Summer Young Writers' Camps

Our summer 2011 Young Writers' Camps concluded July 8. If you would like to receive information about the 2012 camps, please send an email to bawp@berkeley.edu and include you mailing address. Then we'll mail you a brochure next winter.

Designed for students entering grades 4-9 next fall, the camp offers students the time and opportunity to explore their writing interests, discover strengths and learn more about the craft of writing.  The camps provide in-depth writing instruction, structured writing workshop time, flexibility in writing assignments, and daily opportunities to share writing with peers. Through the camp, students grow in their confidence and skill. Each camp concludes with a writing celebration for family and friends. The registration fee is $425 ($450 for the Digital Stroytelling Camp in San Francisco).

*Digital Storytelling (San Francisco only)

Students channel their creative energy into film production–learning basic storyboarding and script writing, and turning their scripts into short, 2-3 minute films. Camp closes with an evening showcase of student films for families and friends.

Summer 2011 marks the 15th year for the Young Writers’ Camps, one of the most desirable summer enrichment camps in the area. Sponsored by the Bay Area Writing Project (BAWP) at UC Berkeley, the camps offer children entering grades 4 through 9 a unique opportunity to develop their writing talents and creative abilities. In a relaxed camp atmosphere, students will receive specific writing instruction and conference individually with staff to build and reinforce their writing skills.

What are the Overall Goals of the Young Writers' Camp?

Students become good writers by acting like writers—writing for extended periods of time, sharing with others, revising and publishing. Our goals are for all students to gain confidence in their ability to write, complete a number of pieces of writing, and increase their repertoire of writing skills and stylistic options.

What to Expect at the Camps

The Bay Area Writing Project’s Young Writers’ Camps offer students the time and opportunity to explore their writing interests, discover their strengths and learn more about the craft of writing. The camps provide in-depth writing instruction, structured writing workshop time, flexibility in writing assignments, and daily opportunities to share writing with peers. Through the camps, students grow in their confidence and skill. Each camp concludes with a writing celebration for family and friends.

During the three weeks, campers will:

• write in a friendly and supportive setting and receive specific instruction in various aspects of writing
• conference with instructors, share writing in small groups and receive helpful response
• edit and publish their writing
• use literature and poetry as models
• explore a variety of ways to celebrate writing
• publish their writing in an online BAWP E-zine
• have fun and make new friends!

Who are the Instructors?

Instructors are fully credentialed, experienced classroom teachers who serve as BAWP Teacher-Consultants and who make it their goal to instill in each student an appreciation, excitement and enjoyment of writing. They have participated in intensive training with BAWP and have been involved with transforming the teaching of writing in the Bay Area.

The camp experience includes:

• daily writing workshops activities to activate the imagination journal writing
• instruction on specific writing styles and genres
• art projects to complement and inspire students’ writing
• an “Author’s Chair” celebration of student writing at the conclusion of the camp.

What Makes a Child a Good Candidate for Camp?

The camps are for students who like to write! They are not remedial writing camps. Our most successful students are those who are eager to try their hand at new types of writing. We discourage parents from enrolling children who are not enthusistic about writing. Campers spend a few hours writing every day, so if your child does not like to write, this is not the camp for him or her.

Registration Fee:

The $425 fee includes all materials and a camp T-shirt. Enrollment is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive a letter confirming your place. Cancellations are subject to a $45 processing fee. No refunds after camp begins.