School's Out Mini-Camps

This is a super fun genre in which readers choose their own paths through the stories. Parents probably remember popular choose-a-path series from the 80's and 90's, but did you know that they are making a comeback? Structure is the focus of this camp, as gamebooks require a ton of planning and organization. Students will carefully map their multi-path stories and learn how to entice their readers with interesting premises, compelling characters, and high-stakes, choice-based plot twists. They then draft their stories and play-test their classmates' stories! 

Ages 8-12

September 21, 2026

9:00am-4:00pm

Tuition is $95 for this one-day workshop. 

From science fiction to fantasy to folklore, many genres feature creatures and monsters that spring from pure imagination. In this workshop, we will study monsters from the literature of many cultures and times, noting the features that make them unique and the characteristics that make them work well in stories. Then we will work to create a cast of monsters to use in stories now and in the future. What brutes, demons, ogres, imps, and scallywags can you dream up during this spooky season?

Ages 8-12

October 12, 2026

9:00am-4:00pm

Tuition is $95 for this one-day workshop. 

This storytelling survival challenge is a one-day creative writing workshop where students imagine being stranded on a mysterious island and must invent clever ways to survive. Throughout the workshop they face a series of story "challenges" that encourage them to think like explorers and storytellers. Each challenge becomes part of the story they are writing. The class combines storytelling, problem-solving, and imaginative world-building, making it feel like a game as much as a writing workshop!

Ages 8-12

November 3, 2026

9:00am-4:00pm

Tuition is $95 for this one-day workshop. 

 Embark on a delectable adventure with our food blogging class, where the art of capturing flavors and sharing culinary experiences comes to life! In this camp, we will travel on foot through Downtown Cary’s culinary landscape, tasting treats from various restaurants and bakeries. We’ll explore techniques for describing flavors, textures, and aromas, as well as translating dining experiences into compelling stories to share with other food lovers. We’ll also learn how to photograph food to create an irresistible visual component to enhance the narratives. 

The camp price includes all food from local eateries. If possible, please bring a phone or digital camera. We can provide this if needed! This camp involves walking in the Downtown Cary area, up to one mile total per day.

Ages 12 and up

December 21-22, 2026

9:00am-4:00pm

Tuition is $220 for this two-day, full-day workshop. 

Tell a story in a new, artistic form by turning it into a board game! We'll choose genres and themes and create characters. Then we will envision character journeys as playable adventures with triumphs, setbacks, battles, and lucky strikes determined by spinners, cards, or dice. This is a great workshop for artsy kids, as we will be drawing game boards and sculpting game pieces. When we are finished, we'll spend some time playing each other's games!  

Ages 8-12

January 18-19, 2027

9:00am-4:00pm

Tuition is $180 for this two-day workshop. 

Have you ever opened a book and felt delighted to find a map of the story's world on the first few pages? It's so fun to use these maps to follow characters on their journeys! Learn to enhance your stories by creating maps using techniques in both digital and paper media, then plan characters and plots that unfold in the world you envisioned.

Ages 8-12

February 15, 2027

9:00am-4:00pm

Tuition is $95 for this one-day workshop.