Session Descriptions
June 17–20, 2019
Come join the fun and grow your talents as a writer. National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Abbie Sliger, will help you, as a beginning writer, develop your appreciation for writing as a personally meaningful (and fun!) activity and will also help you develop your skills as a writer. We will be eating a snack during this half day. This week’s theme is superheroes with a focus on making comics! Students will work to create their own comic books. You will visit many sites on campus that will help cultivate creative ideas for your writing. These sessions are half-day camps.
Have you ever wanted to explore new ideas for writing, but were not sure where to start? This is the camp for you! The emphasis is on exploring new ideas, taking risks in writing, and having fun writing in new genres. We will go on several field trips, create crafts, and read books to inspire our writing. Children will transform unforgettable experiences into unforgettable pieces of writing and art. Children will explore several genres by appealing to all five of the reader’s senses. This dynamic camp is for 3-5 grade students who love to write!
TCs: Annette Kelly and Katie Muhlenkamp
This is a great camp for students in grades 3-4 who love to write! Writers will explore poetry and fiction genres and learn about the craft of writing. We will explore different ways to put powerful thoughts into tiny packages, use comparisons to show feelings and ideas, paint word pictures and other techniques to hook our readers. Writers will learn how to plan, draft, edit, and improve their writing. We will end the week with a celebration of our amazing work! Come join the fun!
TC: Kristine Megge
Witches and wizards in grades 3-5, embrace your creative minds and join us for a Wizarding World of Writing. If you dream about attending Hogwarts or having your own creative magical adventure, or if like writing plays, fan-fiction, sci-fi, or poetry inspired by the lifestyle of wizards and witches, join us for a fantastical fantasy writing experience. Students will be provided opportunities to explore the magic in the world around them and extend their imagination. Opportunities for creation in writing and exploring various genres, as well as writing techniques, and inspiration from the beautiful Michigan State University campus are a part of this wizarding adventure.
TCs: Dawn Reed and Elana Waugh
Get ready to get your creative juices flowing! In this camp, you will be inspired to write and express yourself in new ways using a variety of genres and resources while exploring the campus of MSU. Campers will use their imaginations and creativity to craft writing pieces while learning to be inspired by what’s around them. This camp is aimed at writers in grades 6-8.
TC: Kristin Graham
June 24–27, 2019
Come join the fun and grow your talents as a writer. National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Abbie Sliger, will help you, as a beginning writer, develop your appreciation for writing as a personally meaningful (and fun!) activity and will also help you develop your skills as a writer. We will be eating a snack during this half day. This week’s theme is royalty, a perfect fit for all of those prince and princesses! We will focus on journaling during this week.You will visit many sites on campus that will help cultivate creative ideas for your writing. These sessions are half-day camps.
Have you ever wanted to explore new ideas for writing, but not sure where to start? This is the camp for you! The emphasis is on exploring new ideas, taking risks in writing, and having fun writing in new genres. We will go on several field trips, create crafts, and read books to inspire our writing. Children will transform unforgettable experiences into unforgettable pieces of writing and art. Children will explore several genres by appealing to all five of the reader’s senses. This dynamic camp is for 3-5 grade students who love to write!
TCs: Annette Kelly and Ashleigh Shepard
We will explore that unique and mysterious culture that is the circus. Come prepared to learn about the history of the circus, the performers at the circus (including how to juggle and the lives of circus animals), and what future circuses could look like — and plan to write both fiction and non-fiction pieces along each step of our journey. This camp is aimed at students in grades 5-8.
TC: Aram Kabodian
Are there things in the world that you would like to see changed? Are you in grades 6-8? Then this camp is for you! Campers will become activist learners by taking on a cause that they are passionate about and write persuasively to elicit positive change. Blogging to real audiences and creating activist art will all be a part of making our world a better place. You will be taught by a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant: Mike Foster. This session is a full day, so you should bring snacks, lunch, and appropriate footwear for walking around campus.
Do you LOVE to write but need new and fresh ideas? Come join us as we use a wild assortment of inspirations to spark new ideas for your writing! We will draw inspiration from art, nature, books, food, newspapers, magazines, poetry, field trips around campus, and even each other! We will explore many different forms and genres of writing while children use their imagination to design extraordinary works of writing! Students grade 3-4, we are excited to write with you this summer!
TC: Katie Muhlenkamp
Do you like to move, run, and dance? Do you want to learn new ways to tell stories through movement? Join us for a movement-filled week where we explore how our bodies can tell stories and how stories can move our bodies. Students will play movement games, dance, explore MSU’s campus, and generally tune in to their bodies through writing and movement. This camp is for students in grades 3-4.
