Summer Writing Camp for Grades 2-9
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
Okay, maybe it was just this summer and in Thurber Center in downtown Columbus, but regardless, many galactic adventures were had! This year, we leaned into the excitement of the solar eclipse, Northern Lights sightings, and general excitement about space, and loosely gave camp an outer space theme. Although I feel that some of the campers tried to Jedi mind-trick me into getting more snack, it was an incredible summer full of funny memories, stories, poems, even monologues, and aliens (imaginary, no matter what they tell you about me).
We kicked off our space odyssey with the 4th-6th graders this year. They flew right in with cartooning and creating short comics, developing their own characters and putting them in alternate universes or putting them in new genres, and making aliens, cryptid stories, poems, and so much more. Our author visit was “crashed” when the campers had to solve The Hot Sauce Swindle and, thankfully, cleared my name of the crime! Whew. The correct culprit was caught and received a swift cream puff to the face. (Check out the photos and videos as proof.)
In July, we welcomed to our planet/camp, the middle school campers. We had a literal blast with them. After all of these years, the talent of the young writers should stop surprising me, but it always does. Some of their stories and poems live rent free in my head (and some haunt me!) and I can’t wait to celebrate them when they become published authors. They worked on zines full of short form poems, learned about suspense writing, went “mudlarking” and developed their persuasive storytelling skills to “sell” their items. P.S. They were very good so, parents, you’ve been warned! Each day was so full of activities! We took them to the Columbus Museum of Art to inspire them and to play in the Wonder Room. You’re never too old for the Wonder Room. The best part of this age is the ridiculous inside jokes created, sarcasm that they wield at us, and the constant feeling of being old, but it is so much fun.
We wrapped up our galactic visit with the youngest, but just as creative group, of 2nd and 3rd graders! While it was only a half-day camp, was full to the brim. They made really fun story scrolls, were visited by a picture book author, created their own alien stories (definitely not about me), and we walked them over to the Columbus Museum of Art to have fun with their art activities in the children’s area as well as, of course, the Wonder Room. This group always has the funniest jokes and reactions to our Town Crier visits at the end of the day!
Thurber Center has slowly returned to Earth with all of the space decorations down, the alien craft materials put away, snacks eaten, and the halls have fallen silent. It is always hard landing back in reality when the campers leave. I hope that all of the young writers who joined us this summer enjoyed the adventures as much as we did and keep writing. Until my spaceship lands again, I mean until our next program, have a wonderful autumn!
Meg
Camp Director/Director of Children’s Education/alleged alien
P.S. Even though camp is over, we are still busy! We now start our school programs and library visits. If you are interested in having us bring creative writing workshops to your school, please contact me: megbrown@thurberhouse.org. Stay tuned for our fall adventures back at Thurber Center, too!
Fun facts:
8 weeks of camp
Over 300 young writers
15 teachers
10 counselors
69 high school and undergrad interns
20 Young Docents giving tours of Thurber House
5 trips to the Columbus Museum of Art
Hundreds of pencils used (who knows how many are still lost?!)
Two big boxes of erasers
Three new outfits for Thurbear and hundreds of Thurbear hugs
One brand new, “Ferrari” pencil sharpener (plus two we had to put to rest)!
Endless ideas
Dozens of new friendships, inside jokes, and camp lore was created
Maybe a few trips to space…
One incredible, out of this world, summer
See What We Did This Year!
RISING 4, 5, & 6 GRADERS:
Click any link above to see photos for the selected week of camp!
RISING 7, 8, & 9 GRADERS:
Click any link above to see photos for the selected week of camp!
Registration for next summer opens March 2025
Intern Albums
Summer camp wouldn’t be the same without our amazing interns! Use the links below to follow the interns through each week of activities!
Questions?
Contact Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org. To receive email updates about children's education programs, please use the sign up form at the very bottom of this page.
Disclaimer
Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by event and program speakers in all mediums are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Thurber House, its affiliates, or its staff/board.
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Masks are optional. Extra masks, hand sanitizer, and air purifiers will be in the classrooms. For everyone’s health and safety, if Thurber House feels it is unsafe to meet in person, we will move classes online to Zoom.
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—Students who need financial assistance may enter a lottery for one of a limited number of scholarships.
—We are only able to offer one scholarship per family at this time.
—To apply, fill out the regular registration form, check the applicable boxes, and include the $25 registration fee.
—We will notify all scholarship applicants of their status the week of May 3rd.
—For questions about the scholarship or how to apply, please email megbrown@thurberhouse.org.
—Scholarship spaces are reserved in the requested week along with all other registrations.
If we are unable to provide you with a scholarship, we will work with you on a plan or try to help you as much as we can.
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The registration cost includes a non-refundable administration fee of $25. If a camp session is full or is canceled by Thurber House, a full refund minus the administration fee will be given. Tuition is 70% refundable for cancellations received no later than two weeks before the scheduled start date for your chosen week of camp. There are no refunds of any kind within two weeks of your chosen week of camp.
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—All camp sessions are held at Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Avenue, next door to Thurber House.
—Enrollment is first-come, first-served and each week of camp is limited to 40 students.
—Campers will be split into four groups of ten, with one counselor per group.
—The camp schedules are the same so please register for only one week.
—Grade levels refer to the grade that the camper is entering in Fall 2024.
—Campers bring their own lunch each day; Thurber House provides an afternoon snack.
—Any supplies, field trip costs, and a camp T-shirt are included in tuition cost.
—Our camps fill quickly, so don't wait to register!
—Deadline for registration is Friday, May 3.
Full payment must be received to confirm each registration. We will be confirming receipt of online registrations via email. If you are unable to register online, please contact Katie Warner at kwarner@thurberhouse.org to register. Deadline to register is Friday, May 3rd, 2024.
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Contact Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org. To receive email updates about children's education programs, please use the sign up form at the very bottom of this page.
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This event will be held at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215).
—Parking on Jefferson Avenue: Free, easy street parking is available all along the Jefferson Avenue oval. Note: only the spots along the one-way oval are free; the spots along the two-way ends of Jefferson Avenue (near Broad Street and Long Street) are not free.
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The first floor of Thurber Center is handicap/wheelchair accessible, including the first floor restrooms.
How to reach the wheelchair ramp:
—If you park on Jefferson Avenue: There is a slight curb (some wheelchairs can navigate this). The closest “ramp” cut is the entrance to the large parking lot on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Long Street (here). Follow the sidewalk through the Thurber Center front gate. Take the sidewalk around the porch on the right side of the building. The entrance to the wheelchair ramp will appear on your left, past the porch.
—If you park in the Thurber House rear parking lot: Follow the sidewalk between the handicap parking signs (here). The sidewalk will take you around the north side of our multipurpose building, Thurber Center. The ramp will appear on your right and leads up to the front porch.
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Disclaimer: Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by teachers and counselors in all mediums are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Thurber House, its affiliates, or its staff/board.
Thurber House would like to thank G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers, Inc. for their donation of drinks for our campers all summer long.
Thank you to our major arts supporters:
