Spartan Writing Camp Offerings
To register for this summer’s camp session, you will purchase a “ticket” for a week of camp.
Scholarships for camp are available and can be applied for here!
July 15 - 18, 2024, 9:00-3:30 PM at Michigan State University
It’s The Little Things
Instructor: Mrs. Mary Wilkinson
Grade Level: Students entering 3rd–5th grade
Dates & Time: July 15 -18, 9:00 AM – 3:30
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 10
Are you an admirer of little things; a buzzing bee, a leaf on a tree, a dragonfly wing, a croaking frog, interesting words, the chime of a clock, a favorite ice cream flavor, and more? Yes? Then this camp is for you. We are going to go on daily field trips around the MSU campus to capture the little things through our writing and photographs. By the end of camp, we will each have a blankbook filled with pictures and stories about the little things we love best. Come join the adventure! You will be led by National Writing Project Consultant (and also a lover of the little things), Mrs. Mary Wilkinson. This session is a full day so please be sure to bring snacks, water, and a lunch each day of camp.
Wizarding World of Writing
Teacher consultants: Gina Farnelli and Dawn Reed
Grade level: Students entering 3rd–5th grade
Date & Time: July 15 – 18, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 20
Calling all young witches and wizards! Embrace your creativity and join us for a Wizarding World of Writing! Do you dream about attending a school for magic or having your own magical adventure? If so, then this camp is for you. Writers in this camp will grow their imagination through different types of activities including creating spellbooks, making wands, exploring the Michigan State University campus, and so much more! Join us and grow the witch or wizard within.
Genres on the Loose!
Teacher consultants: Annette Kelly
Grade level: Students entering 3rd–5th grade
Dates & Time: June 15 – 18, 9:00-3:30
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 20
Are you looking to be inspired to think outside the box and explore different genres and different ways to publish your writing? Look no more…. Genres can be so much more than your traditional personal narrative, opinion piece, or informational report. This exciting camp explores different genres besides what we learn in school. 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 session is taught by RCWP Teacher Consultant and Grand Ledge Public Schools Teacher Annette Kelly.
Exploring Stories with Animals and Insects
Instructors: Tracy Grennell and Lindsay Ryan
Grade level: Students entering 3rd – 5th grade
Dates & Times: July 15 – 18, 9:00-3:30
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 20
Welcome to Exploring Stories with Animals and Insects, an immersive experience designed for budding young writers in grades 3-5! This session offers a unique blend of creative writing exploration and hands-on animal encounters that will ignite your child’s imagination. Throughout the program, students will embark on a thrilling journey to discover the wonders of the animal kingdom through various field trips around MSU’s campus, getting up close and personal with a variety of fascinating creatures. In addition to animal adventures, students discover a diverse range of writing genres, allowing them to express their thoughts and stories in captivating ways. Join us for a week filled with creativity, discovery, and the joy of writing at Spartan Writing Camp! This session is taught by Tracy Grennell and Lindsay Ryan – both teachers in Bath Public Schools.
Discovering the Zine
Instructors: Savannah Harris
Grade level: Students entering 6th – 8th grade
Dates & Times: July 15 – 18, 9:00-3:30
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 10
Come one, come all to Discovering the Zine! This is a camp where students of all writing abilities will come together and make individual Zines, a short magazine with a twist! If you are entering 6th through 8th grade, and find yourself interested in combining writing, graphic design, and working with a wide variety of topics, this is the place for you.
Quests and Quills: Tabletop Role-Playing Writing Camp
Teacher consultants: Bethany and Nicholas Meadows
Grade level: Students entering 9th–12th grade
Dates & Times: July 15 – 18th, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Evening)
Cost: $150
Enrollment cutoff: 20
Embark on a literary odyssey where aspiring role-players delve into the realms of imagination. Join fellow adventurers in crafting epic tales, creating exciting characters, honing your quill skills, and conquering the challenges of storytelling. Unleash your creativity, forge friendships, and emerge from this quest with tales that will echo through the ages. Prepare to journey into the fantastical world of words and wield the power of your pen! This camp is taught by Bethany and Nicholas Meadows.
Writing for Social Change and Connection
Teacher consultants: Monica Degarmo
Grade level: Students entering 9th–12th grade
Dates & Times: July 15 – 18th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Half Day)
Cost: $150
Enrollment cutoff: 10
Have you ever wondered how words can be used for practical, positive change? Are you eager to find ways that writing can make you feel more connected and part of your local community? In this workshop, we will explore the basics of writing journalistic feature stories and editorial opinion pieces. Maybe there is a long-standing family-owned restaurant you’d like to highlight or a school board issue you have an opinion about. We will explore both forms of writing including how to create interview questions, conduct an interview, craft your piece, and make edits. Throughout the week, we will create a collaborative e-newsletter that shares stories, resources, and opinion pieces that are reflective of your community and experiences. This session is led by RCWP Teacher Consultant and Detroit Public Schools teacher, Monica Degarmo.
