<p>Hi,
Just wondered if anyone might have some leads/info on summer writing programs or camps?</p>
<p>My son (previously science/math oriented) has just discovered a great interest in writing (won a local poetry contest -- of some sort--and now writes a lot).</p>
<p>We're <em>ideally</em> looking for something affordable...thus anything in the PA/NJ/DE area would be commutable and thus more feasible.</p>
<p>However---I'd appreciate any leads at all!! Thanks so much!!!</p>
<p>A young man we know attended Breadloaf (at Middlebury) and absolutely loved the program.</p>
<p>Not in your area, but Grinnel has a summer institute with several writing courses. My D took the "Topics in Academic Writing" one last summer and was very challenged and thought the teacher was excellent, they also have a creative writing course. Although the food was poor, the program seemed overall well run. Here's the link:
<a href="http://www.grinnell.edu/admission/summerinstitute/%5B/url%5D">http://www.grinnell.edu/admission/summerinstitute/</a></p>
<p>I know there are summer programs specifically for creative writing at the U of Iowa and Sewanee. Here are their links:
<a href="http://www.uiowa.edu/%7Eiyws/tableofcontents.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.uiowa.edu/~iyws/tableofcontents.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.sewanee.edu/ywc/%5B/url%5D">http://www.sewanee.edu/ywc/</a></p>
<p>I know someone who was very happy doing a summer writing program at Simon's Rock. <a href="http://www.simons-rock.edu/young_writers/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.simons-rock.edu/young_writers/index.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks to you both for the recommendations!! I checked them out and they all look promising (not sure son is as yet as 'intense' about the writing as some of the traditional applicants... but it's a great start!!).</p>
<p>Appreciate it!</p>
<p>If you are in Pennsylvania, the Governor's School for the Arts creative writing program is great and FREE. (First prize is five weeks in Erie free, second prize is no weeks in Erie . . . ) Very competitive to get into, though -- about 400 applications for 20 spots, 10 in poetry and 10 in fiction. I'm sure there's a website somewhere with the application forms and deadlines. If I remember correctly, the applications are due sometime in the fall, they do auditions/interviews in February and send letters in April. Theoretically, it's for rising seniors or juniors, but rumor has it that the writing program hasn't taken a junior anytime recently. </p>
<p>Anyway, my daughter did this and loved loved loved it, as has everyone else she's known who did it.</p>
<p>Susquehanna University hosts a one-week program. <a href="http://susqu.edu/writers/HighSchoolStudents.htm%5B/url%5D">http://susqu.edu/writers/HighSchoolStudents.htm</a></p>
<p>It's fairly inexpensive, and I attended the program in 2003 and enjoyed it.</p>
<p>My D attended the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop at Kenyon College. It was a great 2 week creative writing program.</p>
<p>Thanks borgin, mathmom & runnersmom! Those are <em>great</em> recommendations and really give a super start to the search! (I've gone through the big 'summer program' websites and they are so comprehensive it's hard to find a narrow category of interest).</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Last summer my son did the advanced Creative Writing program for High School students at Columbia. <a href="http://ce.columbia.edu/hs/courses.cf...ritingDivision%5B/url%5D">http://ce.columbia.edu/hs/courses.cf...ritingDivision</a>
He's a "hard marker" but he loved it! "It was everything I hope college will be " was his comment. Very involving, great teachers, great kids. One of his teachers was Scott Snyder (his book "Voodoo Heart" was favorably reviewed in the NYT Sunday Book review section during the course) Prof Snyder not only took the time to read and critique my son's writing at the program but also multiple previous stories he'd written. Another teacher spent extensive time helping him with a play he's writing. The teacher spent the night wading through 70 pages of dialogue!</p>
<p>2 major caveats however:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Cost: $2,800 for the month plus $3000 for room and board. Fortunately son was able to stay with relatives or we couldn't have afforded it.</p></li>
<li><p>Very strict drug and alcohol policy. One student was sent home the first week for smoking pot. Another student was sent home because a residence hall official claimed she smelled alcohol on her breath (according to son the evidence was that flimsy and he didn't think she'd been drinking). Son is not into these recreational activities but thought the policy might be too strict.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Oh and if your son is into playwriting as well this program is excellent and a bargain <a href="http://www.youngplaywrights.org/urban.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.youngplaywrights.org/urban.htm</a> since it includes room and board in NYC! And yes your son's play has an off-broadway reading by professional actors at the end of the week.</p>
<p>Carleton College also offers an excellent program:
<a href="http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/SAP/writing/%5B/url%5D">http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/SAP/writing/</a></p>
<p>My S attended the Iowa Young Writers' Studio (mentioned by entomom) last summer as a rising Senior and had a really great experience. I found the cost to be quite reasonable compared to other residential programs (this year it is $1475 for two weeks including tuition, room and board, fees). Transportation was not too bad - he flew from NY, changed planes in Chicago to get to destination Cedar Rapids, where counselors from the school greet students at the airport. He has never attended summer camps, so I felt the residential experience was key in preparation for college.</p>
<p>Walnut Hill School in Natick, MA (on commuter rail from Boston) has a summer program, although as of today their web site has not been updated with information for 2007:</p>
<p>My D did the CTY summer creative writing course at Skidmore about 6 or 7 years ago. She thought it was the best course she took in high school.</p>
<p>Thank you all <em>very</em> much for those references!!! I'm not sure exactly how into writing son will be by the summer (he's just done a few poems & has a really inspiring Eng. teacher) but it would be great to facilitate the burgeoning interest.</p>
<p>Appreciate it!!!!!</p>
<p>How old do students have to be to attend these programs?</p>