Writing Programs For High School Students

With profound thanks to Katie Chen, Sarah Feng, and Amelia Van Donsel for assistance with research and composition.

We know how it goes: your friends focusing on STEM areas or sports have already got their summers figured out, and you want to write. But where? And how? And how can I learn—which programs are vanity programs, and which do the work?

We struggled with this precise set of questions as high school students, so we set out to create this nifty guide for all student writers looking for writing workshops, camps, mentorship programs, and writing studios. Got another camp or two (or seven) in mind? Give us a shout and we'll check it out!

In the meantime, you may wish to additionally check out our college guide for high school creative writers, as well as our tips for high school teen writers.

Sign Up for Updates!

No matter where you choose to spend your summer, be sure to spend it with us! By signing up below, you'll receive updates each time we open a submission period or release an issue, and you'll receive our 2020 Guide to High School Summer Programs, Camps, and Writing Workshops. (Note: If you are already subscribed to our mailing list, you will already receive this content.)

Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program

2019 Duration: June 23rd – August 3rd (Check back soon for 2020 dates)
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
Opens for applications on March 15th, until April 15th

(Disclaimer: We are alums of this program.) The Adroit Summer Mentorship Program is definitely worth your attention! A little over a month long, this free, online summer program revolutionizes your approach to writing and consistently pushes you to approach writing and publishing more creatively. Mentors are a range of experienced and flexible professional writers across genres and across aesthetics. The program also provides a number of networking opportunities—with a shared Facebook group and weekly peer reviews, we were introduced to people who would later become our closest writing friends today.

Overview
Application Guidelines
Sign Up for Application Period Updates

Bard College at Simon's Rock Young Writer's Workshop

Duration: July 12th – August 1st
Eligibility: Grades 9-11
Deadline: Rolling admission beginning in January; open until filled

Located at the beautiful rural campus of Bard College at Simon's Rock, this three-week workshop for young writers encourages students to find unconventional, expressive, and out-of-the-box ways of writing, while encouraging peer review and assigned reading seminars. The low teacher to student ratio –– each session is only 12 students –– also encourages personalized attention.

Overview
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Between the Lines @ the University of Iowa

2019 Duration: June 22nd – July 6th; July 13th – 27th (Check back soon for 2020 dates)
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18
2019 Deadline: Ranges depending on the program(s) to which you're applying (Check back soon for 2020 dates)

Iowa's BTL program provides a cultural exchange program for students from the United States, Russia, and Arabic-speaking countries. With an emphasis on world literature and arts, the camp conducts workshops in students' native languages. Evening and weekend excursions include nature sightseeing and translation events.

Overview
Application Guidelines
Application Portal (for American students –– different process for international students)

Boston University's Academic Immersion (AIM) Program

Duration: July 5th – August 14th (specific dates vary according to programme)
Eligibility:Rising juniors and rising seniors
Deadline: Rolling admission; open until filled

Offered in partnership with Boston University's acclaimed Creative Writing Program, Academic Immersion (AIM): Creative Writing gives students the opportunity to develop their writer's voice in a supportive, inspiring environment. Participants learn formal techniques in multiple genres from seasoned instructors and participate in workshops that build confidence as well as skill. Experiential learning activities include craft talks from published authors, free-write exercises, and visits to important cultural centers around Boston.

Overview
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

CSSSA (California State Summer School) Creative Writing Program

Duration: Unclear based on this year's guidelines
Eligibility: Grades 9-12; California residents
Deadline: Unclear based on this year's guidelines

The creative writing program at the California State Summer School is a four-week workshop for Californian high schoolers. CSSSA includes instruction in fiction, poetry, memoir, and dramatic writing, taught by four professional writers. The approximately 70 students the program admits per year are designated California Arts Scholars; upon completion of the program, each is awarded a Governor's Medallion, California's highest honor for artistically gifted students.

Overview
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Denison University Reynolds Young Writer's Workshop

Duration: June 21st – 28th
Eligibility: Grades 11-12
Deadline: March 1st

The Reynolds Young Writer's Workshop is a residential 8-day workshop for passionate high school student writers. Founded in 1994, it is one of the oldest summer writing camps for high school students in the country.

Overview
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Duke Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP)

Duration: 2 weeks, varies for location/course
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: Varies for location/course

Duke TIP, located in places such as Costa Rica, New Mexico, North Carolina, and beyond, provides in-depth courses in all different subject matters. In the Fine Arts track, TIP offers Creative Writing Unplugged –– becoming more professional and organized with writing –– and Filmmaking: the Art of Visual Storytelling, a project-based class about visual communication.

Overview
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Hugo House: Scribes Summer Writing Camps

Duration:1–2 weeks, varies for location/course. (July/August)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
Deadline: Early bird registration: Feb. 4. General registration opens Mar. 31

For more than 20 years, Scribes has been the place where young writers from diverse backgrounds are able to find community, voice, and high-quality arts instruction. These nonresidential camps, which take place at Seattle arts hotspots Hugo House, MOHAI, and the Henry Art Gallery, expose young writers to a range of genres, forms, and writers. Programming includes lessons from accomplished writers and guest artists, field trips, writing activities, craft exercises, public readings, and more.

Overview and Registration
FAQ

Iowa Young Writer's Studio

Duration: June 14th – 27th (Session 1), July 5th – 18th (Session 2).
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
Deadline:February 7th

The Iowa Young Writer's Studio, held in the literary hub of Iowa City, is a two-week writing workshop in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. IYWS is highly touted by most young writers; it's well-known for being very selective with applicants, and is regarded as a top provider of in-person literary community and instruction in teenage literary circles.

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Interlochen Center for the Arts Creative Writing Summer Program

Duration: June 27th – July 18th; July 19th – August 9th
Eligibility: Grades 6-12 (high school and middle school camps are separate)
Deadline: January 15th

Hosted in the Writing House, an immersive building constructed specifically for writers, students engage in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and playwriting workshops, participate in independent study, and perform at public readings. Also, you'll be living in a cabin with participants from all the different majors –– music, visual arts, etc. –– and outside of classes, it's like an art haven; at night, violinists and poets host open mics, and artists are always painting against the serene Interlochen lake. In summer 2017, Interlochen even hosted its own miniature Color Run for campers.

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY)

Duration: Many different sessions
Eligibility: Grades 2-6, Grades 7-12
Deadline: Different deadlines with tiered consideration; see guidelines for details

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth is a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and developing the talents of academically advanced pre-college students around the world. It serves bright learners and their families through our research, advocacy, and counseling, as well as our signature gifted and talented summer, online, international, and family programs. With a few lit-themed classes like Crafting the Essay and The Graphic Novel, you may just find your summer plans here.

Website
Application Guidelines

Kelly Writers House Summer Workshop @ UPenn

Duration: TBD (Check back soon for 2020 dates)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11 or 12 in summer 2020
Deadline: TBD (Check back soon for 2020 dates)

At the Kelly Writers House Summer Workshop, students will spend each morning in a personal essay writing workshop led by Penn creative writing instructor Jamie-Lee Josselyn, who also serves as the Director of the Summer Workshop. Over the course of the workshop, students will read and critique one another's writing as part of the revision process. The goal of this workshop is to provide creative high school students, especially those who have not had similar opportunities, with the chance to dedicate full days to the practice of writing. Students will develop their own work and will read and critique their peers' writing in a setting similar to an undergraduate writing workshop. There will also be time to explore Penn and Philadelphia with fellow workshop students and program staff.

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop

Duration: June 28th – July 11th (Session 1); July 19th – August 1st (Session 2)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16- 18
Deadline: March 1st

Located at Kenyon College, for two weeks student writers are challenged to exploring, reconstructing, and sharing their writing through daily workshops. Since it is also a residential program, students also have the chance to interact with and connect with students who love writing as much as they do. This program is an extremely highly regarded summer writing program, and should definitely be checked out!

