HVWP invites Courageous Writers to weeklong program at Roosevelt Historic Site

The Hudson Valley Writing Project (HVWP) at SUNY New Paltz welcomes young writers aged 12-16 to join master teachers and park rangers at the inspiring Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites from July 30 – Aug. 3.

A few placements are still available to students looking for an opportunity to develop their creative voice and using writing from multiple perspectives as a tool for deepening self-knowledge and discovery.

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.newpaltz.edu/hvwp/summercamps/.

“Courageous Writers” extends a nation-wide experiment led by the National Writing Project, which pairs six local Writing Project sites (including the HVWP) with neighboring National Park Service sites.

The goal of this experiment, now in its fifth year, has been to develop place-based learning that actually works. It emphasizes immersive experiences, working over the course of weeks rather than days, alongside educators with rare talent for illuminating history and helping young minds reach their highest potential for creative expression.

At the Hudson Valley site, Writing Project master teachers work alongside national park rangers to lead students on behind-the-scenes visits and hikes to the Vanderbilt Mansion, Top Cottage, Val-Kill and the Roosevelt’s Estate.

They are invited to reflect on the artifacts and natural features preserved at the Historic Sites, and the generations of remarkable individuals (including Eleanor and Franklin Delano Roosevelt) who have called it home.

Previous years of Courageous Writers participants have even been invited to publish their thoughts as contributions to a Hudson Valley Writing Project website dedicated to documenting promising ideas for writing before, during, and after real or virtual visits to the National Park.

“Courageous Writers” is open to students aged 12-16. It will run from July 30 – Aug. 3 at the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Complete registration information is available online.

HVWP also invites teachers to participate in Write Out, a new, web-based writing event hosted by the National Writing Project and the National Park Service. Write Out is focused on connecting teachers, park rangers and writers of all ages with community-generated writing activities fueled by outdoor excursions.

Learn more at writeout.nwp.org, and be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram using #writeout.

About the Hudson Valley Writing Project
The Hudson Valley Writing Project at SUNY New Paltz is a professional development organization whose purpose is to improve the teaching of writing and to promote literacy development in all disciplines and at all levels of education, preschool through college. HVWP teachers help students become successful writers, learners, and participants in their communities.

Learn more at http://www.newpaltz.edu/hvwp/.