Thanks for a great camp!

Much of the day was spent getting ready for the afternoon presentation. If you didn't make it, let me just tell you the campers rocked the house! They faced their fears and presented like champs. Their level of creativity, style, and command of English was inspiring! Follow this link to watch the slideshow that was shown at the end of the readings: http://www.slideshare.net/alandermatt/2010-owp-youth-writing-camp-miami-university

All of the counselors agreed, you all were awesome, creative, kind, generous, thoughtful, imaginative, and pleasant campers. We would love to have you in our classes!

If you wish to keep on writing, here are a few links to some great writing prompt sites!
From abcteach.com
http://abcteach.com/directory/basics/writing/writing_prompts/

A Goldmine of Journal Writing Prompts
http://www.squidoo.com/journalwritingpromptsforkids

Journal Writing
http://www.tooter4kids.com/journal_writing.htm

What a Fantastic Friday Eve!

Both groups wrote and wrote and wrote today -- probably what you'd expect at a writing camp! But the kids exceeded all expectations! They revised their pieces for the anthology and tomorrow's reading before all the campers joined forces for a narrative scavenger hunt all around Boyd Hall. The younger group ended the day untying a human knot (you'll just have to ask them!).

Reminders for tomorrow:
- We'll be eating lunch at the Shriver Center. So if you don't want to pack your lunch, bring at least $7.
- Please bring two copies of the piece(s) you wish to read and include in the anthology (limited to 1 page front to back or 2 pages front only)
- The group reading will begin at 1:30 in room 102 in Bachelor Hall. Please use the bachelor parking lot at the corner of Patterson (US 27) and Western.

Poetry Makes the World Go Around

Today both groups investigated the wonderful realms of Found Poetry, Around Poetry, and Recipe Poetry. They'll be passionate poets before you know it! They also had great fun getting wet and facing their fear of heights at the Rec Center's Aquatic Center.

Friendly Reminders:
- pack a lunch
- camp starts at 9:30
- each camper should be coming to so decision about which piece or pieces they wish to share and include in the anthology

Day two and Plan B

Though we had some outdoor activities planned, the weather encouraged us to move to Plan B -- which the kids handled like troopers. We created maps and monsters, spoke about the importance of little details and big ideas, and came to understand that sometimes you need to believe in order to see. And most importantly, we ate PIZZA! Today was definitely a terrific Tuesday!
(Pictures will be posted soon!)

Reminders for Wednesday:
- bring a swimsuit
- bring walking shoes and a set of dry clothes
- pack a lunch

What a great first day!

In a short time the campers have really opened up and shared some fantastic writing. The counselors are very enthused about what this means for the rest of the week.

Among other things, the older group introduced themselves by filling in a chalk outline about themselves. The younger group filled several chalkboards with things they liked, wanted to do, and are passionate about. Both projects turned out very well.

Here are a couple reminders about Tuesday:

- pizza lunch will be provided

- wear walking shoes

- if you took your writing notebook home, please make sure to bring it back!

This is Julie's first year as a Youth Writing Camp counselor andsecond summer hanging out with the Ohio WritingProject gang. Julie is a teacher, wife, friend, daughter, sister,dogowner, reader, cook, antique collector, learner, marathon running wannabe, music lover and writer. She believes that running is the single best and worst thing ever created. She believes you should count reading gossip magazines at the hair salon as quality reading. She believes in indulging in Swedish Fish and Lime Tostitos and that we should write daily.She believes writing can lead us to learn about ourselves, our world, and what we believe.

This is Melissa's first summer as a camp counselor for the OWP Youth Writing Camp, but she has been involved with the OWP for three years. Melissa is a daughter, sister, teacher, traveler, puff painter, sports lover, pizza eater, and writer. She believes that everyone should celebrate summer daily by going to the pool or at least by running through a sprinkler! She also believes that the writing process is an adventure that lends to developing creativity and a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Matt has been a Youth Writing Camp counselor since the program's reboot in 2006. He's a husband, father, teacher, student, runner, writer coach, son, brother, friend to many, observer of small things, and a pretty good omelet chef -- but ask him to bake a cake and you're in trouble. He believes that writing is a good way of getting to know about the world but a better way to get to know about yourself.

This is Meghan's first year as a Youth Writing Camp counselor though she is not new to the Ohio Writing Project. Meghan is a teacher, tap dancer, friend, daughter, cook, personal shopper/fashionista, learner, and writer. She believes you should not let friends wear more than 1/4 animal print but that sometimes it can be pretty funny. She believes shopping is an art and talent but an expensive one and that we can learn new things about ourselves and our world during the writing process.