From our classic two week camps like I.C.E. and F.I.R.E. to newbies like E.A.R.T.H. and W.A.T.E.R., we’ve got all kinds of amazing programs coming this summer!
As Youth Programs Director, I couldn’t be more excited about the line-up of 9 camps (a TBAWP record) that we’re providing to the Tampa Bay Area in 2019. As a High School Writing Teacher myself, it has always been my goal (and passion) to expand our programs to better fit the High School and beyond demographic. That’s why I started W.I.N.D. (Writers In Need of Direction), which will be back for its third year this summer. And it’s why I’m pushing so hard with the help of my TBAWP colleagues to get W.A.T.E.R. and E.A.R.T.H. off the ground. (Is that a pun?)
E.A.R.T.H. (Elevating Anthologies to Reach Today’s High-standards) will be headed by
Steinbrenner High School’s yearbook advisor, Courtney Nickel. Meeting every Wednesday night this summer, we’re hoping to draw a journalist super group together. Can you imagine the best students from Newspaper, Lit Mag, and Yearbook programs around the Bay Area coming together to collaborate on a single project? We can! That’s our vision: to give publication students a chance to collaborate, not just meet and compete like they do at FSPA. With a program packed with guest speakers, the opportunity for service hours and the chance to share ideas and techniques, this could be something to take publications in our community to the next level.
We plan to take our day camps to the next level with W.A.T.E.R. (Writers And Teachers Engaged in Revision). If middle and high school students are looking for a chance to hone their writing in specific and currently popular areas, this is the place for them! Our two programs include a week on writing a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style story and a week on World Building (inspired by YA author Kelly Coon‘s workshop at last fall’s Youth Writing Conference).
TBAWP’s Youth Programs are growing and we’re excited to see what our biggest summer yet holds in store. And beyond because, you know, everyone who comes to a summer program gets into our 2nd Annual Youth Writer’s Conference for free…