TCs: Elise Dixon and Rachel Robinson
Do you love music? Do you enjoy painting, sculpture, or drawing? Do you find nature to be its own work of art? Exploring Writing Through the Arts will seek to draw writing inspiration from various types of art that surround us. Students in grades 6-8 will learn about multiple art forms and write about the stories that a piece of art is trying to evoke. This session is full day, so a lunch is needed and snacks are encouraged. There will be daily field trips, so appropriate footwear is needed.
Taught by TC Ben Woodcock
July 8–11, 2019
Come join the fun and grow your talents as a writer. National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Abbie Sliger, will help you, as a beginning writer, develop your appreciation for writing as a personally meaningful (and fun!) activity and will also help you develop your skills as a writer. We will be eating a snack during this half day. This week’s theme is Dr. Seuss with a focus on poetry and silly stories. You will visit many sites on campus that will help cultivate creative ideas for your writing. These sessions are half-day camps.
Give students in grades 3-5 an opportunity to explore an unfamiliar genre with this camp! National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Abbie Sliger, will be the guide to this new and intriguing genre. Students will be taking daily field trips around campus to take pictures of different things that inspire stories! Students will be using digital cameras to capture moments and objects that will then be taken back to the classroom to inspire creative writing! Students will be eating a snack during this half day camp. Let the fun begin as students become immersed in this fun and engaging genre of writing!
Campers in grades 3-5 will have an opportunity to explore their own interests using tools and materials in a portable makerspace. Through mentor texts and daily challenges, campers will see that no idea is impossible! This session is a mix of science, technology, engineering, art, math and a sprinkle of imagination. Join National Writing Project Teacher Consultant Elana Waugh for this engaging week of writing.
Campers in grades 1-2 will experience fairy tales from a STEAM perspective. Each day campers will be exposed to a new fairy tale that will inspire curiosity, encourage creativity, and help develop problem solving skills. Through the use of science, technology, engineering, art, math, and writing, this session will help young writers grow and find their creative voice. Join National Writing Project Teacher Consultant Elana Waugh for this engaging week of writing.
Have you ever wanted to explore new ideas for writing, but were not sure where to start? This is the camp for you! The emphasis is on exploring new ideas, taking risks in writing, and having fun writing in new genres. We will go on several field trips, create crafts, and read books to inspire our writing. Children will transform unforgettable experiences into unforgettable pieces of writing and art. Children will explore several genres by appealing to all five of the reader’s senses. This dynamic camp is for 3-5 grade students who love to write!
TCs: Annette Kelly and Katie Muhlenkamp
Are there things in the world that you would like to see changed? Are you in grades 6-8? Then this camp is for you! Campers will become activist learners by taking on a cause that they are passionate about and write persuasively to elicit positive change. Blogging to real audiences and creating activist art will all be a part of making our world a better place. You will be taught by a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant: Mike Foster. This session is a full day, so you should bring snacks, lunch, and appropriate footwear for walking around campus.
Do you enjoy being creative and having the freedom to write what you want? Creating Writing Camp offers students in grades 6-8 the opportunity to discover new ways of communication to different audiences for many different purposes. You will work with a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant. You will also visit sites on MSU’s beautiful campus. You will have the opportunity to try out several different writing techniques throughout the week. Join us for friendship and fun! This session is full day, so you should bring snacks and a lunch as well as appropriate footwear for walking around campus.
TC: Aram Kabodian
Robots?! Time travel?! Wizards?! Oh, my! Whether you dream of coming up with the next Hunger Games, the next Star Wars, or the next Harry Potter, you will find your inspiration in this camp. We’ll experiment with more far-fetched and fantastical character, plot, and setting development as we draw our inspiration from each other and from Sci-Fi and Fantasy texts. Students will be taught techniques to enhance their writing including incorporation of “showing, not telling,” “world building,” and other techniques. Students will also have a chance to develop writing pieces of their choice during various writing experiences incorporated in the camp. This camp is aimed at students in grades 6-8 and is taught by TC Rachel Kenney.
June 17–20, 2019
June 24–27, 2019
July 8–11, 2019
#1 and 2: Growing Young Writers: Superheroes Week
#7 and 8 Growing Young Writers: Royalty Week
#15 Growing Young Writers: Dr. Seuss Week AM Only
Come join the fun and grow your talents as a writer. National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Abbie Sliger, will help you, as a beginning writer, develop your appreciation for writing as a personally meaningful (and fun!) activity and will also help you develop your skills as a writer. We will be eating a snack during this half day. This week’s theme is superheroes with a focus on making comics! Students will work to create their own comic books. You will visit many sites on campus that will help cultivate creative ideas for your writing. These sessions are half-day camps.
