Registration Now Open for NWA Writing Project's Young Writers Camps This Summer

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The Northwest Arkansas Writing Project will host Young Writers Camps at sites in Northwest Arkansas this summer. Camps are open to students currently in second through 11th grade. Registration is open now.

From June 10-21, students will meet at the U of A and other Northwest Arkansas schools from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Vicki Collet, director of Young Writers Camp and a professor in the College of Education and Health Professions, said the camp includes active learning in a fun camp environment.

"Our two goals are that students have fun and that their writing improves," 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 created and delivered books to the Jean Tyson Child Development Center, interviewed K9 handlers and Razorback student-athletes, analyzed and written song lyrics and filled their writing notebooks. Additional information about the 2024 Young Writers Camp is available here.

"We tell students that they need to exercise their writing muscles every day," Collet explained. "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 important part of the project. "Not only are students learning during our Young Writers Camp, but teachers are also taking away strategies they will use in their classrooms," Collet said.

Camps for young writers have been sponsored by Northwest Arkansas Writing Project for over 20 years. Northwest Arkansas Writing Project is a professional organization 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/.