Workshops for grades 5-6

 This class is for writers who want to create worlds of their own and tell epic stories set within them. We’ll explore the building blocks of great fantasy - unique settings, powerful magic systems, heroic (and villainous!) characters, and high-stakes quests. Then we will invent maps, create original creatures and cultures, and send our characters on daring journeys filled with obstacles, mysteries, and surprising choices. By the end of the class, each student will have written a complete fantasy story (or the opening chapters of a longer one), along with a rich fantasy world they can continue to explore long after camp ends. Perfect for writers ready to think bigger and bring their imagined worlds to life on the page! 

This workshop meets for eight 90-minute classes.

  Class times:  

Wednesdays, September 2-October 21, 2026

2:00-3:30 pm

Thursdays, September 3-October 22, 2026

4:30-6:00pm

Fridays, September 4-October 23, 2026

6:00-7:30pm

Call it a lab, a foundry, an exploratorium! This is a place where you can free your inner poet and develop your own poetic process. Let's explore many different kinds of poems and discover how poets use words in surprising ways. We’ll read short examples from great poets and try a variety of styles, from funny and imaginative poems to vivid nature and storytelling poems. Through engaging prompts and activities, we'll experiment with imagery, rhythm, and sound while developing our own unique voices. 

This workshop meets for six 90-minute classes.

  Class times:  

Wednesdays, November 4-December 16, 2026

2:00-3:30 pm

Thursdays, November 5-December 17, 2026

4:30-6:00pm

Fridays, November 6-December 18, 2026

6:00-7:30pm

No class November 25, 26, 27

 Embark on a thrilling journey into the world of storytelling! Join us to hone your creative skills, craft daring plots, create dynamic characters, and write pulse-pounding scenes. From treacherous jungles to rolling seas to the tops of the highest mountains, imagination knows no bounds as we create stories of daring exploits and lead our characters out of life-or-death situations. Get ready to conquer the page and captivate readers with every twist and turn! 

This workshop meets for eight 90-minute classes.

  Class times:  

Wednesdays, January 6-February24, 2027

2:00-3:30 pm 

Thursdays, January 7-February 25, 2027

4:30-6:00pm

Fridays, January 8-February 26, 2027

6:00-7:30pm

  Why are parodies so funny? In this lively class for grades 5–6, students will explore how writers turn familiar stories, songs, and styles into something completely new and hilarious. We’ll read some great examples and learn the tricks of exaggeration, surprise, and playful imitation. Then students will create their own clever parodies—twisting well-known tales, poems, and genres into something unexpected. Get ready to laugh, be creative, and discover how fun it is to rewrite the world in your own funny way! 

This workshop meets for three 90-minute classes.

  Class times:  

Wednesdays, March 10-24, 2027

2:00-3:30 pm 

Thursdays, March 11-25, 2027

4:30-6:00pm

Fridays, March 12-26, 2027

6:00-7:30pm

 Science fiction is a speculative genre that is a perpetual favorite of readers and writers like yourself! In this course, we'll explore the limitless possibilities of the sci-fi genre and learn how to craft compelling and thought-provoking stories that transport readers to distant worlds and alternative realities. We'll cover the essential elements of sci-fi, including world-building, technology, and character creation, and examine how to incorporate these elements into our narratives to create immersive stories. This class is the perfect place to unleash your imagination and take your storytelling to new heights. Join us as we journey to the stars and beyond! 

This workshop meets for eight 90-minute classes.

  Class times:  

Wednesdays, April 7-May 26, 2027

2:00-3:30 pm 

Thursdays, April 8-May 27, 2027

4:30-6:00pm

Fridays, April 9-May 28, 2027

6:00-7:30pm