a terrific time for aspiring writers to focus on creative writing . Immersive programs give high schoolers the opportunity to develop writing skills, meet like-minded students, and gain an impressive line on their activities resumé. This list of excellent summer creative writing programs for high school students may offer just what the budding writers in your family need to make the most of their talents.

Emerson College Creative Writers Workshop

Emerson’s Creative Writers Workshop is a five-week program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors geared at developing their writing skills in a variety of media, including fiction, poetry, screenwriting, graphic novels, and magazine writing. Participants attend college-level writing classes exploring these genres in which they write and present their own work, create a final portfolio of their writing, contribute to the workshop’s anthology, and present a reading for family and friends. On-campus housing is available for the duration of the workshop.

Alfred University Creative Writing Camp

This summer writing program introduces rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to many different genres, including poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, and drama. Students read and discuss the work of established authors and participate in writing-intensive exercises and workshop sessions led by Alfred University faculty members. Campers stay in university housing and enjoy a variety of recreational activities outside of classes and workshops such as movie nights, games, and social gatherings. The program runs annually for five days at the end of June.

Sarah Lawrence College Summer Writers Workshop for High School Students

This program is a one-week, non-residential summer workshop for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors that explores the process of creative writing in a non-competitive, non-judgmental environment. Participants have the opportunity to attend small writing and theater workshops led by faculty and guest writers and theater artists, as well as attend and participate in readings. Classes are limited to 15 students with three faculty leaders per workshop to provide individual attention for each student.

Sewanee Young Writers Conference

This two-week residential program offered by The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, provides dedicated rising high school sophomore, junior, and senior creative writers an opportunity to develop and polish their writing skills. The conference includes workshops in playwriting, fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction led by celebrated professional writers as well as visiting writers whose works students analyze and discuss. Participants select one writing genre and spend their two weeks attending a small workshop dedicated to that genre, with opportunities for one-on-one contact with workshop leaders. Students also participate in lectures, readings, and discussions.

Emerging Writers Institute Creative Writing Camp

Allen Grove

Education Unlimited offers the Emerging Writers Institute creative writing camp each summer at Yale University , Stanford University , and UC Berkeley . This two-week residential program for rising 10th-12th graders includes daily workshops, evaluations, peer editing groups, and creative presentations designed to encourage students to challenge themselves as writers and hone their expressive writing process.

Each student chooses to major in the writing of either short stories, poetry, playwriting, or nonfiction. The bulk of their critical reading and writing exercises and workshopping is devoted to their selected major. Students may also attend afternoon workshops on nontraditional genres such as speechwriting, graphic novels, and advertising copy, as well as guest presentations by local authors and publishers.

Iowa Young Writers' Studio

The University of Iowa offers this two-week summer creative writing program for rising juniors, seniors, and college freshmen. Students choose one of three core courses in poetry, fiction, or creative writing (a more general course sampling from poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction). Within their course, they participate in seminar classes in which they read and analyze literary selections and workshops to create, share, and discuss their own writing. Also offered are large group writing exercises, inspirational outdoor writing excursions, and nightly readings by prominent published writers. Many of the program's teachers and counselors are graduates of the university's Iowa Writers' Workshop, one of the most prestigious creative writing graduate programs in the country.

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Camp Creative Writing Programs

Are you a developing young artist with a story to tell and a passion for expression? Do you love to write? Is it your dream to transport an audience to another world through the written word?

Interlochen Arts Camp is the destination for you. When you participate in one of our creative writing summer camps, you’ll learn techniques and tools of the trade from our gifted faculty members, meet incredible guest artists, and build friendships with students like you who will inspire you to reach your full potential.

In this fun and fast-paced environment, you will:

  • Learn from faculty and guest artists who have established writing careers
  • Enjoy all the benefits of a summer camp experience
  • Meet students from around the world who love to write

Creative Writing Camps

Interlochen Arts Camp offers summer programs in multiple focus areas in our Creative Writing Division: Creative Writing, Novel Writing, Performance Poetry, and Comics & Graphic Narratives. Select your desired program below to learn more.

Intermediate creative writers.

For Grades 6-8

Creative Writing Program

creative writing at interlochen arts camp

For Grades 9-12

Comics & Graphic Narratives Intensive (Visual Arts Division)

Novel Writing Intensive

Performance Poetry Intensive

Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Camp with a free digital viewbook

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In our free informational booklet, you'll learn more about: 

  • Each of our seven arts areas 
  • Various programs 
  • Renowned faculty 
  • A day in the life of a student 
  • How to apply and financial aid information 

Join us at Interlochen Arts Camp

Do what you love best (writing!) all day long—in the most beautiful place imaginable. Join us for a summer you'll never forget.

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  • Summer Academy Camps

Creative Writing: Worldbuilding

Kaitlin Bevis

Kaitlin Bevis spent her childhood curled up with a book and a pen. If the ending didn’t agree with her, she rewrote it. Because she’s always wanted to be a writer, she spent high school and college learning everything she could to achieve that goal. After graduating college with a BFA in English: Creative Writing, an MAT in English: Secondary Education, and an E.d.S in School Library Media, Kaitlin went on to write the bestselling Daughters of Zeus series. You can learn more about Kaitlin and her books at KaitlinBevis.com. This is Kaitlin’s seventh year as a Summer Academy instructor.

summer creative writing camps

Elizabeth Sadler

Elizabeth Sadler loves to read and write adventure novels with fantasy elements. She holds an M.A. in English Literature from George Mason University, as well as an M.F.A. in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University and has been published in New Myths and Separate Worlds. She currently resides in Athens, Georgia, where she teaches British Literature to unsuspecting seniors. This is Elizabeth’s fourth year as a Summer Academy Instructor.

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summer creative writing camps

In-Person & Online Camps For K-12 Students Creative Writing Camp

REGISTER TODAY

We live in a creative world where ideas, collaboration, and adaptability are a must–and writing is essential. So how do we prepare our children for their future? How do we ensure that they become thoughtful leaders for change, passionate learners, and curious thinkers we need to improve our world? Through Creative Writing Camp, young people discover the power within themselves – to create, innovate, and connect with others.  

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The Only Place Where Children Learn from Talented Educators & Writers

In addition to being accomplished educators working in classrooms year-round, many have Masters and Ph.D.s in writing and education and are published authors. Our instructors are experts at this, and they’re ready to help your child shine.

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How We Measure Up

For 20 years, Dr. Carl Scott of the University of St. Thomas has evaluated the success of the program and found students improved in writing skills, creativity and self-confidence.

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How Creativity Leads to Success

According to Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us about Raising Successful Children (Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff), what children most need for 21st-century learning are the 6Cs: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence.

Creative Writing Camp works because it’s where writing is an exploration. It’s where one day your child will create their own map to a planet they’ve just discovered, and the next day they’re writing the ending to a 3-act play with a group of friends. It’s where they’ll publish their first poem. It’s where they’ll begin to see what they can become. Whether they’re not sure how to get started or they already write a million pages a day, they’ll feel at home writing here. This is where the spark of invention begins.

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Register Today

Please read through the information below and view the embedded tutorial videos to make the process as smooth as possible.

The 3-step process for registering includes: Step 1 - Family Account setup Step 2 - Pre-registration application for your student(s) Step 3 - Registration.

If you completed Steps 1 and 2 during the Pre-registration period between Jan. 16-29, please proceed to Step 3. All others should start at Step 1.

Note: Completion of Steps 1 and 2 during the Pre-registration period does not guarantee your student(s) a place in camp.

A Family Account is required to register a student for our 2024 Creative Writing Camp. To register a student for camp, a parent/guardian must create a Family Account using their own name in order to successfully begin the pre-registration application process. Once you have set up your account, you will be able to add your student(s)/member(s) to the Family Account. You will be able to manage all members in your Family Account.

Note: If you created a Family Account when registering for a previous summer's CWC, please use your existing account.

Should you need step-by-step instructions, we have created a brief video tutorial to help guide you through the Family Account Set up. 

Video Tutorial - Create a Family Account

Video Tutorial - Manage Your Members

After setting up or logging into your Family Account, including adding student(s)/member(s) you plan to register for camp, you are now ready to complete the parent permissions application for each student. Cick “New Application” in the menu options of your Family Account, then “More Information” and “Apply Now.” You will now be able to “Start” CWC pre-registration for your student(s)/member(s). During the application process, there are six “To Do” pages to complete for each student. As you complete each page, you will see a green check mark next to each page to reflect your progress. To move to Step 3, Registration, you must complete all “To Do” items in order to submit the parent permissions application. Completing these “To Dos” will take approximately 10 minutes per student/member.

Before you begin Step 2: “Pre-registration”, you will need the following:

  • Medical Insurance Information
  • Emergency Contact Information
  • Contact Information for an alternate authorized person to pick up your student(s), if applicable.

Note: If registering for virtual camps, a unique email address is required for each student you plan to register.

Video Tutorial - Submitting Student Applications

Once you have successfully completed all six “To-Dos” in the Pre-Registration Application (Step 2) and they reflect “Complete,” you will be able to register and complete the payment process for your student(s).

Please use the following instructions to complete the registration process. Should it be helpful, you can download the Registration Instructions .

Registration Instructions

1.   Scroll down on this webpage to the listing of the Camps available.

2.   Select a camp, and this will take you to the cart. If you want to select an additional camp, click the Back button on your browser, or click “Keep Shopping” in the Cart.

3.   When you are finished selecting camp/s, click “Checkout.”

4.   If you have already completed pre-registration, log in under “I have a Family Account already.” If you haven’t already completed pre-registration, please go back up to “How to Set Up a Family Account – Step 1” above.

5.   At the cart screen, click on “Add/Remove Members” for a camp selection, and in the pop-up window select the student for that camp. Then click on “Enroll Members.” Repeat this step for additional camps selected, if any.

6.   If you are registering 2 or more students, the siblings discount will be automatically applied at the end of the checkout process. If it’s not automatically applied, please check "Apply a Discount" in the Cart, then select "SLC CWC Siblings" from the dropdown menu to apply the discount.

7.   Click on “Checkout.”

8.   Now, you will select the t-shirt size for your child/ren. Click on the plus sign on the far right of their name and then click on the pull-down menu to see the sizes. Select the size. Repeat this step for each student and click on “Continue Checkout.”

9.   Next, click on “View Members” for each camp to confirm you selected the correct student for the camp. Click on “Continue checkout.”

10.  Enter your credit card information and click “Continue.”

11.  Next, check your email for confirmation of your registration. Note: reception of email may take a few minutes.

Note: Completion of Pre-registration between Jan. 16-26 does not guarantee your student(s) place in camp.

Virtual Camp Single Student - $495

On-Campus Single Student - $525

Sibling Discount (Two or more) – 5% discount per student

The sibling discount will be applied automatically to your cart during Step 3: Registration. You must register two or more at the same time to be eligible for this discount.

Just Write It! Our signature camp experience for incoming K – 12th grade students, in-person and online

Jump into the magic of creative writing! This course offers an array of fun, interactive writing activities and customized exercises designed to help students develop their unique voices, broaden their imaginations, and boost their confidence as writers. With the help of professional writers and teachers, students will explore a range of poetry, prose, and creative nonfiction as they use their writing to investigate their worlds and examine issues that are important to them. During the week, students will peer review each other’s work, and receive feedback from their instructors. Students will share their creations at a celebration on the last day of camp and take home a portfolio of their collected work.

Magical Worlds (6th/7th) Do you enjoy folklore, stories with magical settings, characters with superhuman abilities? As far back as ancient times, people have lived by the phrase, “Life is what you make it so make the best of it.” In this playful course you will do just that—build your own world! Guided by your writing coaches you will learn the basics of worldbuilding and create, explore and develop your own original world. You will delve into narrative genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and superhero fiction as you explore writings with a fantastical edge. You will leave with the tools needed to help you create new worlds in a variety of genres.

Nature: A Writing Inspiration (6th/7th) “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts…. Rachel Carson

A wooded pass covered in freshly fallen leaves, or perhaps a thunderstorm rolling in through the evening sky. Nature has a way of capturing the eye, and inspiring those who gaze upon its natural beauty. Through this course students will have a chance to experience writing that centers nature as its inspiration. By using outside writing time as well as prompts and mentor text that show how other artists around the world have crafted writing for and inspired by the great outdoors, your young writer will be able to capture the beauty from their eyes while enjoying nature.

Focus on Fiction: Characters and Conflict (8th/9th) Dive deep into the heart of storytelling! This course is an exploration of the elements that breathe life into compelling narratives. Uncover the secrets of creating multi-dimensional characters with depth and authenticity, while also delving into the art of crafting engaging conflicts that drive your plot forward. Through a combination of insightful discussions, writing exercises, and constructive feedback, you will hone your skills in character development and conflict resolution—the tools you need to captivate readers and weave unforgettable tales!

Uncanny and Unreal: Adventures in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writing (8th/9th) Embark on a captivating journey into the extraordinary realms of science fiction and fantasy. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned fantasy writer, discover the secrets of crafting immersive worlds, creating compelling characters, and mastering intricate plots in speculative fiction with other fantasy fanatics. From the art of genre blending to developing your unique voice, this course offers a dynamic blend of writing exercises, workshops, and collaborative discussions, providing the tools and inspiration to bring your wildest imaginings to life on the page. Join us and unleash your creativity in the fantastical landscapes of the uncanny and unreal.

The Art of the Essay (10th/12th) The history of the essay finds its origins in the core Renaissance ideal of “rebirth.” This course will allow you to give “new life” to the art of essay writing by asking you to examine your personal story and connect it to a broader world of concepts and ideas. We’ll analyze this important and passionate literary form that will take your writing beyond familiar boundaries. We’ll experiment with fun, contemporary non-fiction forms like flash non-fiction, recipe writing, humor, and even lampoon to expand and sharpen your essay writing skills. Through the writing workshop model of peer review, you will work with your fellow writers to hone techniques and approaches, and you will leave with a portfolio of several completed essays.

Begin the registration process by finding your grade level and campus below. Please note camps often fill up quickly. You must complete checkout to secure your spot. If your desired camp is not visible, then it is currently at capacity.

Filter by grade:

Registration for Creative Writing Camp 2024 opens Monday, Jan 29! Sign up below to be the first to know when registration opens.

