Summer Writing Camp for Grades 2-9
Save the dates for 2025 Summer Writing Camp!
Students should register for one week in their grade level. The camp schedules and materials are the same each week. (Dates are still subject to change.)
Rising 2nd/3rd grade
12:30-4:00 p.m.
July 28-Aug. 1
Rising 4th-6th grade
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
June 2-6
June 9-13
June 16-20
June 23-27
Rising 7th-9th grade
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
July 7-11
July 14-18
July 21-25
*For those of you who are too "old" for camp, stay tuned for camp internship opportunities, Young Writers' Studio, and more. You can't get rid of us that easily!
We will have scholarships available, new activities, walking field trips, and more!
Registration opens in the new year so keep your eyes on your inbox! If you have questions or would like to be added to our mailing list, contact Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org.
Last year at 2024 Summer Writing Camp…
We kicked off our 2024 “space odyssey” with the 4th-6th graders. 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! Whew. The correct culprit was caught and received a swift cream puff to the face.
In July, we welcomed the 7th-9th graders to our planet/camp. 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. 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!
We wrapped up our galactic visit with the 2nd and 3rd graders! While it was only a half-day camp, it was full to the brim. They made really fun story scrolls, were visited by a picture book author, and created their own alien stories. 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!
Fun facts about 2024 Summer Writing Camp:
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 “retire”)!
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!
2024 Camper Photo Albums
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!
2024 Intern Photo 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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—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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Camp is held at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215).
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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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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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.
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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.
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: