Young Writers Camp
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Build writing skills and unleash your creativity in a unique environment of like-minded individuals with a passion for writing. Explore the beauty of poetic style and the power of your own voice on paper. Language is at the core of life, and our campers learn new and liberating ways to express themselves through the written word.
Our instructors are teachers and working writers—people who understand the challenges of the writing process. Our teaching assistants, who live with the campers in the dormitory, are drawn from the college ranks and are often students who are majoring in writing. Featured presenters also add depth to our young writers’ experiences by working with them, sharing their published works, and providing a constructive audience to student endeavors.
YWC culminates in the production of a print or digital literary magazine, where new works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are published by campers. This impressive volume is a keepsake of the unique YWC experience.
Meet the Director
Kacie England joined Mercersburg Academy in 2022 as a member of the English faculty and an adviser to two of the Academy’s publications: Karux, the yearbook, and Blue Review, the literary arts journal. She arrived at Mercersburg from St. Maria Goretti High School, a college preparatory school where she taught English literature and creative writing courses. Kacie holds two bachelor’s degrees from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, one in English literature and another in English secondary education, as well as a minor in American Sign Language. At BU, she served as lead managing editor of The Voice, the university’s award-winning weekly print newspaper, and was an active member of the institution’s literary magazine, a journal that published several of her creative works.
Kacie is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society that confers distinction for high achievement in collegiate literary arts, as well as the Edith Wharton Society, a group dedicated to the scholarship and study of Wharton’s life and works. Among her academic interests, Kacie also enjoys all things cats, coffee, and eating copious amounts of sushi.
Camp Theme: Cosmic Exploration
Looking up at the night sky sparks inspiration for many. But what truly lies just beyond the stars? Writers will explore the cosmos in a literal sense, drawing inspiration from nighttime observations and midnight stargazes; and in a more imaginative way, writers will explore the philosophical implications of our vast and beautiful universe through their own compositions.
Program Overview
By combining an exciting range of writing activities with traditional camp experiences, our participants have incredible fun while also learning to think and write creatively. Mornings at camp are dedicated to the exploration of specialty classes— such as fiction, poetry, and writing for the Internet—that are chosen by campers and taught by professional writers and teachers. Afternoons are open to thematic workshops and recreational activities that include rock climbing, swimming, whitewater rafting, and trips to the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., area. The camp culminates with a student reading of new works in the Hale Studio Theatre.
Dates:
July 2-14, 2023
Open To:
Ages 11-16, coed
Tuition:
$1,700 (Commuter)
$1,900 (Residential)