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Dates, Locations and Grade-levels for Creative Writing Camp 2024

Choose among five in-person camp locations, or an online option for campers anywhere!


12535 Perthshire Rd
Houston, TX 77024


2120 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77098


6100 Main St
Houston, TX 77005


3600 Yoakum Blvd
Houston, TX 77006


Canvas Online Learning Platform


335 Piney Point Rd
Houston, TX 77024

Map of CWC Locations

Frequently Asked Questions

For questions about Creative Writing Camp programming – Please leave a voice messagefor School Literacy and Culture at 713-348-5333 or Writer’s in the Schools at 713-523-3877. Your message will be answered as soon as possible. For technical help with registration, please contact 713-348-4803.

Seats may become available due to cancellations or the opening of new classes. Please check the website often to see if any seats have opened at a particular campus. Creative Writing Camp does not have a waitlist.

If you are enrolling your child in the 2024 Rice + WITS Creative Writing Camp, you have read and understand the following cancellation and refund policy:

A 10 percent processing fee will be subtracted from all refunds. Due to the high demand for courses, registrations are considered final 30 days before classes start. No refunds will be issued after these dates and credits will not be given for future classes. No refunds will be granted for participants who miss a portion of a program. Refund requests before the deadline must be made in writing to  [email protected] . Refunds for credit card payments will be processed as credits to the accounts from which they were paid and may not appear as a credit on your statement for up to four to six weeks. Refunds for enrollments paid by check take up to four to six weeks to be processed and mailed by the Rice University accounting office. There is a $30 charge for any check returned for insufficient funds.

If multiple children are registered and have received the sibling discount, and later one or more registrations are canceled so that only one child remains registered, the remaining child's registration will be adjusted to the full price, and a refund for the appropriate amount will be issued.

A limited number of scholarships are available based on financial need. Please make your request by emailing [email protected] and an application form will be sent to you. Submitting a scholarship application does not guarantee receiving a scholarship. Please note if your child was awarded a scholarship last summer, you are not eligible to apply for the upcoming summer.

After you create your Family Account, please save your credentials. To revisit your Family Account, you can save the link to login or click on the link directly from the Creative Writing Camp webpage. To access your account, use the login username and password credentials and follow the login instructions. If you no longer know or have access to your credentials, please follow the Forget Password instructions directly on the login page. GO TO FAMILY ACCOUNT

All classes will be team-taught with class sizes capped at approximately 20 students.

  • Health and safety protocols for each camp session will be dependent upon campus-based policies in effect at the time camp is offered.
  • Participating campers will be invited to bring basic supplies (paper, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers, small watercolor kits) for individual use throughout the week of camp.
  • Classes will be divided into age-level groupings that may include students from more than one grade level.  Based on enrollment, classes may include students from more than one grade level.
  • Creative writing and fine arts activities will be planned by highly qualified teacher/writer pairs and feature low staff-to-camper ratios.

Friend requests may be made in the student's Pre-registration application. Requests are not guaranteed but we will do our best to grant them.

Focus groups of professional writers and highly effective teachers have come together to craft this exciting online approach to Creative Writing Camp, which has received positive reviews from parents and students since its inception in 2020. Wherever possible, student experiences will draw upon our traditional camp model, but we will also embrace this opportunity to explore new approaches and think creatively. Join us as we explore just what is possible in a virtual environment!

All classes will be team-taught with class sizes capped at approximately 20 students. Classes will be divided into age-level groups:

  • Morning: 3rd–5th grade
  • Afternoon: 6th–8th and 9th–12th grade

Classes for younger students will include a combination of:

  • Live community-building activities
  • Live large and small group times that might include anything from the reading of a great children’s book as inspiration for creative writing to a virtual field trip
  • Live story dictation activities with a teacher and
  • “Center time” featuring pre-recorded activities and a wealth of independent art and extension projects to enjoy at your family’s convenience.

Classes for older students will include:

  • Live large and small group times
  • Live personalized consultation with experienced writers/teachers and
  • Independent pre-recorded activities and extension projects to enjoy at your family’s convenience.
  • All camp courses will utilize the Canvas learning platform. Each student will need a unique e-mail address to access the system. Emails are to be provided by the parents.
  • Students will also need a laptop, tablet or phone to access the course, but we recommend a laptop or tablet. The best user experience is achieved through the Google Chrome web browser. If using a tablet or phone, download the Canvas Student app to access the course.
  • Each student will need a notebook, journal, or folder with blank paper and writing implements such as pencils, pens, and markers.
  • Extension activities will utilize basic arts and crafts materials such as scissors, colored paper, glue, watercolors, etc. that students typically use at school. Parents will not be asked to buy specific art materials.
  •  All families will be asked to complete a “tech check” the week before their virtual camp session. Support staff will be available for assistance that day should families have any challenges logging into the system.
  • During “tech check” students will be able to “meet” their teachers as they view pre-recorded videos uploaded by the teachers and writers leading the course. Students will also be asked to record their own introductory video to share with their classmates.
  • “Tech check” will also provide an opportunity for parents to receive more detailed information regarding each class’s daily schedule, should they have a need for specifics.

Finally, should families have challenges with technology at any point during the camp experience, they will be able to connect directly with IT support staff via phone or e-mail. 713-348-4803 or [email protected]

Creative Writing Camp Partnership

Creative Writing Camp is a collaboration between Writers in the Schools and Rice University’s School Literacy and Culture and has inspired young writers for over 30 years. Our online and in-person camps deep dive into writing topics that hone creativity and prepare students for future success. With low student-teacher ratios and mentorship from professional writers, Creative Writing Camp offers a writer’s workshop experience!

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Ripe Fruit Writing

School of Creative Writing

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2024 ONE-WEEK CREATIVE WRITING SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEENS: MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS -

All camps are in-person with zoom option, discover your writing voice, a week of exploration, instruction, creativity & fun, winner:  best teen focused summer camps in san francisco, see review in bay area parent - camps for creative teens     , love to write join us feel blocked about writing join us.

Middle School and High School students: Come explore poetry, composition, fiction & personal stories!! Learn the six qualities it takes to be a great writer: perception, imagination, love of language, courage, compassion, and commitment. Put these qualities into immediate practice in a safe and intimate environment. Fire up your imagination! Experience encouragement, inspiration, and new friendships!!

AFTER THIS CAMP, YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO WORDS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME …This foundational training is designed to catalyze your inherent talents and catapult your writing to a new level of originality and impact. For more info See the  Ripe Fruit Experience

A FRUIT-ful Experience: Students Speak!

