This summer, the Meadow Brook Writing Project (MBWP) is hosting its third annual youth summer writing camps at “America’s Castle,” Meadow Brook Hall, recently designated as a National Historic Landmark. The young authors will have the opportunity to explore the mansion and its gardens, and work with award-winning, specially trained writing teachers to nurture, polish, and ultimately publish their original works.
“The camps are a true celebration of writing; for many of our campers it is the first time they have been in the company of peers who also love to write,” explained Rebecca Rivard, camp director and Oakland University special lecturer. “We also welcome reluctant writers, because the freedom to explore language and write stories that they are passionate about can kindle a legacy of positive writing experiences.”
During their time at camp, the young authors will take daily tours of the 110-room mansion where they can spark their imaginations by exploring the elaborately detailed and custom made home built between 1926 and 1929. The young authors will then take part in writing workshops where they will learn the newest writing techniques for their age group. Some of the camp’s sections even provide the young authors with the opportunity to turn their work into an orally narrated digital movie that will be uploaded to YouTube.
In addition to the youth camps, MBWP is offering a special section for adult writers. “It will be a chance for adults to archive family stories, post a narrated video with family photos, or simply work on prose or poetry that they have shelved since college,” explained Rivard.
MBWP, named after Meadow Brook Hall residing on Oakland University’s campus, provides professional development opportunities for educators and learning opportunities for students of all ages. It is affiliated with the federally funded National Writing Project whose focus is to bring the nation’s educators together to improve writing on a national level.
Visit the Meadow Brook Writing Project website for more information and to register for the summer camps.