Teen Writing Camp Ends With Performance at Local Eatery

Nearly a score of teens participated in Teenswrite.

Camilla Medders talks to Teenswrite about non-fiction writing.

Karsen Brink reads to the crowd at Jose's.

Tamaira Huggins reads from her work.

Photo Submitted

Melissa McCann, front row, from left, Ashlynn Mayes, Trenna Lemons, Mackenzie Goff, Wil Church, Devon Womack, Karsen Brink, Olivia Lobb, co-director Jon Medders; Olivia Ellis, back row, from left, Isabelle Teeter, Michaela Edwards, Amanda Woodson, Annie Molesso, Sheallee O'Grady, Tamaira Huggins, co-director Ellie Esry. Not pictured: Julia Smith, Wera v. der Osten, Sophie Mitchell.

Area teenagers read their work July 29 in front of their peers and families at the close of the five-day camp Teenswrite on the University of Arkansas campus.

After the last teen left the stage at Jose's on Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Teenswrite co-director Jon Medders encouraged them to keep writing throughout the school year.

"I want you to keep writing every day," Medders said. "Find a space at home where you feel safe and can concentrate. Also, get feedback from a friend. If you haven't already exchanged emails with someone else at Teenswrite, think about doing that."

Medders, a former literacy teacher at Fayetteville High School, and Ellie Esry, an English teacher at Ramay Junior High School in Fayetteville, co-directed the writing camp sponsored by the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project based in the College of Education and Health Professions.

Chris Goering, University of Arkansas assistant professor of secondary education, directs the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project. Medders and Esry are teacher consultants with the writing project, having completed the four-week 2009 Invitational Summer Institute.

The writing project facilitated eight writing campuses in 2011 in Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers, expanding from the original two writing camps for children held each year at the University of Arkansas: Kidswrite for those who have completed fourth through seventh grades and Teenswrite for those who have completed eighth though 12th grades. The students try their hand at poetry, play-writing, short story writing, illustrating and performing, and they hear from guest speakers. The students receive an anthology of their work at the end of the camp. Both groups also created blogs for the first time year.

Brian Lee, an English teacher at Lake Hamilton High School in Hot Springs, co-directs Kidswrite with Esry. Lee also completed the 2009 invitational.

The young writers' anthologies are posted on the Teenswrite blog and Kidswrite blog.