Community Corner
Bay Area Writers Project for Kids
Writing summer camp ends with celebration for family and friends at Book Passage
There were over 70 adults and children at Book Passage celebrating the culmination of the three-week Young Writers’ Camp. This summer marks the 15th year of this summer enrichment program. The camp, sponsored by the Bay Area Writing Project (BAWP) at UC Berkeley, offers children entering 4th through 9th grade a wonderful opportunity to develop their creativity and writing talents and to make new friends along the way.
Children write for extended periods of time, revising, publishing and sharing their creations with their peers. They use poetry and literature as a model for inspiration and are introduced to various writing styles. There is in-depth writing instruction, workshops, conferences with instructors and an opportunity to publish their writings on this online BAWP E-zine.
During this end of workshop celebration, the children presented with poise, confidence and flair. Each one came to the podium with their poems, short stories, plays, or opening chapters of fiction. Writings were touching, funny, poignant and well written.
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Topics included, mysteries, dreams, colors, animals, school, summer, sunrise, family, memories, sports, braces, scuba diving, and new siblings. There were poems about fear, hope, nature and chocolate. Short stories entitled, Intoxicated, The Deadly Game of Poker, Slice of Life-Making it into the Baseball Championships, Biker Boys, and A Silent Dancer.
Instructors have participated in intensive trainings and are fully credentialed, experienced classroom teachers who serve as BAWP Teacher-Consultants.
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Jennifer Sterling, a 4th grade teacher at Kentfield's Bacich Elementary School, worked with the incoming 7th, 8th and 9th graders. She shared, “The theme of this year’s camp was inspiration and I would have to say that the pleasure was all ours. We felt completely inspired by these writers. We had a lot of fun...”
Marj Clagett, a 1st grade teacher in Petaluma, worked with the incoming 4th and 5th graders, and said, “It’s been the best 3 weeks you can imagine!”
Sara Niesen, also a 4th grade teacher at Bacich said, “I consider myself extremely fortunate to work with these clever, creative, motivated writers for three weeks… What I will cherish most about my time in our camp this year is eavesdropping on young writers in their response groups as they offer earnest, intelligent feedback about pieces they've written… the care for each other as people and the thoughtfulness with which they approach writing impresses me every day.”
These creative, enthusiastic, talented children presented a wonderful evening complete with laughter, energy, compassion and fun!
For more information about the Bay Area Writing Project Youth Writing Camps please call: 510-642-0971 or click on this link: BAWP
