Central Texas Writing Project Youth Writers' Camps

CTWP teachers share the belief that students learn to write when they are inspired in a supportive, non-threatening environment. Our goal for our youth programs is to give all young writers, regardless of skill level, the opportunity to compose in a variety of styles, to become more self-confident in their own writing ability, and learn to appreciate the abilities of others.

Due to social distancing recommendations that resulted from the covid-19 pandemic, the university campus was closed in 2020. Consequently, our camps were delivered online for the first time since we began our program in 1998. Fortunately, the campus was opened again in 2021 and we offered both online and face-to-face camps.

a young kid participating in a writing camp
a young kid participating in a writing camp

We look forward to Summer 2024 with this blended perspective as a result. We have learned that the online camp has many benefits for parents and students. And camp teachers can welcome young writers from any location--in and out of Texas. However, our face-to-face camps bring the experience of learning together in a personal way, one that sets a stage for spontaneity. We strongly feel that both online and face-to-face are effective modalities for learning and sharing.

Camp Cost and Registration

Expand FAQ List

  • One camp: $270
    Two or more camps per family: $235 each

    Payment method: checks or money orders only made payable to CTWP and received by May 21, 2024. No refunds after May 28, 2024. Registration is confirmed when payment is received and processed.

    Please mail payment to

       CTWP - YWC Online
        Attn: Diane Osborne
        Dept. of C&I
        Texas State University
        601 University Dr.
        San Marcos, TX 78666

  • You will need to complete the YWC Registration Form.

    Be sure to complete one registration form for EACH child/adolescent.

    For more information, contact us at 512-245-3680 or ctwpinfo@txstate.edu.

Menu of Summer Camps 2024

Online and Face-to-Face

Our camps will be delivered virtually and in-person this summer. Camps are one or two weeks long. The cost is $270 per child or $235 each for two or more siblings. For more information, please call 512-245-3680.

TeacherAgesTitleDescriptionDatesTimeFormat
Monica Mitchell10 to 14High Five!High Five! Let sight, sound, taste, texture and smell bring your writing to life! In this sensory-based exploration of creative writing, participants will engage in a variety of writing prompts and exercises designed to stimulate the five senses and unlock the imagination. Next, we’ll explore how sensory-rich images, metaphors, and details can transform our poems, short stories, scripts and screenplays, graphic novels, memoirs, and journal writing from the ordinary to the extraordinary!July 5 to July 15, 202410:00am to 1:00pmVirtual
Allison Dunsmore13 to 17The Revision ProjectWriters will compete (against themselves) for a chance to see just what they’re capable of when it comes to revision. With each session, you will get a daily challenge that you must incorporate into your writing. Will your writing maintain your message and style while meeting the challenge requirements? That’s the goal! Our panel of judges (bloggers, writing teachers, professors, and journalists) will provide feedback to guide writers along the way. This camp will expose the infinite possibilities you have for your pieces, so everyone will leave equipped to take on the writing challenges ahead with ease - assignments and beyond!July 6 to July 17, 20249:00am to 12:00pmVirtual
Ana McDonald12 to 16Primarily ProseSome prefer poetry, others prefer prose. But the bottom line is that prose is the language of business, academics—even of social media. In this short workshop, we’ll discover the interconnections between poetry and prose and how they reveal our own, unique writers’ voices. Using these tools, we’ll create backstories for characters and scenes and also real-world pieces such as opinions and posts. Finally, we’ll collect our creations in an online portfolio similar to the one this camp's instructor used to break into professional writing in the 1990s.June 13 to June 23, 20249:00am to 12:30pmTexas State University Campus
Michelle Crowell10 to 14Walking and Writing with NatureWriters meet at a central location at Texas State University each day. From there, we walk, talk, study different types of sciences outdoors, and find places and experiences to write about like so many writers have before us. Our living classroom is the outdoors at the beautiful university campus, and possibly, natural history collection at the Meadows Center. This would also allow you, young writers, to know more about your own backyards in Central Texas. Ultimately, you will create a relationship with the outdoors that you may never have experienced before.July 5 to July 8, 20248:30am to 12:00pmTexas State University Campus

Click here to register!