Come join the fun and grow your talents as a writer. National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Abbie Sliger, will help you, as a beginning writer, develop your appreciation for writing as a personally meaningful (and fun!) activity and will also help you develop your skills as a writer. We will be eating a snack during this half day. This week’s theme is royalty, a perfect fit for all of those prince and princesses! We will focus on journaling during this week.You will visit many sites on campus that will help cultivate creative ideas for your writing. These sessions are half-day camps.
Come join the fun and grow your talents as a writer. National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Abbie Sliger, will help you, as a beginning writer, develop your appreciation for writing as a personally meaningful (and fun!) activity and will also help you develop your skills as a writer. We will be eating a snack during this half day. This week’s theme is Dr. Seuss with a focus on poetry and silly stories. You will visit many sites on campus that will help cultivate creative ideas for your writing. These sessions are half-day camps.
#3: Discovering Genres
#9 Discovering Genres
#16 Photo Essays PM Only
Have you ever wanted to explore new ideas for writing, but were not sure where to start? This is the camp for you! The emphasis is on exploring new ideas, taking risks in writing, and having fun writing in new genres. We will go on several field trips, create crafts, and read books to inspire our writing. Children will transform unforgettable experiences into unforgettable pieces of writing and art. Children will explore several genres by appealing to all five of the reader’s senses. This dynamic camp is for 3-5 grade students who love to write!
TCs: Annette Kelly and Katie Muhlenkamp
Have you ever wanted to explore new ideas for writing, but not sure where to start? This is the camp for you! The emphasis is on exploring new ideas, taking risks in writing, and having fun writing in new genres. We will go on several field trips, create crafts, and read books to inspire our writing. Children will transform unforgettable experiences into unforgettable pieces of writing and art. Children will explore several genres by appealing to all five of the reader’s senses. This dynamic camp is for 3-5 grade students who love to write!
TCs: Annette Kelly and Ashleigh Shepard
Give students in grades 3-5 an opportunity to explore an unfamiliar genre with this camp! National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Abbie Sliger, will be the guide to this new and intriguing genre. Students will be taking daily field trips around campus to take pictures of different things that inspire stories! Students will be using digital cameras to capture moments and objects that will then be taken back to the classroom to inspire creative writing! Students will be eating a snack during this half day camp. Let the fun begin as students become immersed in this fun and engaging genre of writing!
#4 Creative Writing for Young Writers
#10 Exploring the Circus
#17 It’s a Maker Thing AM Only
This is a great camp for students in grades 3-4 who love to write! Writers will explore poetry and fiction genres and learn about the craft of writing. We will explore different ways to put powerful thoughts into tiny packages, use comparisons to show feelings and ideas, paint word pictures and other techniques to hook our readers. Writers will learn how to plan, draft, edit, and improve their writing. We will end the week with a celebration of our amazing work! Come join the fun!
TC: Kristine Megge
We will explore that unique and mysterious culture that is the circus. Come prepared to learn about the history of the circus, the performers at the circus (including how to juggle and the lives of circus animals), and what future circuses could look like — and plan to write both fiction and non-fiction pieces along each step of our journey. This camp is aimed at students in grades 5-8.
TC: Aram Kabodian
Campers in grades 3-5 will have an opportunity to explore their own interests using tools and materials in a portable makerspace. Through mentor texts and daily challenges, campers will see that no idea is impossible! This session is a mix of science, technology, engineering, art, math and a sprinkle of imagination. Join National Writing Project Teacher Consultant Elana Waugh for this engaging week of writing.
#5 Wizarding World of Writing
#11 Kids for Causes
#18 Fairy Tale STEAM PM Only
Witches and wizards in grades 3-5, embrace your creative minds and join us for a Wizarding World of Writing. If you dream about attending Hogwarts or having your own creative magical adventure, or if like writing plays, fan-fiction, sci-fi, or poetry inspired by the lifestyle of wizards and witches, join us for a fantastical fantasy writing experience. Students will be provided opportunities to explore the magic in the world around them and extend their imagination. Opportunities for creation in writing and exploring various genres, as well as writing techniques, and inspiration from the beautiful Michigan State University campus are a part of this wizarding adventure.
