Find Your Voice 

Whether it’s a poem, a play, or a piece of science fiction, writing is a powerful way to express your ideas and passions. At Kent School Summer Writers Camp, young writers come from all over the world to find their voices, hone their craft and gain the confidence to share their work in a fun, supportive atmosphere. 

In a small Morning Workshop taught by a professional writer, you’ll explore your own voice through a variety of written forms. Then, you’ll have the opportunity to delve more deeply into one genre of your choice in an Afternoon Writing Studio led by a writer with expertise in that particular form. You’ll also have the chance to share your work in camp publications and spoken word venues.

And when you’re not writing or making new friends, you can enjoy a variety of art forms and athletic activities from soccer to rowing.

  

It's All in the Process

In Workshops and Writing Studios limited to 10, you’ll investigate all stages of the creative writing process -- from the first spark of an idea to a finished piece worthy of an audience. You’ll learn techniques for generating ideas, how to organize your thoughts and polish your work. In an environment of trust and exploration, you’ll discover and refine your individual writing practice through daily writing exercises. These range from spontaneous, five-minute “flash fiction” pieces to work that calls upon a deeper level of thought and feeling, such as a poem cycle or a personal essay about your earliest memory. And as the program progresses, you’ll have the opportunity to develop or complete, with a teacher’s guidance, any longer work you may have already begun.  Through it all, constructive feedback from teachers and peers will help you become a stronger, more confident writer.

Perfect Days

Each day is divided into three general activity periods: Morning Workshop, Afternoon Writing Studio and recreational activities, followed by an optional swim in Kent School’s indoor pool to help you cool down in the late afternoon. Throughout the day, there’s plenty of time for snacks, visiting and downtime.

In Morning Workshop, you’ll explore a variety of genres, including poetry, short story, essay, memoir and science fiction.  In Afternoon Writing Studio, you’ll have a more intensive concentration in the writing form of your choice. Recent offerings have included songwriting, journalism, poetry, fantasy, playwriting and personal essay/memoir.

 
You’ll also choose one sport or art activity for each of two eight-day sessions. These one-hour afternoon recreational activities are co-ed and non-competitive, and include basketball, soccer, water sports, rowing and tennis. The camp provides all equipment except tennis racquets. Art activities have included painting, drawing and performing arts. Students are encouraged to bring musical instruments, and all campers have access to Kent School’s abundant resources.
Show Your Stuff

As you develop as a writer over the course of three weeks, you may want to share your work. One great venue for doing this is Café Kent, our on-campus evening coffee house series where you’ll show your friends and teachers what you’ve created. In addition to spoken word, Café Kent showcases individual and group performances that can include music, comedy, dance and theater.

You’ll also have the opportunity to publish your creative writing in the camp’s literary journal, Paper Café, as well as the camp newspaper, individual and class chapbooks and on the camp’s website.

 
Dedicated Teachers
Summer program faculty are drawn from Kent and other top independent schools and universities. As published authors, poets and journalists, they know how to help you grow as a writer. And because each teacher is aided by a teaching assistant (many of whom are English majors at top U.S. colleges) you are given lots of individual attention throughout the program. Since teachers and their assistants live on campus during the program, they’re available throughout the day and evening for questions and conversation.
 
Visiting Artists and Writers

The Visiting Artists Series introduces you to other artistic disciplines through a four-part series of performances and workshops. Our Visiting Artists will explore with you the creative process and connections among the arts. Working in a variety of art forms, including music, dance and visual arts, they’ll challenge you to take creative risks, experiment and improvise.

On Visiting Writers Day, campers have the unique opportunity to meet with and learn from several dynamic authors. These professional writers spend the day at Kent working with campers in small groups.  Each writer leads an interactive seminar during Morning Workshop and in the afternoon, visiting writers and students participate together in a reading for the camp community. 

Theater Day Trips and Recreational Outings  

On the second and third Sundays of camp, we’ll hop a bus for an exciting day trip to a nearby theater or other recreational venue. Recent summer performances have included productions at Shakespeare and Co. in Lennox, Mass. and the Powerhouse Summer Theater at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. 

During the week, we head to such local attractions as Lake Waramaug State Park. Saturday evenings are filled with dances and trips to a rollerblading rink and video arcade. And of course, campfires and storytelling round out the communal fun.