I learned the six most needed qualities of writing and I know these qualities will be SUPER helpful with writing in the future. It is an awesome camp!” Evelyn Kim, 11 ————– “It was fun! And I was able to get outside my shell!” Miranda Bustos, 13 – Middle School ————– “I love this camp. I liked all the fun exercises and how we paired up and met new people. I like that it’s really small so you don’t just feel like another kid. The snacks are great!” Sofia McDonald, 13 ————– “This camp has really made me a better writer, and has instilled in me very important values that I hadn’t had before, such as respect, trust,loyalty, and kindness.” Melissa Hua, 11 ————– I learned how to be more descriptive in my writing such as using all the senses and six qualities of writing with new vocabulary and how to use them. The collaborative poem was awesome.” Shinee Batsaikhan, 12 ————– I” learned how to “steal” words form poetry to expand my vocabulary. I loved looking at a piece of art and writing about it. The camp was perfect!” Hana Rudoff. 12 ————– “I learned that there is no good and bad writing. There are only words with energy. You always need the writing faith: you will always write what you need to write.” Cate Wang, 11 ————– “What I liked best were the fun exercises that helped us improve a certain writing skill.” Ava Elizabeth Jo, 13 ————– “I am in love with this camp!” Arianna Love, 13
I enjoyed writing different types of fiction and sharing important details with the group. It was fun discovering how each person had their ways of writing and I enjoyed hearing all of it. I feel like I’ve learned a lot of things the past week. From ways to improve your short stories to making poems out of fragments in free writing! As the school year starts, I’ll be sure to think back to the things I learned in camp. I’ve gotten so many ideas in my head, I don’t think it’ll be too hard to think of something to write about for a story. This experience was different from other experiences I’ve had because some of the things taught I’ve never done before. Such as the activity we did with cutting out fragments and arranging them into poems. Also the first thing we did, when we put all of our phrases together and made one poem. (I thought those were pretty fun) I loved meeting and gathering with the people there, and getting to know them. Overall, it was a fun and FRUIT-ful experience! NANCY LIU, will be a freshman at Lowell    8/2013

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Thank you for a great 2024 summer camps season!

Summer camps are offered in person at our Denver location at 3844 York St and virtually, Monday through Friday, throughout the summer.

summer creative writing camps

Half-Day and Full-Day Camps

We offer full-day in-person and virtual half-day camps for ages 8-18 from June through August. We have a wide array of workshop topics covering genres like fiction, poetry, scriptwriting, songwriting, and journalism. Our camps provide dedicated writing time, engaging exercises, and the personalized guidance of experienced, working writers. With only 6-12 campers per session, young writers receive individualized attention and thrive in a supportive, collaborative environment. More than just skill development, our camps foster confidence and a love for writing. 

summer creative writing camps

Middle School and High School Summer Writing Intensives

The Lighthouse Summer Writing Intensive is led by published and award-winning writers, and each workshop is designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing. During the week, young writers will work at length with a number of published instructors in a variety of genres and will leave camp with new knowledge about the craft of writing, at least one completed piece of work, and enthusiasm about pieces to come. Campers will be invited, but not required, to share a piece of writing in a public reading at the end of the week. Writers of all experience are welcome to apply!

summer creative writing camps

Policies and Procedures

See Lighthouse's Summer Camp policies and procedures below. If you have any questions, contact [email protected] .

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2024 Catalog

Explore all summer camp offerings through our 2024 catalog. We hope you join us this summer to solve puzzles, follow clues, and find hidden treasure; embody your literary heroes through improv to help you write well-rounded characters; play with speculative prompts to build complex and atypical characters and invent fascinating new worlds; find inspiration for your writing in the natural world; and so much more!

summer creative writing camps

UCLA Writing Project 2024 Summer Camps for Students

We at the UCLA Writing Project are excited to announce our 2024 summer programs for students entering grades 5-12 in fall 2024. This year we are pleased to offer two sessions for you to choose from, the first on campus, the second virtual.

Our promise:  We’ll continue to give students exquisite attention, and they’ll experience pleasure and joy as they find the best words to capture their thoughts.

summer creative writing camps

Just what will happen during the workshop activities for students enrolled in Crafting The Story – Grades 5-6 , Literary Adventures – Grades 7-8 , and College-Ready Writing – Grades 9-12 ? Simply put, students will grow dramatically as writers. They’ll expand their stylistic repertoires, focus on a particular genre—but try out several others.  They’ll draft short and long pieces and gain confidence as they develop their individual style.  By the end of the workshop time, students will think of themselves as writers—a big deal!

And what about the entering twelfth graders in the College Personal Essay workshop ? They meet for just 12 hours over a four-day period. And that’s the perfect amount of time for zeroing in on the challenging and exciting task at hand: showing in what ways their hard work has translated to insightful understandings and how their experiences have built character.

What else should you know?

Our teachers are all UCLA Writing Project fellows.  This means that they participated in our Invitational Writing Project , a leadership institute that gathers wonderful teachers of writing PK-University—to share their expertise through demonstration workshops, to refine their own writer’s craft, to pay good attention to social justice issues in schools and communities.  They are teachers who love to write and to guide young students to grow as thinkers, readers and writers.

More still:

  • All classes will offer students appreciation, support, structure—and fun!
  • The day will combine whole group class time, small group sharing with peers, individual writing time.
  • Those classes scheduled to be virtual will have synchronous and asynchronous components.
  • All students will also have time to interact with their teacher one-on-one.
  • Students in the two-week workshops will craft an anthology of selected writing. They will also receive a certificate commending their participation.

We hope to see you this summer!

Faye Peitzman, Ph.D. UCLA Writing Project Director

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Nancy Lee Sayre , Program Manager

Faye Peitzman , Director

Creative Writing Camp

Creative Work and Writing Skills

The creative writing summer camps introduces high school campers to poetry, stories, and essays through creative prompts and local nature explorations.

  • Revise creative work and hone writing skills in dynamic workshops
  • Learn about publishing your work
  • Enjoy a day trip to nearby museum
  • Perform your best work in a public reading to finish the week

Day Camp Details:

Dates Times Ages Cost
July 15-19, 2024 9 AM - 5 PM 14-18 Years $250

Interested in a Degree in English? Meet our English degrees and creative writing professor at Grace College a Christian College. Learn more.

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  • https://www.grace.edu/academics/academic-programs/academic-summer-camps/creative-writing-camp/

summer creative writing camps

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Young Writers' Camp (YWC)

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Teachers working with San Diego Area Writing Project share the belief that writing is a process. Young Writers' Camp engages students in that process and allows them to discover their own style, voice and potential. Our goal is that each young writer, regardless of skill level, has the time and space to experiment in a variety of genres while developing creativity and confidence.

Young Writers' Camp 2024

  • Young Writers in Nature
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Young Writers' Camp 5-day

Young writers' camp 10-day, virtual college essay, basic information, what is young writers' camp.

Young Writer's Camp is a 10-day summer program that inspires creative thinking and writing. Students explore writing styles and methods of self-expression with new friends.

Participating Young Writers:

  • are challenged to grow and build self-confidence as writers.
  • write in an environment designed to inspire creativity.
  • receive individual attention in small groups from SDAWP writing teachers.
  • meet and share writing in a multi-age classroom with young writers from throughout the county.
  • engage in process writing: drafting, writing, revising, editing and publishing.
  • publish and receive an anthology, including writing from each camper.
  • develop writing skills as tools for self-expression.

Who should attend?

Programs are offered for students entering grades 3rd-9th grade. Classes will be split up by grade level bands such as: 3-5, 5-7, 7-9.

Here is what parents have said before about our camps: 

"My daughter absolutely loved this camp. The positive encouragement, new friendships and creativity she found has sparked a fondness for writing that did not exist before."

"My son loved your camp! You have a great, enthusiastic staff and a super program. The works he created and brought home blew us away! I'm really proud of him and what he accomplished during your program. We are looking forward to doing it again next year."