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Kundiman Youth Leadership Intensive

2019 Duration: July 9th – 13th (Check back soon for 2020 dates)
Eligibility: Rising 9th grade – 12th grade students who self-identify as Asian American.
2019 Deadline: March 15(Check back soon for 2020 dates)

Students will read selections from important works of Asian American literature and history and will consider how they speak to the opportunities and challenges we face in the twenty-first century. As a culminating project, they will engage in an oral history/creative writing Kavad project which will bring them in dialogue with their peers and instructors in a highly supportive, fun, and encouraging environment. Throughout the Intensive, they will receive counsel from leading writers, artists, and industry innovators.

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

New England Young Writers Conference

Duration: May 14th – 17th
Eligibility: Grades 9-11.
Deadline: December 5th 2019 **DEADLINE PASSED** (sign up for our 2020 version below so you don't miss next year's deadline!)

The New England Young Writers' Conference (NEYWC) at Middlebury College's picturesque Bread Loaf Campus is a four day writing-focused workshop for high school students in New England and from around the country. The long weekend is packed with writing seminars, workshops, readings, and opportunities to meet fellow young writers. High School English teachers or guidance counselors may nominate up to five students from their school to participate in the conference. Up to two may be selected.

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Northwestern Center for Talent Development (CTD)

Duration: June 28th – July 17th (Session 1); July 19th – August 7th (Session 2)
Eligibility: Many different grade brackets, ranging from Age 3 to Grade 12.
Deadline: June 12th (Session 1); June 26th (Session 2)

Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development provides challenging enrichment, honors and Advanced Placement courses taught in a highly supportive environment. From early childhood through elementary, middle and high school, Center for Talent Development (CTD) gifted summer programs encourage gifted kids to explore academic areas of interest and connect with a community of peers. The Equinox Program caters to grade 9-12 students.

Website
Application Guidelines
Tuition Information

San Juan Island Young Authors Program

Duration: July 20th – August 2nd
Eligibility: Students entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
Deadline:Unclear based on this year's guidelines.

At the Young Authors Program, you'll spend two weeks writing in Friday Harbor on beautiful San Juan Island. Be inspired by the program's award-winning authors, the amazing surrounding beaches, orca whales, numerous cafes, sunsets, and forest trails. Friday Harbor is a safe, quirky town where you can explore, make friends, and have fun.

In the morning, you'll dive into generating work and learning more about your craft in small workshop classes. Afternoons and evenings will provide opportunities for you to meet visiting authors for small craft workshops specific to your work, work one-on-one with visiting authors, peers, and editors, write with others or on your own, and explore the town of Friday Harbor.

Room and board includes accommodations at Spring Street International School's spacious and comfortable residential hall and locally sourced meals prepared by our residential chef.

Come discover our island for yourself—and what you have to say while you're here. Our dedicated team of writers and editors is ready to help you leverage your current passion and skills, learn new techniques, build a community of writers, and push your writing to the next level. Come write with us!

Website
Application Portal (scroll down)

Sarah Lawrence Creative Writing Workshop

Duration: August 3rd – 7th
Eligibility: Students entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
Deadline:Unclear based on this year's guidelines.

Directed by distinguished faculty members, this program allows high school students to explore writing in a non-competitive and non-judgmental environment that values the risks and adventure of the creative process. Each day, participants attend writing and theatre workshops led by prose writers, poets, and performance artists. Included in the week are mini-workshops taught by program faculty and guest artists. Rooted in the Sarah Lawrence College tradition of one-on-one interaction, the program offers students the opportunity to meet individually with workshop leaders. Classes are limited to 18 students, with three faculty members per workshop. The program also includes faculty and student readings and a celebration of student work on the final day of the program.

