HVWP summer programs give young writers skills to grow and inspiration to create
The Hudson Valley Writing Project (HVWP) Young Writers’ Program kicks off this July with a series of week-long writing camps designed to give elementary- to high-school-age students the space and support to develop as writers and explore the nature, history and art of our region.
Following the success of last year’s installment, which saw enrollment of more than 300 students, the 2015 Young Writers’ Programs aim to generate opportunities for students to access immersive reading, writing and thinking experiences that go above and beyond what is typically offered in the classroom.
“Children in many schools have only a few opportunities to write as they choose to, in a creative or open way,” said Jacqueline Denu, co-director of the HVWP. “So one of the goals of the Young Writers’ Program is to have kids come together in a writing community, to learn the craft of writing and begin to see themselves as writers.”
While some of the camps will be held on the SUNY New Paltz campus, many more are hosted at regional cultural and historical sites in Orange, Ulster and Dutchess Counties, such as the Storm King Art Center, Black Rock Forest and Historic Huguenot Street.
The workshop locations have been carefully selected to engender creative learning experiences that respond to the natural scenic beauty and deep history of the Hudson Valley.
“We feel that having place-based programs is so important,” said Diane A. Rawson, coordinating director of the Youth Writers’ Programs. “What better way to find inspiration than to go to a cultural center or historical site, soak up the environment and then express that in writing?”
Key to the success of the Young Writers’ Programs has been the active involvement and support of the HVWP collective of passionate instructors, who come from a variety of academic disciplines and all levels of the education profession. Each program session is facilitated by at least two teachers, helping to ensure that all participating students are challenged to develop their writing craft and gain confidence in their creative process.
“Our Young Writers’ Programs are co-taught by the great teachers in our network,” said Tom Meyer, associate professor of Secondary Education and founding director of the HVWP. “Our goal is to help create public places for them to contribute to learning, and to learn themselves.”
The workshops on offer as part of this year’s Young Writers’ Program include:
Everyone Is A Writer (ages 7-9) – Imaginations soar at the SUNY New Paltz campus, as students and teachers experiment with different kinds of writing and gather ideas playing games, creating art and reading children’s books. Session 1: July 6 – 10, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Session 2: July 27 – 31, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Registration is $225/session.
Where Art, History and Nature Meet (ages 12-16) – Explore regional history at the Clermont Historic Site in Germantown, N.Y. Sit on the banks of the Hudson River and join centuries of writers who have celebrated the landscape through word and image. July 13 – 17, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Registration is $295.
Writing the College Essay (ages 15-18) – Join a group to brainstorm ideas and study models in preparation for writing the Common Application essay. A SUNY New Paltz campus tour will give a window into college life and help envision the next step. July 6 – 10, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration is $275.
For a complete list of available programs and to register your young writers, please visit the HVWP Young Writers’ Programs online.
About the Hudson Valley Writing Project
The HVWP is a non-profit professional development organization founded at SUNY New Paltz in 2001. Its mission is to improve the teaching of writing and to promote literacy development in all disciplines and at all levels of education. It provides a local network of more than 200 teachers, including many SUNY New Paltz faculty and teachers in diverse academic disciplines, who share their experiences and best practices.
“The Hudson Valley Writing Project is a jewel among our array of programs,” said Michael Rosenberg, dean of the School of Education. “The meaningful contribution it makes to regional educational outcomes, both in terms of the impact it has for students and for the professional development of teachers, is a particular point of pride for the School of Education.”
For more information about the Hudson Valley Writing Project, visit them online and on their Facebook page, or call HVWP Director Tom Meyer at (845) 257-2877.