YouthWrite is the kind of camp that changes young people’s lives.
YouthWrite is where young writers come together, learn more about their craft in a wonderful, positive setting, meet lifelong friends and make memories they'll cherish for a lifetime. This camp for kids who love to write…just about anything!©, as YouthWrite’s saying goes, is unlike any other arts camp or camp for kids.
As a stand-up comic and television writer who’s been on the arts scene for twenty years, I’ve seen and experienced a lot in the world of writing and performance, but I’ve never seen anything like the flow of artistry, camaraderie, and all-out fun at YouthWrite.
I’m amazed at how creative the kids are – from ages 11 to 19. And in teaching stand-up comedy, and comedy writing, I’m frankly blown away by how the students come in and by the end of the week, even the most shy are doing stand-up routines professional comics would be envious of!
I wish I’d had this kind of camp when I was young. And who wouldn’t, with courses at summer camp like:
The Wild Side of Fiction – taught by Timothy J. Anderson
Letting It Flow: Yoga for Creative Writing – with Laura (Sunshine) Burki
Make Your Poetry Pop – with Jenna Butler
Write On, Online! – with Stephanie Chan
What a Novel Idea! – with Natasha Deen
Write a Fantasy Story That Would Blow Harry Potter’s Socks Off (if he read it) – with Tyler Enfield
Write to Sing – with Bob Jahrig
Poetry is Power – with Kathryn Lennon
Body Beats – with Francis Mayrand
Eye Say – with Jeff Page
Say What You Play – with Trevor Nugent Smith
Game Writing and You – with Cathleen Rootsaert
The Play in Play – with Jan Taylor
Col. William Featherstone’s Expedition to the Centre of the Earth – with Spyder Yardley-Jones
And Put It Up and the Blue Pencil Cafe – with Vern Thiessen.
Why do I wish I’d had this kind of camp when I was young?
I guess because YouthWrite is a magical place where artists of all kinds come together and share creativity, learn new skills and share what they've created in an incredibly supportive atmosphere.
I see how very well organized, and so lovingly put together everything is, with every student carefully looked after. But don’t let all that careful preparation and the wonderful attention to detail – not to mention all the learning – fool you: there’s also just tons of fun and friendship going on!
Also, the way the kids interact and openly accept, embrace and support each other always amazes me. What I find unlike any other camp is how all the students come together. Young writers from all walks and backgrounds, including children with autism and Asperger’s, come here and join together to support each other in the arts.
In my own experience as an instructor, I love the opportunity to teach students who are open to learning new art forms and exploring new crafts. At YouthWrite, not only do students spend time with new concepts in class, they practice them outside of class.
This happens during ‘sacred writing time’ in which the kids have time each day dedicated specifically to writing. And then of course it also happens at the “Inklings” every night – the ‘shows’ where any student who wants to can share what they’ve created that day all while everyone is gathered round a campfire. Kids of all ages give their full attention as others perform or read, and they show appreciation after each and every piece.
There’s something new every night – whether it’s the fun of the Beeg Show, where the camp supervisors entertain campers with all kinds of comedy, or all the themed nights where students can dress-up and win prizes, or notable guest speakers who visit and offer extra insight on various artistic topics, or the bedtime stories, or the WordPlayful Wrap-up where the students amaze everyone with what they’ve learned in such a short time.
It feels so good to see young people having such a good time with writing, the performing arts, and each other. So my favourite times of year? When I get to feel like an excited kid again – at Christmas and YouthWrite summer camp!
Our Very Special Guest:
Blue Pencil Café - Hone your words! Polish your prose! Dazzle your readers! Get sound advice from our resident expert! Meet one-on-one and tete-a-tete with Vern. Daily sign-ups on site at camp.
Truth-telling means risk. But what is art, what is writing, without creative risk-taking? Join Timothy and plot your narratives, whether of revenge, fantasy, adventure or realism. Learn how to stretch your style without losing the ring of truth. Raise the stakes and raise the state of your prose. Perhaps try a Twitter story! Let your fictional hair down and take a walk on the wild side!
Laura (Sunshine) Burki began her yoga practice in 2000 after a knee injury put an end to a strong and dedicated path in sports. Her first yoga unlocked a new pathway and a new life journey: Laura found inspiration to create passionate, creative and unique yoga and dance classes of her own. She knew her calling was upon her and embraced the path. Her classes are regenerating, creative and a pure celebration of the practice. Laura believes yoga can be for everyone celebrates yoga, expression, dance, music and rhythm through Sacred Fusion, a series of unique classes co-created with her partner Trevor Nugent-Smith. 
Jenna Butler writes across genres: poetry and fiction, essays and plays. She is the author of three books of poetry and ten short collections. Jenna loves working with those who have caught the poetry bug, from elementary school students to seniors. She teaches at Grant MacEwan University during the school year, and spends her summers with three resident moose and a den of coyotes on a small organic farm in Alberta’s north country.
