Apologies for being a bit late with this post. We try to post this list in early May, so you parents have plenty of time to sign up your kids. But with so much uncertainy earlier this year, it wasn’t clear what was going to be available. Still, depending on where you live and how far you’re willing to drive, here are some options to get your youths writing this summer, including some in-person options:
THE GREAT AMERICAN WRITERS’ CAMP (Winston-Salem)
Grades 4-6
August 2-4
Website: http://www.thegawc.weebly.com
The GAWC will be entirely outdoors this summer. Registration is limited to TEN students. The camp will take place in a private backyard and surrounding parks. Young writers hone their skills and styles as they develop ideas into stories, poems, arguments, speeches and more. Working in groups, individually, and one-on-one with an instructor, campers begin to see how their ideas and words have a place in the world around them.
YOUNG AND TEEN WRITERS WORKSHOPS (Raleigh)
Ages 9-19
July 12-30
Website: https://english.chass.ncsu.edu/youngwriters
This summer, NC State will offer writing workshops for youth and teens entirely ONLINE. NC State Young Writers Workshop is one of the oldest workshops for young writers in the nation and remains one of the most affordable options for academic programs. They offer generous financial aid packages for the in person workshops as well. Students will also meet working authors and get the opportunity to win copies of their published books.
YOUNG WRITERS INSTITUTE (Cary)
Grades 3-12
Summer, 2021
Website: https://trianglekidswrite.net/summer-camps
Offered virtually and in-person following strict COVID-19 protocols. Classes include mysteries, choose-your-own adventure stories, comics/graphic novels, and more.
YOUNG WRITERS WORKSHOP (Asheville)
(Rising) Grades 9-College Freshman
July 12-23
Website: https://greatsmokies.unca.edu/young-writers-workshop
The Great Smokies Writing Program at UNC-Asheville offers virtual writing workshops, including “Black Poets of the 20th & 21st Century” and “Writing for Audio Drama.”
To the best of our knowledge, Duke University in Durham, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, UNC-Greensboro, and UNC-Wilmington will not be offering writing camps for young writers this summer. The Young Writers Camp at Meredith College in Raleigh is full, but keep an eye out next year: https://www.meredith.edu/english/young-writers-camp.