TCs: Dawn Reed and Elana Waugh
Are there things in the world that you would like to see changed? Are you in grades 6-8? Then this camp is for you! Campers will become activist learners by taking on a cause that they are passionate about and write persuasively to elicit positive change. Blogging to real audiences and creating activist art will all be a part of making our world a better place. You will be taught by a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant: Mike Foster. This session is a full day, so you should bring snacks, lunch, and appropriate footwear for walking around campus.
Campers in grades 1-2 will experience fairy tales from a STEAM perspective. Each day campers will be exposed to a new fairy tale that will inspire curiosity, encourage creativity, and help develop problem solving skills. Through the use of science, technology, engineering, art, math, and writing, this session will help young writers grow and find their creative voice. Join National Writing Project Teacher Consultant Elana Waugh for this engaging week of writing.
#6 Inspired Writers
#12 Creative Inspirations
#19 Discovering Genres
Get ready to get your creative juices flowing! In this camp, you will be inspired to write and express yourself in new ways using a variety of genres and resources while exploring the campus of MSU. Campers will use their imaginations and creativity to craft writing pieces while learning to be inspired by what’s around them. This camp is aimed at writers in grades 6-8.
TC: Kristin Graham
Do you LOVE to write but need new and fresh ideas? Come join us as we use a wild assortment of inspirations to spark new ideas for your writing! We will draw inspiration from art, nature, books, food, newspapers, magazines, poetry, field trips around campus, and even each other! We will explore many different forms and genres of writing while children use their imagination to design extraordinary works of writing! Students grade 3-4, we are excited to write with you this summer!
TC: Katie Muhlenkamp
Have you ever wanted to explore new ideas for writing, but were not sure where to start? This is the camp for you! The emphasis is on exploring new ideas, taking risks in writing, and having fun writing in new genres. We will go on several field trips, create crafts, and read books to inspire our writing. Children will transform unforgettable experiences into unforgettable pieces of writing and art. Children will explore several genres by appealing to all five of the reader’s senses. This dynamic camp is for 3-5 grade students who love to write!
TCs: Annette Kelly and Katie Muhlenkamp
#13 Wiggle and Write: Using Our Bodies to Tell Stories
#20 Kids for Causes
Do you like to move, run, and dance? Do you want to learn new ways to tell stories through movement? Join us for a movement-filled week where we explore how our bodies can tell stories and how stories can move our bodies. Students will play movement games, dance, explore MSU’s campus, and generally tune in to their bodies through writing and movement. This camp is for students in grades 3-4.
TCs: Elise Dixon and Rachel Robinson
Are there things in the world that you would like to see changed? Are you in grades 6-8? Then this camp is for you! Campers will become activist learners by taking on a cause that they are passionate about and write persuasively to elicit positive change. Blogging to real audiences and creating activist art will all be a part of making our world a better place. You will be taught by a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant: Mike Foster. This session is a full day, so you should bring snacks, lunch, and appropriate footwear for walking around campus.
#14 Exploring Writing Through the Arts
#21 Creative Writing
Do you love music? Do you enjoy painting, sculpture, or drawing? Do you find nature to be its own work of art? Exploring Writing Through the Arts will seek to draw writing inspiration from various types of art that surround us. Students in grades 6-8 will learn about multiple art forms and write about the stories that a piece of art is trying to evoke. This session is full day, so a lunch is needed and snacks are encouraged. There will be daily field trips, so appropriate footwear is needed.
Taught by TC Ben Woodcock
Do you enjoy being creative and having the freedom to write what you want? Creating Writing Camp offers students in grades 6-8 the opportunity to discover new ways of communication to different audiences for many different purposes. You will work with a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant. You will also visit sites on MSU’s beautiful campus. You will have the opportunity to try out several different writing techniques throughout the week. Join us for friendship and fun! This session is full day, so you should bring snacks and a lunch as well as appropriate footwear for walking around campus.
TC: Aram Kabodian
#22 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing
Robots?! Time travel?! Wizards?! Oh, my! Whether you dream of coming up with the next Hunger Games, the next Star Wars, or the next Harry Potter, you will find your inspiration in this camp. We’ll experiment with more far-fetched and fantastical character, plot, and setting development as we draw our inspiration from each other and from Sci-Fi and Fantasy texts. Students will be taught techniques to enhance their writing including incorporation of “showing, not telling,” “world building,” and other techniques. Students will also have a chance to develop writing pieces of their choice during various writing experiences incorporated in the camp. This camp is aimed at students in grades 6-8 and is taught by TC Rachel Kenney.