"Initially, I thought she would be bored out of her mind. Every day when I picked her up she was happy and full of energy. I believe the creative writing experience positively impacted my child's mind."

"He had a blast! The first day he was excited to inform me that 'this is different from school and it is really cool.' And I saw him working on his writing after camp at home--during the summer--that shows how engaged he was! Thank you for such a wonderful experience."

Where will camp be held?

When will camp be held.

Young Writers' Camp 10-days is back this summer from July 8-19, 2024 on UC San Diego campus.

How do I register my child?

You can register for the 10-day camp by clicking this link: ucsdywc.eventbrite.com

How much does camp cost?

Registration cost for the YWC 10-day camp is $500 per camper. This includes all materials.  Registration costs for all SDAWP camps include a $50 non-refundable processing fee.

Are there scholarships available for camp?

A limited number of partial scholarships are available for these programs. Please email our office at sdawp.ucsd.edu to see if your family qualifies for a need-based scholarship. Click here to access this summer's Scholarship Application. 

SDAWP's COPPA Statement

SDAWP and YWC cares about your child's privacy and safety. View COPPA Statement (Word file) . 

The San Diego Area Writing Project at UCSD recognizes that writing is a catalyst for the broad expression of ideas and opinions. We consider written expression by participants in our programs to be an opportunity for further dialogue and discussion. Teachers facilitating our programs make every effort to provide an environment that allows for all opinions and ideas to be shared, within the context of appropriate audience.

San Diego Area Writing Project (SDAWP)

  • Young Writers' Camp 10 day
  • College Essay
  • Young Writers' Camp 5 day

summer creative writing camps

The Researched Memoir with Melissa Febos

In four weekly sessions, bestselling memoirist and essayist Melissa Febos will lead participants through the stages of writing a researched memoir from conception to publication.

summer creative writing camps

The Short Story Toolkit: Four Lessons on Form, Content, and Brevity with Rebecca Makkai

Writer and StoryStudio Artistic Director Rebecca Makkai presents four online lectures on the craft of the short story, with discussions of drafting, revision, and publication.

summer creative writing camps

What I Really Mean to Say: Monologue, Liveness, and Honesty with Connor Shioshita Pickett

In this workshop, students will write and perform personal essays in the style of a live-lit or variety-hour show. Through a combination of in-class exercises and writing homework, we will create a number of shorter works and then a final 3-5 minute monologue.

SINGLE SESSION

summer creative writing camps

PJ Seminar: Founded in Truth, Realized By Imagination – A Master Class on Poetic Craft in Fiction with JoAnna Novak

This master class will focus on poetic elements like imagery, figurative language, repetition, and others, investigating how these writers incorporate them into narratives.

summer creative writing camps

Creative Nonfiction Series: Turning Your Trips into Tales – The Art of Travel Writing with Suzanne Roberts

Have you ever wondered how to become a travel writer? If so, this generative workshop will help you write about your journeys and adventures, past and future.

summer creative writing camps

PJ Seminar: Revision: The Sequel! with Peter Ho Davies

In this class we’ll draw the act of revision into the light, calling on examples from life, literature and pop culture, as well as offering a range of strategies for how to re-see re-vision.

MASTER CLASSES

summer creative writing camps

PJ Seminar: Maintaining Discovery: A Master Class on Revision as an Act of Autonomy with Marie-Helene Bertino

This nuts-and-bolts PJ Seminar will offer practical, guiding questions to help writers move toward a better understanding of how to maintain discovery during revision.

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summer creative writing camps

YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS

Online & In-Person for Summer 2024

StoryStudio is proud to offer multiple week-long writing workshops for young scribes. With our talented instructors, young writers can expect to learn elements of writing, build friendships and community with fellow peers, and get feedback on their creative works. Check out our different sessions, a mix of online and in-person, and covering grades 5 through 12.

Please subscribe to our Youth Newsletter to get first updates on camp information.

5th – 8th Graders Online

June 24 – 28, 2024 10am – 12pm CT

For 2024, we’re pleased to welcome back instructor Zac Ginsburg for this week-long creative writing camp.

Price: $325

7th – 11th: The World’s a Vast Stage Writing & Performing IN PERSON

June 24 – 28, 2024 9am – 12pm CT

We’re pleased to introduce Mike Zapata to the Studio for this in person writing and performance-based camp.

9th – 12th Graders IN PERSON

July 8 – 12, 2024 9am – 12pm CT

For 2024, we’re pleased to introduce Kris Gevorgyan to the Studio for this in person high school level camp.

7th – 11th: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Online

July 22 – 26, 2024 10am – 12pm CT

Instructor Zac Ginsburg returns for this genre-specific camp for writers who want to build their own worlds.

6th – 8th: Fiction IN PERSON

July 22 – 26, 2024 9am – 12pm CT

Instructor Denise Santomauro returns for this genre-specific camp for in person camp for middle-schoolers.

StoryStudio is pleased to offer full scholarships to students who are unable to meet the tuition requirements. If your child would like to apply for a scholarship, please ask them to fill out this form.

Want to Donate?

Are you interested in donating to our Summer Camp Scholarship Fund? Help students like Amy and other young writers participate in a week full of creative writing and community building. All donations go directly to funding scholarship spots in all of our summer camps.

summer creative writing camps

PREVIOUS CAMP PHOTOS

summer creative writing camps

creative writing workshops & community

Summer at The Writers Circle

Summer creative writing intensive for teens who love to write wordsmash mini-camps for rising 3rd-7th graders.

plus plenty of adult classes, too!

Summer Creative Writing Intensives

The 2024 summer creative writing intensives were amazing.

We are preparing our annual photo recap so you can peek into the fun and creativity we shared this summer.

Our premiere program for teens who LOVE to write will be held at Drew University next summer.  We had another fantastic season full of inspiring new workshops, returning favorites, and all the wild Wednesday Literary Adventures that make this program the highlight of The Writers Circle’s year.

Summer 2025 registration will open in late 2024. Here are the tentative dates, with more details to come:

July 14-18 ~ July 21-25 ~ July 28-August 1

Writing Daily, 9:00 AM-3:30 PM ~ Join us for one, two or all three weeks ~

Join our contact list to be the first to hear when registration opens and to take advantage of Early Bird Pricing .

If your Teen loves to write, The Writers Circle is the perfect place to hone their craft in a generous, creative environment.

We are thrilled to be back on campus at drew university  .

