The National Book Foundation’s Summer Writing Camp has been an important part of our programming for many years, and has inspired writers of all ages and backgrounds to pursue their craft. We’re sorry to report that due to funding cutbacks, the camp has been placed on hiatus. We encourage you to follow the links below to learn about other summer writing programs, for both teens and adults.

SUMMER WRITING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

Bucknell Seminar for Younger Poets (Lewisburg, PA) is a free four-week writing seminar for college students.

Denison University in Ohio has an eight day program for high school students.

Duke University in North Carolina has both a week and a half camp for 6-11th graders and workshops for 10-11th graders.

Fir Acres Workshop at Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon for high school students

Inner Spark: California State Summer School for the Arts has writing programs available for students grades 8-12.

Iowa Young Writers' Studio at the University of Iowa has a two week program for high school students.

Kenyon Review Writers Workshop is a two week workshop for students ages 16-18.

Northern Virginia Writers Program has a two week summer institute open to students grades 5-12.

University of Virginia Writers Workshop has two and three week programs open to high school students.

Writers @ Work in Salt Lake City, Utah has a four day conference for 15-18 year olds.

Writers in the Schools at Rice University in Houston has summer programs for students grades K-12.

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The only program of its kind in the country, The National Book Foundation's Summer Writing Camp enables 48 talented teens and adults to experience the writing life in the company of exceptionally dedicated writers-in-residence, and completely free of charge.

The 2004 Annual NBF Summer Writing Camp, Bennington College, Bennington, Vermont.

Modeled on traditional writers' conferences, the Camp offers apprentice writers the opportunity to travel to the countryside, where they live the life of writers for eleven days -- reading, writing, attending workshops, readings, and talking about books. The curriculum is designed by the writers-in-residence -- National Book Award authors Norma Fox Mazer and Jacqueline Woodson, and award-winning poets Cornelius Eady and Kimiko Hahn -- with an emphasis on providing students with new skills, as well as one-on-one support. Guests like National Book Award author Katherine Paterson and performance poet Tracie Morris also share their insights, meeting with students at readings and panel discussions.

The camp culminates in a Participant Reading, a uniquely empowering event that demonstrates the profound growth these aspiring authors undergo. The sense of accomplishment they share is virtually tangible, visible on their faces and in their voices; what's more, it returns with them to the "real world," empowering them to continue their work as writers. Winter workshops, conducted by a professional writer and former Writing Camp staff member, are also available free of charge to all graduates of the camp.

Summer Writing Camp is made possible through leadership funding from the Theodore H. Barth Foundation, Perseus Books Group, and Borders Books & Music, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts, MeadWestVaco, Courier Corporation, Bruno Quinson, Alberto and Gioietta Vitale, Martin and Deborah Bernstein, Katherine Paterson, Lawrence Bergreen, Arthur Thornhill, Lutz & Carr, Yolanda Moses, and New Amsterdam Entertainment. The New York State Council for the Arts supports the Camp’s off-season workshops.