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Sewanee Young Writers' Conference

Duration: Unavailable (Check back soon for 2020 dates)
Eligibility: Grades 9-11
Deadline: Rolling

Held at the University of the South, the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference is a two-week camp taught by authors recognized by the New York Times and the Oprah Book Club, among other prestigious organizations. Small classes are put in rigorous environments and often go on local excursions, such as hiking in forests which serve as the settings for famous books. SYWC also offers classes in playwriting and songwriting, a rare trait for a high school program.

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Stanford University Summer Sessions

Duration: June 20th – August 16th
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, 12th, or gap year student
Deadline: Unavailable (Check back soon for 2020 dates)

This one comes recommended from Adroit's editor-in-chief, Peter LaBerge. The Stanford Summer Session offer high schoolers the chance to take undergraduate-level Stanford courses in fields of their choosing; the creative writing ones, spanning all the major genres, are taught by Wallace Stegner Fellows like Adroit contributors Richie Hofmann, Laura Romeyn, Jacques J. Rancourt, and more.

Website
Application Guidelines
Application Portal

Telluride Association (TASS)

Duration: June 21st – August 1st
Eligibility: High school sophomores or equivalent.
Deadline: January 6th (sign up for our 2020 version below so you don't miss next year's deadline!)

For six weeks, 56 rising juniors are able to participate in a college level seminar at either Cornell University or University of Michigan. While it's focused on critical black and ethnic studies, students who love history and social justice, or who want to learn something new, are highly encouraged apply. As someone who has been lucky enough to attend, the six weeks I spent at TASS not only challenged me to rethink my opinions but also provided me with a lifelong community.

Website
Application Guidelines

Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)

Duration: June 21st – August 1st
Eligibility: High school juniors or equivalent.
Deadline: January 13th (sign up for our 2020 version below so you don't miss next year's deadline!)

TASP is a program that is perfect for any student who is in love with the tangible act of learning. Rising seniors participate in one of four seminars located at one of three campuses: Cornell University, University of Michigan, or University of Maryland. At TASP, students can expect to meet others who are just as passionate about learning, as well as being intellectually challenged every day.

Website
Application Guidelines

UVA Young Writers Program

Duration: June 21st – July 3rd (Session 1); July 5th – 24th (Session 2)
Eligibility: Rising 9th grade through rising 12th grade with a minimum age 13 by start of session (June 24 – July 6) or Rising 10th grade through rising college freshmen with a minimum age 14 by start of session.
Deadline: March 1st (late applicants are accepted on a space-available basis)

The Young Writer's Workshop of the University of Virginia is a nonprofit arts organization established in 1982 as the nation's flagship program for young writers. Now in its fourth decade, it continues to bring together a community of writers from across the country and internationally with a common purpose: to create a supportive, non-competitive environment where teenage writers can live and work together as artists. The faculty of authors and residential staff bring professional experience to the development of new talent. The summer program is located on the idyllic campus of nearby Sweet Briar College where the Young Writers Workshop welcomes its participants to a retreat space where writers commune with each other, immerse themselves in creative activity, and fuel their imaginations through an innovative arts program.

Website
Application Details
Application Portal

Sign Up for Updates!

Again, no matter where you choose to spend your summer, be sure to spend it with us! By signing up below, you'll receive updates each time we open a submission period or release an issue, and you'll receive our 2020 Guide to High School Summer Programs, Camps, and Writing Workshops. (Note: If you are already subscribed to our mailing list, you will already receive this content.)

* * *

Katie Chen is a junior at Colonel By Secondary School in Ontario, Canada.Sarah Feng is a sophomore at the Pinewood School in Los Altos, California. Peter LaBerge is the San Francisco-based editor-in-chief of the Adroit Journal. Amelia Van Donsel is a freshman at Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, New York.

Peter LaBerge

Peter LaBerge founded The Adroit Journal in 2010, as a high school sophomore. His work appears in Crazyhorse, Harvard Review, Indiana Review, Iowa Review, Kenyon Review Online, Pleiades, and Tin House, among others. He is the recipient of a 2020 Pushcart Prize.