All Star Authors: Explore Storytelling with Sport
Instructors: Ben Woodcock
Grade level: Students entering 9th–12th grade
Dates & Times: July 16 – 18, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Half Day)
Cost: $150
Enrollment cutoff: 10
Calling all high school sports enthusiasts with a love of words! Welcome to a writing camp where your love for the game meets the power of the pen. We will look for inspiration from books, pop culture, the sports world, and MSU’s campus to enhance our storytelling capabilities. You’ll leave this camp with a playbook full of strategies and tricks to utilize on the playing field. Unleash your inner wordsmith and discover the thrilling world where sports and storytelling collide! Ready to embark on a journey that will let your sports stories soar to new heights?! Explore storytelling with sports in this half day camp. This session is taught by Ben Woodcock, RCWP Teacher Consultant and teacher at Okemos High School.
July 22 - 25 2024, 9:00-3:30 PM at Michigan State University
Twisted Tales and Other Writing Fun
Instructors: Mary Wilkinson
Grade level: Students entering 3rd–5th grade
Dates & Times: July 22 – 25, 9:00-3:30
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 10
Most people write in first person, but have you ever tried another perspective or view? Twisted Tales: Maybe the Big Bad Wolf isn’t so bad- just misunderstood, maybe Goldilocks accidentally arrived at the wrong address, maybe there is a better ending to your favorite story, it’s all up to you and the perspective or view you want to write. Other Writing Fun: As a camper in this session you will take daily field trips on the MSU Campus, write sidewalk poetry, become an ice cream detective, find history mysteries, hug a tree, take a scavenger hunt and more. Come have fun seeing the world in a different way and write about what you discover. This is a full day, so campers should bring snacks, water, and lunch each day of camp. This session is taught by NWP TC Mary Wilkinson.
Library Lovers Writing Camp
Instructors: Jen Garmon
Grade level: Students entering 4th – 6th grade
Dates & Times: July 22 -25, 12:30 – 3:30 (Half Day)
Cost: $150
Enrollment cutoff: 10
Do you love libraries? Would you like to read about libraries and start stories inspired by them? In this half-day camp, students will visit special places inside the MSU Library, hear about libraries with unexpected origins and ones found in unusual places, design a dream library, and respond to library-related writing prompts. The teacher for this writing camp, Jen Garmon, is an elementary school librarian and former high school English teacher who loves to visit all kinds of libraries in all kinds of places. This half-day session is for students entering grades 4-6.
Adventures in Ink and Steam
Instructors: Tracy Grennell and Lindsay Ryan
Grade level: Students entering 3rd – 5th grade
Dates & Times: July 22 -25, 9:00-3:30
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 20
Embark on a journey of creativity and discovery with ‘Adventures in Ink and Invention: A STEAM Writing Camp’! Designed for students in grades 3-5, this immersive camp invites young minds to explore the captivating world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) through a four-day writing adventure. Join us as we venture to various locations on Michigan State’s campus, sparking imagination and crafting stories inspired by the wonders of STEAM. Don’t miss out on this hands-on opportunity for your child to unlock the thrilling intersection of STEAM and writing. This session is taught by Tracy Grennell and Lindsay Ryan – both teachers in Bath Public Schools.
Graphic Novel Writing
Instructors: Dawn Reed and Amy Huntley
Grade level: Students entering 6th – 8th grade
Dates & Times: July 22 -25, 9:00-3:30
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 20
Stories and images come alive when they tell a story together through graphic novels. Writers in this camp will explore cartooning, illustrating, and storytelling. In this camp, we will be inspired by exploring the genre and elements of graphic novels, with inspiration from the Michigan State University campus, fellow writers, and so much more! Come create stories with words and images connecting on the page. Dawn Reed and Amy Huntley, both NWP/RCWP Teacher Consultants will lead this session.
Mixing Music and Lyrics
Instructors: Savannah Harris
Grade level: Students entering 6th – 8th grade
Dates & Times: July 22 -25, 9:00-3:30
Cost: $280
Enrollment cutoff: 10
Do you have a passion for music and writing? Have you ever wondered how your favorite musical artists create their songs? This is the camp for you! Students in this camp will be investigating different types of songs, writing lyrics to their own song, attaching a melody to their song with a local musician, and creating a music video to add to their song. We have lots of fun planned for the week and would love for you to join us!This camp is taught by RCWP intern Savannah Harris.
Cardboard Creators: Board & Card Game Design Writing Camp
Instructors: Bethany and Nicholas Meadows
Grade level: Students entering 9th -12th grade
Dates & Times: July 22 -25, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Evening)
Cost: $150
Enrollment cutoff: 20
Calling all game enthusiasts where creativity knows no bounds. Immerse yourself in the art of game creation as you learn to design captivating board games from concept to pitching the game. Unleash your strategic genius, explore narrative elements, and fine-tune mechanics with fellow enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer to the board and card game world, this writing summer camp invites you to be a game-changer. Develop your own unique game and let the thrill of innovation be your guide throughout this exciting journey! This camp is taught by Bethany and Nicholas Meadows.
It’s All About the Shorts
Instructors:
Grade level: Students entering 9th -12th grade
Dates & Times: July 22 -25, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Half Day) Virtual
Cost: $150
Enrollment cutoff: 10
Don’t you love a good short story? Something you can finish in one sitting that leaves your heart and mind flabbergasted, warm, disgusted, or mind blown? In this session, we will dig into short stories from a diverse array of 20th and 21st century authors, focusing primarily on sci-fi, magical realism, and culture and identity related themes and topics. Students will also have ample time to craft their own short story that will be compiled in our student anthology at the end of the week. If you enjoy writing, exploring real and fictional worlds, and are looking to build connections with fellow writers, then this is for you!