Outdoor Writers | Ages: 9-16

Summertime, sunshine, green rolling hills, nature, and you! Spend five days communing with the writer within you at our retreat in the Bristol Hills. Explore with professional writers and naturalists along the Finger Lakes Trail as you learn the art of observation. Visit nearby Cumming Nature Center where you’ll create field journals in which to sketch and write. Learn Native history and culture with a field trip to Ganondagan. Visiting artists throughout the week will offer workshops in Native Dance, yoga, and spoken word poetry.  You’ll create stories, dramatic monologues, and poems probing the past, present, and future of the landscape, plants, and animals. Our favorite pieces will be used to create an all-camp anthology. Please dress to hike and pack a bag lunch each day. If you have your own camera, bring that as well! For some activities campers will be split into two groups by age.

Note: This camp takes place at Gell, Writers & Books’ retreat center in Naples, NY. With support from generous funders, busing is provided free-of-charge from 740 University Avenue, Rochester, departing at 8:00 am and returning at 5:00 pm. Alternatively, campers may meet at Gell.

Teaching Artist(s): Emma Callahan and Katherine Varga
Location: Gell Center: 6581 West Hollow Rd, Naples, NY 14512
Camp Date: July 17 – July 21
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm, Bus drop off and pick up at Writers & Books: 8:00 am-5:00pm
Price: Members $344 | General Public $377
Deadline To Register: July 9, 11:59 pm
Minimum Enrollment: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 20

Scholarships Available. If your scholarship application is declined or the award does not meet your need, please email office@wab.org with the subject line “SW Scholarship” to discuss an adjustment.

Extended care is not available for this camp.

For more information about SummerWrite visit our Things to Know page.

Cancellation: In the event that a camp must be canceled due to low enrollment or other unforeseeable circumstances, you will be notified as far in advance as possible, generally 3-5 business days. A full refund will be issued.

Withdrawal: To withdraw, email vanessaf@wab.org. If you withdraw at least 10 business days before the first day of  camp, you will receive a full refund, minus a 15% administrative fee. If you withdraw between 5 and 9 business days before the first day of  camp, you will receive a full refund, minus a 25% administrative fee. No refunds will be given for withdrawals after the above cited dates.