10 Summer Writing Programs for Middle School Students
If you're a middle school student with a passion for writing, spending your summer in a dedicated writing program can be a solid way to enhance your skills and creativity!
Writing programs offer a structured environment where you can learn from experienced instructors, engage in creative exercises, and receive feedback on your work. Participating in a writing program not only hones your writing skills but also helps build your confidence and provides an excellent addition to your academic profile. This can come in handy while prepping for competitions, as well as writing essays as a high school student.
To help you get started, here are 10 summer writing programs for middle school students!
Location: University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, PA
Cost: $1,500. Need-based scholarships are available
Application Deadline: March 10, 2024
Program Dates: July 24 - August 4, 2024
Eligibility: Open to students aged 14-19.
The Alpha Workshop offers young writers the chance to develop their craft in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. You will attend lectures, critique sessions, and writing exercises led by published authors. This year, these authors will be Vita Ayala, Mark Oshiro, Kameron Hurley, and Meg Elison. The program also includes individual writing time, feedback from peers and instructors, and opportunities to submit work for publication.
2. WriCampia
Location: Camp Danbee, Berkshires, MA
Cost: $3,950
Application Deadline: Registration is still open, but some age groups are already waitlisted
Program Dates: August 12 - 23, 2024
Eligibility: Open to rising 5th graders through rising 12th graders
Writopia Lab offers a sleepway summer writing camp that provides a supportive environment for young writers. Middle school students can choose from a variety of workshops, including fiction, poetry, playwriting, and journalism. The program includes daily writing exercises, group discussions, and opportunities to share work with peers.
Location: Various locations across California
Cost: $499 per week (Scholarships Available)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the summer.
Eligibility: The middle school program is open to campers entering grades 6-8
Adventures in Writing Camp provides a fun and engaging environment for young writers. You can participate in creative writing workshops, group activities, and individual writing time - which is a good mix of skill-building and collaboration for a program. The program focuses on developing storytelling skills, improving writing techniques, and building confidence in younger students for future writing assignments and competitions.
Location: Columbus, OH
Cost: $300
Application Deadline: Registration is open until spots are filled
Program Dates: Multiple one-week sessions in June and July.
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 2-9.
Thurber House offers a summer writing camp that provides middle school students with a week of creative writing instruction. Participants attend daily workshops, engage in writing exercises, and receive feedback from instructors. The program emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and the development of a personal writing style.
Location: Interlochen, MI
Cost: $6,765
Application Deadline: Applications are currently closed
Program Dates: Session 1: June 23, 2024 to July 13, 2024 | Session 2: July 14, 2024 to August 4, 2024
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-8.
The Interlochen Arts Camp Creative Writing Program provides a rigorous and inspiring environment for young writers. Students participate in daily workshops, focusing on fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The program also includes readings, guest lectures, and opportunities to engage with other art forms, fostering a well-rounded artistic experience.
We’ve covered this program in detail here, along with our review of it.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $2050 (Financial Aid Available)
Application Deadline: March 29
Program Dates: Session 1: June 17 - 28, 2024 | Session 2: July 8 - 19, 2024
Eligibility: Open to students in grade 8.
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer middle school students the chance to explore creative writing in a university setting. Workshops cover various genres, including fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The program emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and the development of a unique writing style, providing students with valuable skills and insights. There are two online courses for middle school students to participate in writing workshops, more details of which are available here.
Location: In-person at UCLA or virtual
Cost: $650
Application Deadline:
Program Dates: June 20 - July 3, 2024
Eligibility: Open to rising 5th to 8th graders
UCLA offers two courses for middle school students. One that caters to rising 5th to 6th graders: Crafting the Story - Writing Workshop. Students will work on writing short stories, recording memories, and inserting dialogue into text. At the end of the course, they will publish pieces in the class anthology. The other is called Be a Force of Nature: Reading and Writing about the Environment for rising 7th to 8th graders. Students will read, watch, and listen to texts about the environment and then subsequently write stories about themselves connected to nature. They will also write an argumentative essay that talks about action and change.
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost: Varying cost
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: Multiple sessions: June 16 - 28; June 30 - July 5; July 7 - 19; July 21 - 26
Eligibility: Open to students currently in 6th - 11th grade.
Duke Young Writers' Camp offers middle school students an immersive writing experience across various genres, including fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The program also includes readings, guest speakers, and opportunities to explore the Duke University campus, providing a well-rounded and inspiring experience.
Location: Denver, CO
Cost: Cost varies by courses
Application Deadline: Registration closes when classes fill up
Program Dates: Various dates
Eligibility: Open to students aged 8-18
The Lighthouse Summer Writing Intensive offers a week-long camp led by award-winning and published writers. Each workshop is tailored to inspire creativity, foster self-expression, and ignite a passion for writing. Young writers will have the chance to work closely with several published instructors across various genres, gaining new insights into the craft of writing.
Throughout the week, participants will complete at least one piece of work and leave with a renewed enthusiasm for future projects. At the end of the program, campers will have the opportunity, though not the obligation, to present their writing in a public reading. This camp welcomes writers of all levels of experience, ensuring an inclusive and encouraging environment for everyone involved.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Some classes are free, but prices are typically $475 for non-members and $450 for members each. Scholarships are available for all classes
Application Deadline: Classes have maximum capacity, so once that is filled, they are closed.
Program Dates: One-week sessions in July and August.
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13-18.
GrubStreet's Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP) provides middle school students with a creative and supportive environment to explore their writing. Participants engage in workshops covering fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, led by experienced instructors. The program also includes readings, guest speakers, and opportunities to share work with peers, fostering a vibrant writing community.
One more option - The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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