Registration Open for NWA Writing Project's 2022 Young Writers Camps

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The Northwest Arkansas Writing Project will host Young Writers Camps at various sites across Northwest Arkansas this summer.

Registration is open now for students currently in second through 11th grades. From June 13-24, students will meet at the U of A and other NWA schools from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Vicki Collet, director of Young Writers Camp, said participants can expect active learning in a fun camp environment. "Our two goals are that students have fun and improve their writing," she said. "For example, students might participate in a scavenger hunt, looking for clues that would help them write a story."

Past Young Writers Camp participants have played guessing games to focus on using descriptive language, analyzed and written song lyrics, participated in collaborative writing contests and filled their writing notebooks. Additional information about the 2022 Young Writers Camp is available here.

"We tell students that they need to exercise their writing muscles daily," Collet said. "Just like kids attending sports camps, writing takes practice and stamina. We give kids lots of opportunities for both as they participate in individual, small group and whole-group writing experiences."

After camp each day, teachers will meet to collaborate and focus on improved writing instruction. These professional learning experiences are an essential part of the project. "Not only are students learning during Young Writers Camp, but teachers are also taking away strategies they will use in their classrooms," Collet explained.

The Northwest Arkansas Writing Project has sponsored young writers camps for more than 20 years. The professional organization is focused on improving writing in area schools. As one of about 200 national Writing Project sites, it provides professional development for educators and directly reaches young writers through summer camps and other activities. For more information about writing project events, contact Collet at collet@uark.edu or visit nwawp.uark.edu.