For teens who love to write, The Writers Circle’s Summer Creative Writing Intensive is the perfect place to hone their craft. Students will develop their voices and writing ideas in a generous, creative environment with professional authors as instructors. Each week they’ll choose from two different genres to study, always including Elements of Fiction and Poetry, among others. They’ll focus on their own writing projects as well as new work inspired by creative exercises and prompts. They’ll receive supportive, constructive feedback from instructors and peers. Literary inter-activities and adventures, and a reading on Friday will round out the week. They’ll also have the chance to submit their work for publication in The Writers Circle’s online journal.

summer creative writing camps

See the fun and creativity of past summers in our Summer Intensive Photo Recaps:

2023 Recap | 2022 Recap | 2021 Recap | 2020 Recap | 2019 Recap | 2018 Recap | 2017 Recap | 2016 Recap

Every summer, students:

  • work with professional authors to develop their voices and writing ideas
  • choose two different genres to focus on each week
  • work on their own writing projects and get personal editorial feedback
  • get supportive, constructive writing critique from instructors and peers
  • submit and publish work in The Writers Circle’s  online journal
  • spend time examining the writing of peers and masters

Plus they meet and work with like-minded young writers who share their passion!

summer creative writing camps

A writer’s day at TWC’s Summer Intensive:*

  • 9:00-9:20 Writing Warm-ups (Physical, literary and creative)
  • 9:20-11:00 – Genre #1 workshop with a published author
  • 11:00-12:30 – Genre #2 workshop with a published author
  • 12:30-1:30 – Brown bag lunch and time to move and socialize
  • 1:30-2:30 – Free writing and editorial conferences with TWC Directors and Instructors
  • 2:30-3:30 – Group critique and literary activities, plus a Friday Reading for family and friends
  • 3:30 – Pack-up and Pick-up

The program is capped by a student reading each Friday afternoon .

*Schedule based on in-person attendance. Subject to change.

 wordsmash, creative writing mini-camps for rising 3rd-7th graders ~ in-person in new jersey and virtual options for kids farther away ~, summer 2025 registration will open in early 2025.

summer creative writing camps

Our two-hour per afternoon, week-long program is chock-full of writing games, wacky prompts, and time to sink into a favorite book just to read! Seasoned writers will be challenged by story starters unlike anything they’ve seen in school. Reluctant writers will find TWC’s interactive games and prompts an irresistible invitation to start creating. Our collaborative, energetic environment will lay the foundation for kids to let loose and let the words flow. Let WordSMASH ! keep writing and reading alive for your kids this summer!

summer creative writing camps

(Grouped for “rising” 3rd-5th graders and 6th-7th graders. Register for the group based on the grade your student will be in starting in September.)

PRAISE FOR OUR IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL SESSIONS:

  • “WordSMASH and TWC are the best places for those who love writing! My boys had fun in class. They looked forward to going to classes every day.”
  • “ My first grader looked forward to the class everyday. Even after the session, he continues to write and asks us to give him writing prompts like his teacher did. “
  • “ Every day he was laughing and learning! “
  • “My daughter smiled logging in and was excited to share what she did when logging out!”
  • “Thank you for providing a nurturing and creative environment for my son to thrive in.”
  • “My daughter was very excited about the writing she did in the class and has been motivated to continue working on it. “
  • “The games and activities inspired our daughter to write, be creative and be proud of her work.”
  • “She wasn’t very excited about the class in the beginning but things improved as she gained confidence by writing better.”
  • “She was sad when the class ended. She wanted it to go on for the whole summer!”
  • “She was excited each day over what she was working on, what was coming up next, etc. She also learned a lot!”
  • “My children enjoyed all the classes and were asking for more sessions. My son is now motivated to write more.”

| TWC’s Freedom of Expression Policy |

Read Their Words!

The writers circle journal, what they thought about the summer intensives:, we’ll be back next summer, see you in 2024, twc new jersey locations & online classes, too, find out more:.

The Writers Circle reserves the right to shift any in-person or hybrid program to virtual instruction based on the health and safety recommendations of the CDC, WHO, the State of New Jersey, or other authorities or involved parties.

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summer creative writing camps

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summer creative writing camps

Young writers play with their craft at A&M-Corpus Christi camp

On Ward Island this week, underwater skeletons wiped out humanity, a 10-year-old prepared for a mission to the moon and two detectives fell in love while solving a murder — at least in the minds of middle school summer camp participants.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi hosted writing camps for elementary, middle and high school students this week, with a fresh batch of campers expected next week to try their hand at writing stories and poems.

The camps are an environment where students can experiment with their craft and dabble in different genres, an opportunity they may not have in traditional school, camp director Jennifer Monreal said.

On Friday afternoon, the middle and high school camps closed out the first week of camp with open mic events, sharing their work with friends and family. The middle school campers also performed a short play they wrote.

Zinachidi Mbadugha, a soon-to-be fifth-grader at Windsor Park Elementary, was the brain behind the story about the moon mission, which she read during the event.

"This might sound very awkward, but I was eating dehydrated muffins for breakfast," she read as the audience laughed along to her jokes. "You heard it right — dry, tasteless goop mashed up into a toothpaste-like tube. As a drink, I was drinking water that had been urinated out of many people and recycled by a filtration system developed by NASA. I still don't think it's actually clean."

She was inspired by a trip to NASA with her brother, Chidera Mbadugha, a fellow camper, who wrote a story about a lost dragon named Max.

"Max's parents were expecting to see Max an hour ago," he read. "There was a search and rescue to find Max. Where could he be? They had only sent him to get water, which was two flaps away. One flap equals one mile."

Zinachidi Mbadugha is a repeat camper, having attended the camp for three summers.

"I like that there's a way to express myself," Zinachidi Mbadugha said. "It's like a really cool experience and I also like using poetry to express myself and writing novels. It's fun."

Camper Mariah Delk, an incoming seventh-grader at Baker Middle School, said that writing helps her look inward. Delk's story was about detectives, inspired by a series of murder mysteries.

"I mainly like how it makes you actually look into yourself deeper as a person to find what you want to write about," Delk said.

Delk and Priya McDermott, a seventh-grader from San Antonio, have also attended the camp for multiple years.

"In middle school, not a lot of kids take time to sit down and read, so going to a camp and having all these other kids who do the same thing — even if their parents forced them to come here — it's a nice place to be," McDermott said.

McDermott's story about a possessed radio was inspired by music and art.

"Writing is something you can lean on if you have intense emotions you can let out in writing," McDermott said. "It's also very nice to escape from reality."

In another room on campus, high school campers were closing out the week by reading their work as well.

"I've been obsessed with writing since freshman year," said Ricardo Narvaez, an incoming senior at Veterans Memorial High School. "It's the act of creation essentially. If that isn't exhilarating, and almost mystical, I don't know what is."

Aalish Torres, an incoming freshman at Orange Grove High School, read a piece about a peacock who lives on a farm with only chickens.

"Feathers and glamour, it's not enough to be heard," Torres read. "He just wants a friend."

Nura Abreu, a junior, came to the camp from the Dominican Republic. Abreu has family in Corpus Christi and wanted to see the university.

Abreu told the story of a town with a cloudless blue sky and bright green grass that isn't as it appears. The grass is painted green and the town puts up an artificial front to hide its flaws.

"Wonder why the sky's cloudless?" Abreu read. "It because it hasn't rained in months."

Narvaez, who was attending the camp for his second year, said that the camp is a good opportunity to practice writing.

"That's how you get the skills necessary to really enjoy yourself and really express yourself," Narvaez said.

Del Mar College sees opportunity in state overhaul of community college funding

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camp wandawega

The Summer Camp Aesthetic Is a Vibe—Here's How to Master It At Home

You can make the nostalgia last.

