How long has this camp been in operation?
Old Dominion University sponsored our first camp in July 1997 as an experiment. ODU spends one month each summer working with
select writing teachers, the best in the region, in an intensive writing workshop known as the Tidewater Writing Project
(part of the National Writing Project network in universities across America).
A similar intensive writing program was launched for twenty students in an invitational writing camp that summer. The camp
was so successful that it was opened to the general public and has grown to accommodate over 200 young writers each summer.
Our return campers rate is astounding. Most summers 40% of the writers attend camp for a second time, and one summer 90%
returned.
Who attends the camp? Students entering grades 2-8 are eligible to attend camp. Many of the children who attend are gifted writers recommended by teachers. Others include children who may need to strengthen their writing skills.
How can students of various ability levels work together?
The individualized program used (a writing workshop) allows each type of learner to soar. In the writing workshop setting, students
have many works in progress. Each child works at his own pace with daily feedback from the writing instructor. The instructor
builds on the writing skills a child has mastered prior to camp. This individualized instruction guarantees skills improvement
for children of any ability level.
How is camp different from writing at school?
The academic emphasis is somewhat like school. The writing workshop approach tends to inspire children to write. After all,
how often are children allowed to work on self-selected projects like they do in a writing workshop? And how often do they get
daily positive individualized feedback from the teacher?
During the school year in our classrooms, children were taking their writing folders to lunch, recess, and even home to do more work.
The kids would moan when writing workshop time ended. The key to keeping them motivated is that we start with what a child
knows, and build from there. They feel competent and are willing to accept new challenges in their learning.
How will camp help my child in the future?
Unfortunately the writing workshop approach was dropped from many classrooms with the
recent emphasis on SOL testing in Virginia because the writing workshop is a very time consuming learning practice.
We are able to fill the gap and allow children to spend time writing in camp. Research shows that the best way for children to learn writing skills is to write and write and write!
The skills we share in camp focus on the craft of writing (i.e. composition, style, organization) over grammar/mechanics.
Schools currently emphasize the latter. Tests, such as the Standards of Learning Writing Exam, score the craft of writing heavily
so camp helps prepare the students. It prepares them to handle ANY writing exercise or exam!
We are thrilled by feedback from many parents who tell stories of how teachers recognize the talent of former campers. One mother
tells how the teacher commented that her son's writing stood out above the rest of the class. When asked how he could write such
interesting sentences, he said,
"It's the stuff I learned at writing camp."
Another middle school child's teacher questioned whether he had written a fabulous paper independently because of the dramatic improvement after the summer break. Again, writing camp is what made his writing skills and self-confidence soar.
Which course is best for my child?
Creative Writing 1: We recommend beginning with Creative Writing I for most young writers. There are many students who repeat Creative Writing I for two or three summers. The course is updated each year. With new lessons, kids enjoy a fresh curriculum.
Creative Writing 2: Older students (grade 5-8) who have been noted for writing talent at their home school best suit the Creative Writing II course. This advance course is much faster paced and more academic.
I have a 5th or 6th grader. Do I choose the Creative Writing 1 or Creative Writing 2 course?
Karen Reidelbach, one of the camp
founders and directors, taught gifted 8th graders and found most were lacking the skills taught in Creative Writing I.
There is nothing elementary about this course! Older children can write a more sophisticated sentence, but they also need to
learn how to elaborate out the dramatic parts of the story.
For example, a second grader may learn to show anger in a story by writing "I slammed the door." An older child would take the same lesson and learn to turn that into a paragraph showing the anger. Here's what one 6th grader from Creative Writing I wrote:
I grabbed my door and flung it, but I caught it before it slammed. I kicked the wall so hard it almost started an earthquake. I could feel the steam puffing out of my ears! I threw some books at my door as hard as I could. "It's not fair!" I yelled. I kicked and screamed as hard as I could. My face was practically orange. My eyes were red. All of a sudden, I heard my mom calling me to come to dinner. I could smell spaghetti. I calmed down and went downstairs. I don't think I'll ever be that angry again.
What skills will my child learn from this curriculum?
Creative writing techniques are emphasized. We get to the kids to change their writing style from telling the plot to showing
the story in the same way that a storyteller enchants her listeners. We begin with analyzing great children's literature.
We note how published authors give clues so the reader can infer the meaning. Those passages grab our attention and compel
us to read on. For instance, a beginning writer might write:
Ashley was sad.
An accomplished author would lead you to that conclusion by writing:
Tears streamed down Ashley's face. She quivered from head to toe, barely able to catch her breath between sobs.
Giving clues to imply rather than stating the obvious is part of how an author thinks. Other techniques that our young authors will use are:
On the final day of camp, parents are invited to an Open House. Students publish a story and share it with the visitors. Golden line awards are presented along with an anthology of all the young authors' work.
Who are the instructors?
Camp Directors, Terri Darnell and Karen Reidelbach also serve as instructors. All other staff are members of the National
Writing Project and its local affiliate, the Tidewater Writing Project at Old Dominion University. These are teachers who get
excited about a well-crafted story and are noted for their teaching excellence.
Who is a point of contact?
During camp sessions there is a site director who can help parents and campers with any concerns or special needs. Before camp
begins, if you have questions not answered in our website, you may call camp directors Terri Darnell (home 481-4203) or Karen
Reidelbach (home 496-9070). Or you mail e-mail us at campqs@aol.com
Is transportation available?
We ask that all parents provide transportation to camp, although we find many families carpool.
Are scholarships available?
Neither camp nor ODU offer scholarships to this camp.
What is a typical day of camp like?
We begin with a lesson on a writing technique, and experiment with the skill in a group activity, game, drama skit, or partner
activity. Children then apply the technique to stories they are working on individually.
During the independent writing time, the instructor works with individual students on their stories. There is also a daily share
session where we read excerpts of our work and give daily awards to all students for trying a new writing technique. There is a
snack/bathroom break each day as well.
In the final days of camp we work on publishing a best effort story for the parent open house. We create homemade books that are life
long keepsakes. An anthology of all the campers' stories are given to each camper to take home as well.
Policies
How can I get writing camp at my child's school?
We have had various schools PTAs sponsor writing camp as an enrichment course open to its students as well as outside students.
A stipend is paid to each host school. This is a wonderful and effortless fundraiser for any school's PTA. The only requirement
we have of host schools is that you make space in limited classrooms for our campers. Contact us if you would like to be a host
school in the future.
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