When Stephanie Chan first discovered her passion for computers they were bulky and used large 8-inch floppy discs that you would need 50 of just to store one mp3. But when not adventuring in the ever growing digital world, Stephanie found herself tearing through her sister's comic book collection. These two seemingly separate interests would eventually become the driving forces behind her diverse career. From web design to social media, from blogging to podcasting and from photography to comic book creation, Stephanie has strived to combine her love and technology and art. She has helped develop two major comic book news websites and worked on some of the biggest superheroes in the world. And when she's not working, she keeps up with the latest technologies and ideas, staying connected so her creative endeavors can stay current.
Natasha Deen has written in many genres, from fantasy to Christian fiction, creative
non-fiction to comedy. She enjoys talking to students of all ages and
literacy skill levels, teaching them simple and effective ways to boost
their writing, and showing them how multi-faceted and truly cool writing
can be. The 2013 Regional Writer in Residence for the Metro Edmonton
Library Federation, Natasha promotes literacy and writing through
events, workshops, and author consultations. Thinking of taking your short story skills to the next level? Wondering what’s making your novel’s middle sag, your characters flat, and your plot more holy than Swiss cheese? Learn simple techniques for creating longer stories, tighter plots, and multi-dimensional characters. Take your brilliant story idea and make it novel!
Bob Jahrig is an Edmonton singer-songwriter. His songwriting reveals a love of language, melody and a search for beauty in the human spirit and the natural world. Bob released a debut CD, Tree Tops in 2002, and a second, Colour of the Moon, in the fall of 2008. In addition to performing at folk venues across Alberta, Bob has taught songwriting to youths for over ten years and as an artist in residence at public schools.
Kathryn Lennon is a spoken word and slam poet. She was a member of Edmonton's 2012 Slam Poetry Team which competed at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Saskatoon. She also competed at the first Female Voices of the Prairies Slam in Saskatoon, and performed at the 2013 Victoria Festival of Spoken Word. Her work has been published in Ricepaper Magazine and screened at the 2010 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.
Francis Mayrand started his dance career at the age of fourteen in Montreal area where he was born and raised. He has been part of many groups, Les Pieds Légers de Laval, Reel et Macadam and Zéphyr . After many festivals and tours in Québec and Europe, he decided to pursue a full-time dance artist career. His love for traditional music, dance and choreography continue in Alberta, where he offers a residency artist program for schools, founded and directed the group Éfèmer. Francis is also currently dancing with the company Vinok Worlddance. Body Beats - Throughout this workshop, explore different kinds of rythyms influenced by many cultures such as French Canadian, Hungarian, Romanian, Irish and South African (Gumboot). The goal is to provide an a cappella beat that will properly showcase the emotions derived from your writing. This course is back by popular demand!!!
Jeff Page is a professional actor, director, writer and teacher who writes for stage, radio and film. His stage plays include Love Letters from the Unabomber and The Granite Man and the Butterfly. He also co-wrote The Specialists, a CBC radio serial, and the screenplay for When the Pig Looks at the Matchbox, an acclaimed short film. In 2009, Jeff received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Alberta. He currently teaches drama at Red Deer College.
Trevor Nugent-Smith has made drumming an integral part of his life for over 12 years. As a teacher, Trevor has been widely well-received with his fun and playful style that engages all ages. He currently performs for yoga and dance classes with his company Sacred Fusion and has been involved in many community events, bringing his passion for the drum and its power to transform and uplift through performances and workshops for everyone to enjoy.
Cathleen Rootsaert is an award-winning playwright and improviser who moved into the world of game writing. She has worked with EA/BioWare in Edmonton since 2008 where she wrote for Star Wars: The OldRepublic, MassEffect 2 and Mass Effect 3. Aside from producing her own work, she has written for many of Edmonton’s theatres, CBC-Radio and CBC-TV.
Jan Taylor is a freelance educator, singer, actor, playwright, director and producer in the Edmonton performing arts scene. She has extensive teaching credits at community and educational facilities including Red Deer College, Kings University, the University of Alberta and Edmonton Musical Theatre. Jan has been a theatre director for many years, and has written a number of plays, collectives and musicals, particularly for young audiences. She is currently the Artistic Director of Kompany Family Theatre.
Spyder Yardley-Jones is an international artist whose shows have caused controversy with his thought-provoking images. Spyder has been teaching cartooning and illustration for nearly a decade as Artist in Residence through the Edmonton Welsh Society in Edmonton schools. Formerly an educator at the Art Gallery of Alberta, he now instructs through Grant MacEwan's Continuing Education program. Spyder illustrated the picture book, In the Graveyard, and has been teaching at YouthWrite for sixteen years. In addition to all of this, Spyder works as a preparator, installing shows at the Art Gallery of Alberta.