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

I’m not alone in my love for summer camp-inspired interiors: Nancy Meyers’s 1998 remake of The Parent Trap , starring Lindsay Lohan, has launched a thousand blog posts about how to copy the Camp Walden look in your home (and yes, I clicked on those posts). Professional designers are equally enchanted: “Camp aesthetic is so appealing because it reminds us of summer and youth and nostalgia and simpler times,” Portland, Oregon–based designer Max Humphrey , the author of Lodge: An Indoorsy Tour Of America’s National Parks , explains. “Camp is a place and shared experience that connects us across generations and zip codes,” Tereasa Surratt, a co-owner and creator of Camp Wandawega , a resort and event space in Wisconsin that is a former campground, adds. For interior designer Leanne Ford , the appeal lies in the materials and the setting. “ My summer camp had massive stone fireplaces and beautiful, aged log cabin walls, with large panels of windows that looked out at the most wonderful views. I think it was these kinds of things that stuck with me—inspiring me as a child and creating the kind of environment that opens up my creative mind even to this day.”

summer camp inspired nook

Wanting to break down the elements of classic summer camp style, I asked these design experts about what exactly makes it so appealing. They were generous enough to share their thoughts, along with strategies on how to get the look at home. “You can evoke those feelings through your decor. It’s also the type of aesthetic that you can do in big ways or in little ways, depending on your commitment to summer camp vibes,” Humphrey says. Here’s how to weave a little bit of that summertime spirit into your favorite spaces.

tent

Bring the Outdoors In

All of the pros I talked to used this exact phrase when asked how to capture the feeling of summer camp. “This can be literal just with outdoor elements, like plants or wood furniture, or more figurative elements like botanical-inspired wallpapers and fabrics,” Humphrey says. “Start with materials and things that you can literally find in the space right outside of your home,” Ford, who has often cited her childhood summer camp as a source of inspiration , suggests. Ford recommends foraging for branches in your backyard and then popping them into a vase or collecting beautiful rocks and filling your bowls with them. “You’ll get that same sense of being grounded in your home that you do when you are out in nature.”

Let Mother Nature Dictate the Materials You Use

Follow the same ethos when renovating a space you want to embody the camp aesthetic. “When sourcing materials for your project, look for ones that you would find in nature,” Ford says. “For example, opt for a roman clay or limewash finish instead of paint on your drywall, or create a fireplace hearth from river rocks.”

deer valley folk fest

Start with a Neutral Foundation

Ford suggests sticking to muted, natural tones, but she says, “Don’t forget to layer. I promise you, a monochromatic space does not have to feel stark. Use it as a blank canvas and start layering the life into it with rugs, lighting, blankets, art, branches, etc.”

Layer in Camp-Inspired Colors

“Summer camp definitely has a color palette that people can picture without ever having been: forest greens, gold, that perfect camp red color, and browns,” Humphrey says. “Using color as a design element means you can do it in non-camp ways but still get the point across.”

bunk beds

Bring on Secondhand Finds…

All of the experts felt vintage elements were essential to successful camp-inspired décor. “Elements sourced from antiques shops lend an air of authenticity and storied past, grounding your space in a sense of enduring charm,” Krista Stokes, senior creative director at Atlantic Hospitality , whose hotels tap into Maine’s particular brand of camp core, explains.

…Especially Vintage Photographs

“I can’t think of a single design element that holds more emotional power to connect you to your childhood memories,” Surratt, who collects antique summer camp photo albums, says. “They are time transporters and conversation starters.” She suggests framing some, leaving out whole albums, tucking a few into pages of coffee table books to fall out and be discovered, pinning them to a bulletin board or the inside of a cupboard door, and placing them under glass on a dresser top.

hayley mills

Leave the Wood Alone

“You don’t have to paint the wood walls!” Ford, who is herself famous for painting almost everything white, says. If you’re aiming for the camp-inspired style, natural wood is a welcome element.

Fill the Walls with Wonky Accessories

“Get creative with your décor—use oars, arts and crafts, wonky ceramics, twigs, rocks, sails,” Ford suggests. At Camp Wandawega you’ll find arrows and oars in every corner, including hung on walls in intricate patterns, but as Surratt notes, “They aren’t just for decoration: Our visitors use them.” Humphrey suggests using retro coolers as case pieces and accessorizing with vintage thermoses, lanterns, and lunch boxes.

rackets in camp

Stock Up on Classic Wool Blankets

“Camp blankets are the most functional thing you can add to any space to say camp , but more important, they’re a necessity,” Surratt says. They can be found at Camp Wandawega wrapped around visitors during summer campfires and on every bed in fall and winter. “Nobody makes wool blankets better than Pendleton and Faribault, two historic brands,” she adds.

Add Texture

“Texture, texture, texture!” Ford extols. It’s essential to the camp aesthetic. “I am always looking for ways to bring earth (and therefore soul) into a space. Texture is how I do it. Mix wood, concrete, tile, brass, etc. like I did in this kitchen [seen above] for the ultimate cozy, lived in vibe.”

a kitchen with wood cabinets

Embrace the Mix

“It doesn’t have to match,” Stokes says. “Camp design is all about patterns and colors that evoke feelings of a childhood summer or cozy winter nights: plaid, gingham, stripes.” Surratt adds, “The thing about the camp aesthetic is that it’s the culmination of decades of campers, each with their own objects, tools, badges that collectively have become the camp aesthetic. A 1930s felt pennant above a headboard next to a 1950s blanket across a side chair, next to a modern craft camp pottery project can all work together if they’re authentic.”

Avoid Prop Decor

Camp wandawega for makers collective set cream.

Camp Wandawega For Makers Collective Set Cream

While both Humphrey and Surratt have worked with brands to create camp-inspired home accessories, like wallpaper designed by Humphrey and bedding by Surratt (the new collection launched in Target on August 1), the pros all cautioned against buying anything that’s a facsimile of a vintage item. “Whenever possible, scour Etsy and eBay for vintage originals before buying new knockoffs. The end result will add more substance and soul to your rooms,” Surratt advises.

a tentlike living room with a couch and a table and cushions

Be a Little Kitschy

“Camp aesthetic calls for a blend of bespoke furnishings, antique finds, and sometimes, an item or two with a dash of kitsch. In camp design,” says Stokes. “There is always room for silliness, magic, and joy.” Just don’t overdo it on the pennants, okay?

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  1. Write in the Middle Creative Writing Summer Camp

    summer creative writing camps

  2. Jul 10

    summer creative writing camps

  3. Badgerdog Creative Writing Camps

    summer creative writing camps

  4. Creative Writing Summer Camp by Lekha Writing Center

    summer creative writing camps

  5. Free Creative Writing Camp for Kids

    summer creative writing camps

  6. Youth Creative Writing Summer Camps

    summer creative writing camps

COMMENTS

  1. 21 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in 2024

    21 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students. 1. Princeton Summer Journalism Program. Dates: Classes begin mid July, residential portion is July 26 - August 5. Location: Online and in Princeton, NJ. Application deadline: February 15. Cost: Free.

  2. Young Writers

    Summer Writing Camps. Lighthouse's Young Writers Camps are led by published and award-winning writers, and each workshop is designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing in young writers aged 8 to 18. Registration for half-day camp and applications for full-day camp will open on January 1, 2019.

  3. Yale Young Writers' Workshop

    Virtual High School Program: July 7 - 12, 2024. Yale is excited to offer a one-week online summer writing workshop for 16 - 18 year old rising high school juniors, and seniors. We're seeking bookish wordsmiths interested in adding to their writerly toolbox! Writers will generate and share their work in an intimate, non-competitive, online ...

  4. Summer Programs

    Summer Programs. The summer is an exciting time at Writopia Lab! We offer Half-Day and Full-Day programs that meet Monday through Friday. ... Offerings include Creative Writing, Essay Writing, College Essay, Language Play (for ages 4-6), Screenwriting, Dungeons and Dragons, and more! Click here to see Half-Day Summer workshops on the schedule!

  5. Creative Writing Academy

    Creative Writing Academy. Summer 2024 Applications are CLOSED. Summer 2025 Applications will open in late Fall. Transform your dreams, ideas, and stories into organized, compelling, creative written works with dynamic lectures in craft topics, workshop sessions with graduate student instructors, and insightful, productive feedback from your peers.

  6. Creative Writing Summer Program for High School Students

    During Interlochen's writing camp, you'll focus intensively on two genres of creative writing. Genre workshops include: In addition to exploring the fundamentals of your chosen genres, you'll discuss a wide range of published works, and craft your own pieces via in-class exercises and roundtable workshops with a class of dedicated peers. You ...

  7. Writing Summer Camps for High School Students

    The Emerging Writers Institute™ creative writing camp is a summer writing program for teens. Rising 10th-12th graders experience a unique curriculum designed to develop and support students' imaginative writing across literary genres. Immersive workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry encourage students to challenge themselves ...

  8. Top Summer Creative Writing Programs for High Schoolers

    Wikimedia Commons. Emerson's Creative Writers Workshop is a five-week program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors geared at developing their writing skills in a variety of media, including fiction, poetry, screenwriting, graphic novels, and magazine writing. Participants attend college-level writing classes exploring these ...

  9. Creative Writing Camps

    Interlochen Arts Camp is the destination for you. When you participate in one of our creative writing summer camps, you'll learn techniques and tools of the trade from our gifted faculty members, meet incredible guest artists, and build friendships with students like you who will inspire you to reach your full potential.

  10. Creative Writing 2 Summer Youth Camp at UGA

    Cost: Day Camp - $500. Residential Camp - $1175. Course Number: 1779-001. Prerequisites: To take Creative Writing 2, campers must first take our Creative Writing 1 camp. Creative Writing 2 campers must submit a 2000-to-5000-word sample to [email protected] two weeks before camp begins for the instructors to review. Instructor:

  11. Creative Writing: Worldbuilding Summer Youth Camp at UGA

    Summer Academy Camps; Creative Writing: Worldbuilding; Creative Writing: Worldbuilding. Storytelling. Embark on a literary odyssey where the boundaries of reality dissolve, and the art of world-building takes center stage! Whether your narrative unfolds in realms beyond our own or is rooted in the familiar, the key to setting your story apart ...

  12. Creative Writing Camp

    For questions about Creative Writing Camp programming - Please leave a voice messagefor School Literacy and Culture at 713-348-5333 or Writer's in the Schools at 713-523-3877. Your message will be answered as soon as possible. For technical help with registration, please contact 713-348-4803.

  13. 2024 One-week Creative Writing Summer Camps for Teens: Middle School

    ONE-WEEK CREATIVE WRITING SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEENS - High School II (in-person with zoom option) DATE: July 29 - Aug 2, 2024: TIME: M-F 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM FEE: $295 Registration requires $100 non-refundable deposit. Balance due by first day of camp. (Payment plans available.) DEPOSIT: $100: LOCATION: Greenhouse of the Imagination Noe Valley, San ...

  14. Young Writers Summer Camp

    Young Writers Summer Camp. Thank you for a great 2024 summer camps season! Summer camps are offered in person at our Denver location at 3844 York St and virtually, Monday through Friday, throughout the summer. Lighthouse's Young Writers Program camps are led by published and award-winning writers, and each workshop is designed to foster ...

  15. UCLA Writing Project Summer Camps for Students

    2024 Summer Camps for Students. We at the UCLA Writing Project are excited to announce our 2024 summer programs for students entering grades 5-12 in fall 2024. This year we are pleased to offer two sessions for you to choose from, the first on campus, the second virtual. Our promise: We'll continue to give students exquisite attention, and ...

  16. Creative Writing Camp

    The creative writing summer camps introduces high school campers to poetry, stories, and essays through creative prompts and local nature explorations. Revise creative work and hone writing skills in dynamic workshops. Learn about publishing your work. Enjoy a day trip to nearby museum.

  17. Young Writer's Camp

    Young Writer's Camp is a 10-day summer program that inspires creative thinking and writing. Students explore writing styles and methods of self-expression with new friends. are challenged to grow and build self-confidence as writers. write in an environment designed to inspire creativity. receive individual attention in small groups from SDAWP ...

  18. Youth Creative Writing Summer Camps

    Please subscribe to our Youth Newsletter to get first updates on camp information. 5th - 8th Graders. Online. June 24 - 28, 2024. 10am - 12pm CT. For 2024, we're pleased to welcome back instructor Zac Ginsburg for this week-long creative writing camp. Price: $325. SOLD OUT. 7th - 11th: The World's a Vast Stage.

  19. Summer at The Writers Circle

    spend time examining the writing of peers and masters. Plus they meet and work with like-minded young writers who share their passion! A writer's day at TWC's Summer Intensive:*. 9:00-9:20 Writing Warm-ups (Physical, literary and creative) 9:20-11:00 - Genre #1 workshop with a published author. 11:00-12:30 - Genre #2 workshop with a ...

  20. A&M-Corpus Christi writing camp offers students outlet for creativity

    Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi hosted writing camps for elementary, middle and high school students this week, with a fresh batch of campers expected next week to try their hand at writing ...

  21. The Summer Camp Aesthetic Is a Vibe. Here's How to Master It At Home

    "Summer camp definitely has a color palette that people can picture without ever having been: forest greens, gold, that perfect camp red color, and browns," Humphrey says. ... "Get creative ...

  22. 227th Motorised Rifle Division

    227th Motorised Rifle Division. 227-я мотострелковая дивизия. Military Unit: 31626. Activated 1978 in Omsk (Svetlyy), Omsk Oblast, as a mobilisation division. The division was unmanned, except for some pre-assigned officers, serving with the parent division ( 56th Training Motorised Rifle Division ). Organisation 1987:

  23. 261st Reserve Motorised Rifle Division

    261st Reserve Motorised Rifle Division. 261-я запасная мотострелковая дивизия. Activated 1980 in Omsk, Omsk Oblast, as a mobilisation division. Disbanded 1987. The division was maintained as a Mobilisation Division (US terms: Mobilisation Division) - manning was 0%. Equipment set present, older types, substantial ...

  24. Omsk Oblast

    Omsk Oblast (Russian: О́мская о́бласть OHM-skuh-yuh OH-blust’) is a region in Western Siberia, which borders Tyumen Oblast to the northwest, Tomsk Oblast to the northeast, Novosibirsk Oblast to the east, and Kazakhstan to the south.

  25. THE 30 BEST Places to Visit in Omsk (UPDATED 2024)

    1. Monument to the Plumber Stepanych. 353. Monuments & Statues. By Annedorte. A plumber coming out of a manhole in the middle of the street. Well done with something fun and surprising. 2. Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.