If you’re a high school student in the Bay Area with a passion for storytelling, poetry, or journalism, summer writing programs can offer the perfect space to refine your voice. Many summer writing programs for high school students in the Bay Area go far beyond school assignments; they immerse you in small workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and real publishing experiences.
Whether you’re exploring fiction or building your college essay, you’ll work closely with professional writers and peers just as dedicated to the craft. For aspiring authors, journalists, or curious creatives, summer writing programs for high school students in the Bay Area offer advanced training, a creative community, and a head start on your writing journey.
Below is a curated list of 15 summer writing programs for high school students in the Bay Area.
15 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in the Bay Area
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program (Writing Track)
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year, including summer
Deadline: Varies by cohort; Rolling
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid available
Eligibility: High school students worldwide; Selective admissions process
High school students in the Lumiere Research Scholar Program can conduct independent research with the guidance of PhD scholars, who will provide one-on-one mentorship. In the Writing & Humanities track, you’ll explore subjects like literature, history, creative writing, or philosophy. Over 12 weeks, you’ll go from research questions to a polished paper, receiving weekly feedback from your mentor. Past student projects have been published in journals or used for competitive college applications.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year (summer included)
Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid available
Eligibility: High school students globally
Through hands-on, mentor-led projects, Veritas AI provides high school students with a comprehensive introduction to artificial intelligence. In the Scholars Program, you’ll work in a small group to build real-world AI applications while learning foundational concepts. In the more advanced Fellowship Program, you’ll pursue a one-on-one capstone project with an AI expert, often focused on interdisciplinary areas like medicine, finance, or literature. Veritas AI was founded by Harvard alumni and emphasizes clarity, accessibility, and impact. You will receive personalized guidance and may earn optional post-baccalaureate credit from UC San Diego.
3. UC Berkeley: Bay Area Writing Project (BAWP) Youth Programs
Location: UC Berkeley + Virtual
Program Dates: Multiple 1-week and 4-week cohorts from June to August
Deadline: Rolling until courses fill
Cost: $400 – $750 (per course); Limited partial scholarships offered
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12
Hosted by UC Berkeley’s Bay Area Writing Project, this diverse slate of summer courses is designed to help high school students sharpen their writing skills across genres. With in-person and virtual options, you can explore screenwriting, journalism, speculative fiction, poetry, and even multimedia storytelling. Each course emphasizes creativity, risk-taking, and craft, guided by experienced instructors who are also published writers and educators. You’ll have opportunities to revise, share, and present your work in supportive workshop settings.
4. Emerging Writers Institute at UC Berkeley
Location: UC Berkeley + Virtual
Program Dates: Two-week June & July sessions
Deadline: Rolling; Apply as early as possible
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid available
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders
The Emerging Writers Institute is a two-week creative writing program that immerses high school students in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry through daily workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and peer editing. Modeled on MFA-style seminars, it emphasizes voice, critical reading, and expressive writing as a process. You will develop a polished capstone project in your chosen genre, fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, guided by published instructors and intensive reading of literary models. The program ends with public presentations and publication in a literary anthology.
5. SF Creative Writing Institute: One-Week Teen Summer Camp
Location: Harvey Milk Recreational Arts Center, San Francisco, CA
Program Dates: August 11 – 15
Deadline: Open until filled; Rolling
Cost: $450
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13-17
This one-week creative writing camp gives high schoolers the space to write, experiment, and share their voice in a supportive, inclusive setting. Guided by professional writers, you will explore fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and hybrid forms through prompts, peer workshops, and hands-on writing time. The week concludes with a chapbook-style zine and an optional live reading for family and friends. This camp is ideal for motivated young writers seeking to enhance their craft through a concise, intensive program.
6. Stanford Pre‑Collegiate Studies: Creative Writing
Location: Remote
Program Date: Session One: June 16 – 27; Session Two: July 7 – 18
Deadline: March 20
Cost: $3,080; Financial aid available
Eligibility: Rising 8th-11th graders at time of application (Selective admission)
This two-week online program offers a rigorous introduction to creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry for rising 8th to 11th graders. You will engage in daily live workshops, writing exercises, and group discussions led by experienced instructors. The course emphasizes learning to “read like a writer” and “write like a reader,” helping you build a critical eye and a refined personal writing process. Through close readings of published works and daily prompts, you’ll develop your voice across genres. Each student completes a portfolio of original work, shaped through instructor feedback and peer review.
7. Creator School: College Essay & Writing Intensives
Location: Cubberley Community Center, Palo Alto, CA
Program Dates: Session 1: June 23 – 27; Session 2: August 4 – 8
Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $575 per session
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders
This one-week camp is open to 12 students per session and offers expert-led workshops and peer review sessions. You’ll learn what admissions officers value, analyze successful essay examples, and discover powerful techniques to write with clarity and authenticity. The camp offers guidance on Common App, UC, and scholarship essays, while providing personalized feedback in a small-group setting. Instructor Justin Brown, a longtime English teacher and writing mentor, leads the class with a balance of structure and creativity.
8. Juniper Institute for Young Writers – Online
Location: Online
Program Dates: July 7 – 11
Deadline: April 7
Cost: $1,300 (need-based scholarships available)
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
Hosted by UMass Amherst, Juniper Young Writers Online is a weeklong virtual writing camp that blends creative rigor with experimental freedom. Through daily writing labs, craft sessions, write-ins, and participant readings, you’ll work alongside MFA instructors and passionate teen writers from around the globe. The program emphasizes literary community and offers a rare space for teens to deeply immerse themselves in fiction, poetry, or hybrid forms. With a full daily schedule and consistent mentorship, you’ll not only sharpen your writing but also build lasting peer connections. Whether you’re looking to experiment with new forms or revise serious work, Juniper fosters bold thinking and craft-focused exploration. This is a great fit for young writers eager to take their work to the next level.
9. 826 Valencia Young Authors’ Workshop
Location: Mission Bay Center, San Francisco
Program Dates: July 21 – August 8
Deadline: Rolling basis
Cost/Stipend: Free; Certain students will receive a $500 stipend
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders; Bay Area students, with priority for SFUSD students, 826 participants, and those with financial need
826 Valencia’s Young Authors’ Workshop is a three-week summer writing camp for high schoolers who want to deepen their craft and see their work in print. You’ll explore a range of genres, join a close-knit workshop community, and work toward becoming a published author. Whether you love writing or are still finding your voice, this inclusive, supportive program helps you grow as a storyteller. Lunch, snacks, and a $500 stipend are included if you complete the program.
10. Backyard Conference – Youth Speaks
Location: Youth Speaks Office, San Francisco, CA
Program Dates: June 9 – 13
Deadline: Rolling (early application recommended)
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipends up to $150
Eligibility: Bay Area youth ages 13-19 (priority for SF residents)
Hosted by Youth Speaks, the Backyard Conference is a free, youth-led summer writing camp that blends revolutionary art, performance, and community organizing. Across five afternoons, you’ll join fellow teens and local artists in workshops that center storytelling, spoken word, and collective liberation. SF youth can earn $100 for attending at least 4 days, and the top 15 attendees across the week receive $150 stipends. This program will give you a space to build solidarity, find your voice, and imagine new futures through art. Whether you’re a poet, activist, or just curious, you’ll leave with tools to express yourself and lead change. Food is covered, vibes are radical, and space is limited.
11. Writers Week – Virtual (Sarah Lawrence College)
Location: Online (hosted by Sarah Lawrence College, NY)
Program Dates: July 7 – July 11
Deadline: Rolling (early registration recommended)
Cost: $1,095 (includes $250 non-refundable deposit); Limited scholarships available
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12; Must be 14+ at program start
Sarah Lawrence College’s Writers Week offers an immersive, generative writing experience led by MFA writing graduates and professional artists. Through daily workshops and mini-sessions, you’ll experiment with genres like speculative fiction, memoir, flash fiction, and poetry. Writers are grouped in small cohorts to receive individualized feedback and encouragement. In the virtual format, you’ll participate in group discussions, peer sharing, and a culminating student reading. Writers Week fosters both experimentation and craft development, encouraging you to take bold creative risks.
12. The Common Young Writers Program
Location: Online (hosted by Amherst College’s The Common)
Program Dates: July 21 – August 1
Deadline: May 19
Cost: $649 (full scholarships available)
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
This two-week virtual intensive welcomes aspiring fiction writers at both beginner and intermediate levels. In Level I, you’ll build foundational skills in character, plot, and scene as you draft and revise your first short story. Level II is a peer workshop for students with prior writing experience, offering deeper critique and literary discussion. Both levels include small-group mentorship, one-on-one editor feedback, and engagement with fiction from The Common, Amherst College’s literary magazine. Expect daily writing assignments, editorial support, and a chance to grow within a tight-knit, creative community.
13. Great Books & Big Ideas – Online
Location: Online (Live instruction timed for U.S. and Europe)
Program Dates: July 13 – 18
Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $875
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
This live, online seminar offers a deep dive into world literature, philosophy, and classic texts from authors like Shakespeare, Sophocles, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Elizabeth Bishop. Each day includes engaging college-style discussions, guest speakers, open mic events, and mentoring by experienced program assistants. While virtual, the program is designed to foster meaningful friendships and academic growth through social hangouts and structured activities. You’ll explore different readings each week and can add the Writer’s Workshop for a more creative experience. Daily classes strike a thoughtful balance between academics and fun. It’s a rigorous yet accessible way to build your literary voice and confidence from anywhere.
14. Ripe Fruit Writing – Teen Summer Camp
Location: Greenhouse of the Imagination in Noe Valley, San Francisco
Program Dates: July 28 – August 1
Deadline: Rolling basis (spots fill quickly!)
Cost: $325
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12)
This one-week creative writing program is packed with playful and powerful tools to unlock a teen’s inner writer. You will explore fiction, poetry, and personal storytelling in a small, supportive setting known as the “Greenhouse of the Imagination.” The camp emphasizes six foundational qualities of great writing: perception, imagination, love of language, courage, compassion, and commitment. Daily sessions feature writing games, collaborative poem-making, peer exercises, and rich sensory prompts. They are designed to make writing feel fun, natural, and liberating. You will also build confidence by sharing your work and forming new friendships.
15. Great Books Summer Program – Writer’s Workshop at Stanford University
Location: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Program Dates: June 29 – July 5
Deadline: Rolling admission until full
Cost: Residential: $3,495 + $275 materials + $250 registration; Day: $2,095 + $100 materials + $250 registration
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th grade students
Hosted on Stanford’s campus, this weeklong Writer’s Workshop blends creative energy with academic rigor. You will work closely with professional authors and university instructors to deepen your voice, expand your portfolio, and sharpen storytelling techniques. Sessions cover fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, enriched by prompts, readings, and peer critique. Daily excursions to Stanford landmarks like the Rodin Sculpture Garden provide unique inspiration. The program supports all experience levels, from budding writers to published teens, with small class sizes fostering rich discussion and detailed feedback.
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – UC Berkeley