Young Writers’ Camp (YWC)
We are unable to offer camp for Summer 2024. Please check back in 2025.
Campers at the UNCG Young Writers’ Camp, sponsored by Gate City Writes, create 21st century texts using digital tools such as storyboarding, blogging, and movie-making during this two-week camp experience. In daily writing workshops, campers work with UNCG faculty, graduate students, NC teachers, and local authors. The camp introduces young writers to the writing process, unlocks strategies of professional writers, and supports development of variety of writing styles. All work is published on our website.
The UNCG Young Writers’ Camp is held for two weeks in July, Monday through Friday. Campers have the option of attending half day or full day sessions. Enrollment is limited to 100 students. Students will be divided into different sections based on grade level (e.g., K-2, 3-5; 6-8; and 9-12). Each section will have approximately 30 students and at least two instructors. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Our morning session runs from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. During this session campers write about a topic of choice in a genre they prefer.
- Afternoon sessions are 1:00-4:00 pm and offer specialized instruction of topics such as fiction, poetry, making, etc.
- Campers attending full-day sessions should bring their own lunch.
Stay Tuned for Registration
The camp is working through a transition and hope to have registration available in late February/early March.
STUDENT WORKS
Click below to see student works that were created during previous summer camps.
- The Adventures of Fries, Hotdog, and Hamburger – by Aaron
- The Big Book of Pirates and Friends – by Breez
- Building a Treehouse – by Cliff
- All the Things – by Zane
- The Cat, the Girl, and the Grogu – by Hannah
- Me and My Family – by Della
- Firetruck – by Zachary
- Lonely Bird – by Sophia
- Going to the Store – by Nicole
- Twenty Facts About Dogs – by Marian
- Jessie the Runaway – by Aleithyia
- All About Swimming – by Edie
- Cindy and the Seven Emeralds – by Elena
- 25 Amazing Hippo Facts – by Ethan
- All About South Korea – by Emory
- Harriet the Hero – by Harlem
- Mini the Mushroom – by Sophia
- Solar System – by Henry
- The Human Body – by Henry
- Lisa the Pizza – by Issa
- Chimps – by Jane
- Having a Thunderstorm at the Pool – by Lilly
- Lidia’s Dream – by Lily
- Swimming – by Parker
- Minecraft – by Phillip
- All About Minecraft – by Zara
- Coccolithophores – by Zibby
- Dumble’s Adventure – by Chisa
- Escape – by Juniper
- Yoda’s Life – by Clara
- Helpful Tips, Strategies, and Other Things for K-4th Grade Math – by Andrew
- I Survived 100 Days in a Zombie Forest in Minecraft – by Samiya
- Super Invisible Guy vs. Dr. Games – by Oliver
- Animal Squad – by Emilia
- Super Weirdos – by Emilia, Helen, Chisa, Eva
- The Lost Boy – by Eva
- N-E-R-D-S – by Helen
- Messing with Fire – by Helen
- Backs of Goddesses – by Claire
- Viktor and the Man – by Ethan
- Treasure on Mount Kilimanjaro – by Saul
- Pirates – by Katie Mae
- The Golden Compass – by Kalia
- (The Black Cat) The Only Child Series – by Halia
- Unknown Cats – by Emily
- The Treasure Map – by Avery
- Havoc in the Ocean – by Franklin
- Island – by Morgan
- Stars – by Adela
- The Axolotl – by Will
- Bella the Lion – by Cody
- The Korean War – by Aaron
- The Murder on Oakwood Avenue – by Addison
- Black Holes – by Andy
- Shallow Graves – by Colson
- Haunted House-19 – by Emily
- Stalled on the Tracks: A Plea for Action on Gun Violence – by Eva
- Assimilation of Recollections – by Garrett
- I Wish I Was Him – by Hashini
- The Jonah Edition – by Jonah
- Untitled – by Lily
- In the Wild – by Mya
- One by One – by Priyanshi
- This is My Skin – by Riya
- Alice Through the Window – by Sophia
- The City of Sky and Sea – by Liam (Will)
- The Origin Story of the Herculean Ninja – by Alex
- Special – by Ellie
- The Beautiful Sight – by India
- When the World Ends – by Iris
- Bionicle Retold – by Isaiah H.
- The Boy and the Dragon – by Isaiah M.
- Herlock Sholmes and the Great Bandit – by Jayden
- Similarly Different – by Joanna
- Bob the Grasshopper – by Josephine
- Phobias – by Juliet
- Untitled – by Justus
- My Trip to Cooperstown, NY – by Landen
- Different – by Lillian
- Polies vs. Ants – by Matty
- Trapped – by Preeth
- Thorns – by Addison
- Unicorn Blood – by Ainsley
- The Wizard and the Old Man – by Blue
- This Isn’t Dreamland – by Chloe
- The Bookshop of Reminiscense – by Elizabeth
- Where the Spiders Watch – by Ellah
- Dome City – by Grace
- A Teenage Lesson – by Grace Ellen
- Electric Boy: A Dystopian Destiny – by Keegan
- The Whisper in Neverland – by Kristina
- Tale of a Muddled Legacy – by Megan
- Memoirs of Old: A Coward’s King – by TRJ
- Bringing the Outside in Ecosystem – by Edie
- Desert Ecosystem – by Katie Mae
- Farm House Ecosystem – by Benjamin
- Fire at the Zoo – by Ethan
- Forest Ecosystem – by Weston
- Jungle Ecosystem – by Avery
- Hot Springs – by Zibby
- Investigating the Jungle – by Luka
- Moon Ecosystem – by Adela
- River Ecosystem – by Parker
- Underwater Ecosystem – by Kalia
- Lego Stop Motion Video – by Claire and Chisa
- About a Bunny – by Elena
- Animals Stop Motion Video – by Emilia and Eva
- The Lost King Stop Motion Video – by Emory and Issa
- Lonely Animals Stop Motion Video – by Juniper
- Mythical Animal Fight – by Phillip, Saul, and Quincy
- Lego Stop Motion Video – by Walker
Our Students Say
“I felt really nervous because I’ve never really shared my writing with anyone besides my parents before and I also just get nervous when I have to do any type of public speaking. I feel happy now because they liked my story. I’m most proud of the descriptions I used to describe the characters and the setting; the people in my group said they could visualize the story because of the imagery.”
WHY WRITE?
“When I am writing, I am trying to find out who I am, who we are, what we’re capable of, how we feel, how we lose and stand up, and go on from darkness into darkness. I’m trying for that. But I’m also trying for the language. I’m trying to see how it can really sound. I really love language. I love it for what it does for us, how it allows us to explain the pain and the glory, the nuances and delicacies of our existence. And then it allows us to laugh, allows us to show wit. Real wit is shown in language. We need language.”
– Maya Angelou
WHY DO YOUNG WRITERS CHOOSE THIS CAMP?
- Campers share their work with other writers
- Authors speak to the campers about their writing experiences and they answer questions about writing
- It’s not like school because it is creative, non-judgmental, and fun Campers create friendships fast
- Writers get to choose what they want to write about
WHY WOULD PARENTS OR TEACHERS RECOMMEND THE CAMP FOR YOUNG WRITERS?
- Campers have opportunities to meet and talk with authors. Past campers have maintained communication with authors and continue to receive advice about writing.
- Campers have the opportunity to engage in 21st century literacies, which are linked to current teaching and learning standards.
- Young writers are given time to work individually, with peers, and with certified NC teachers.
- Young writers will have the opportunity to share their writing during a reading on the last day of camp, at a display table at the Grasshopper’s game, with young writers in Africa, and as an online publication on this website.
Contact Us!
If you have any questions about Young Writers’ Camp, please contact Dr. Amy Vetter at [email protected]