If you are a high school student and enjoy writing, summer is a great time to focus on it seriously. Writing camps let you fully explore one type of writing, such as fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or the college essay, without the distractions of other subjects. Most camps last one to three weeks and have a clear daily schedule with workshops in the morning, drafting and conferences in the afternoon, and readings or group discussions in the evening.
Writing camps are different from regular programs because they are shorter, highly structured, and focused on a single subject. You work on your writing every day, receive detailed feedback from instructors or mentors, and learn how to revise and improve your work. This hands-on approach helps you strengthen skills such as story structure, pacing, imagery, character development, and editing.
Participating in a writing camp can also enhance your college applications. Admissions officers notice students who take the initiative to develop advanced skills and produce high-quality work. The experience can also help you clarify your interests, explore new writing styles, and create a strong portfolio or collection of polished pieces.
With that, here are 15 summer writing camps for high school students!
15 Summer Writing Camps for High School Students
1. Write the World – Virtual Summer Writing Camps
Cost: $299 per one-week camp (15% discount for 2+ workshops)
Location: Online (live group sessions + asynchronous writing activities)
Program Dates: Creative Writing: June 23 – 27; Novel Writing: July 7 – 11 and July 28 – August 1; Science Fiction & Fantasy: July 7 – 11; Poetry: July 14 – 18; Fiction (Storytelling): July 21 – 25; Publishing: August 4 – 8
Application Deadline: Rolling; closes once sessions fill
Eligibility: Ages 13–19; open to writers at all levels
Write the World Virtual Summer Writing Camps let you focus on writing and try different genres. Each camp mixes live sessions, peer feedback, and flexible prompts, giving you 3 to 4 hours of writing each day. Depending on your track, you might create fantasy worlds, write poetry, or work on a novel. You’ll practice revising, balancing dialogue and description, and preparing your work for publication. Professional authors and editors lead the camps, giving guidance and personal feedback. The program helps you improve your writing and connect with other young writers.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. Columbia Writing Academy (Columbia University)
Cost: $3,960 (plus $80 application fee and ~$50 for materials)
Location: Online (hosted by Columbia University, New York, NY)
Program Dates: July 21–31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; applications typically close a few weeks before the session begins.
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records and an interest in developing their writing voice.
The Columbia Writing Academy is a two-week virtual program designed to help you craft a strong college admissions essay. Built around the course design of Dr. Nancy Sommers, the program treats the personal statement as a distinct genre, guiding you through brainstorming, drafting, and revision. You’ll participate in small-group workshops and one-on-one tutorials, receiving detailed feedback as you refine your writing. With six to eight hours of weekly work, the program balances structured instruction with independent practice. By the end of the course, you’ll have a polished personal statement that demonstrates clarity, narrative structure, and rhetorical skill.
4. Creative Writing Academy (Georgetown University)
Cost: $3,525 (includes tuition, housing, and meals); $2,730 for commuter students
Location: Washington, D.C. (Georgetown University campus)
Program Dates: July (week-long; specific session dates vary)
Application Deadline: Early Bird: January 31 (application fee waived); Final Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders (must be at least 15 by program start); minimum 2.0 GPA
The Creative Writing Academy at Georgetown University is a week-long residential program where you write, revise, and share original work in a fast-paced, immersive setting. You spend full days developing poems, stories, and essays while learning techniques in structure, character, theme, and dialogue. The schedule runs from morning to night and includes workshops, peer critiques, and literary excursions that connect your writing to the world around you. You take part in off-campus sessions like writing at the National Gallery of Art and performing at Busboys and Poets, a well-known literary venue in Washington, DC.
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
6. Young Writers Summer Camp & Intensives (Lighthouse Writers Workshop)
Cost: Varies by format — half-day, full-day, and intensive sessions
Location: Denver, Colorado (3844 York Street) and Online
Program Dates: Weekly camps run from June–August; the High School Summer Writing Intensive takes place once each summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; registration opens with the catalog release
Eligibility: Ages 8–18; high school intensives open to rising 9th–12th graders
The High School Summer Writing Intensive at Lighthouse Writers Workshop is a week-long program where you work closely with published authors in small groups of six to twelve students. You’ll draft and revise at least one complete piece while exploring multiple genres such as science fiction, fantasy, screenwriting, and poetry. The program emphasizes craft development through daily workshops, writing time, and professional mentorship that helps you sharpen your voice and refine your technique. You also take part in collaborative sessions and have the option to present your work at a public reading, gaining experience with peer critique and live audience feedback. The camp is offered both in-person and online.
7. Young Writers Workshop (Bard College at Simon’s Rock)
Cost: $3,500–$4,000 (includes tuition, housing, and activities)
Location: Great Barrington, Massachusetts (Berkshires campus; moving to a new location every year)
Program Dates: July 6–26
Application Deadline: Typically in spring; check website for next cycle
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in writing
The Young Writers Workshop at Bard College at Simon’s Rock is a three-week residential program where you write across genres like fiction, poetry, memoir, essays, and drama while living in a close-knit community of fellow writers. Daily workshops focus on experimentation, self-expression, and building resilience in your creative process. You’ll produce a large volume of new work and receive thoughtful feedback from both instructors and peers, helping you refine your voice and grow as a writer. Outside of writing hours, you take part in hikes, theater outings, and museum visits that add cultural depth and social connection to the experience.
8. Teen Summer Writing Fellowship (GrubStreet)
Cost: Free (fellows receive a stipend of $800 upon completion)
Location: Boston, Massachusetts (GrubStreet Center for Creative Writing, Seaport District)
Program Dates: July 21–August 8 (optional anthology production weeks: August 11–15 and August 18–22)
Application Deadline: March 17 (11:59 p.m. ET)
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders in Fall; must live and attend school in Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex, or Plymouth counties (Boston residents prioritized)
The Teen Summer Writing Fellowship at GrubStreet is a selective three-week program that brings together twenty high school writers for an intensive exploration of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, and experimental genres. You’ll take part in daily workshops, open mics, guest author visits, and one-on-one mentorship sessions that encourage creative risk-taking and cross-genre writing. At the end of the fellowship, you’ll perform your work at the Teen Writing Fellowship Showcase, gaining experience in public presentation and literary dialogue. If you choose to stay for an optional fourth and fifth week, you’ll help edit and publish the annual YAWP Anthology, learning the fundamentals of literary production.
9. Multicultural Journalism Workshop (University of Alabama)
Cost: Free (students only cover their transportation to and from Tuscaloosa)
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama (University of Alabama campus)
Program Dates: Six days in the summer
Application Deadline: Applications open January 1; deadlines typically in the spring
Eligibility: Students entering 9th grade through freshman year of college; open to applicants nationwide; no Alabama residency required
The Multicultural Journalism Workshop at the University of Alabama is a six-day residential program that trains high school students in core journalism skills with a focus on multicultural reporting. You’ll live in campus dorms and work under tight newsroom-style deadlines as you learn reporting, writing, editing, photography, and design from professional mentors. Field trips to Tuscaloosa and Alabama’s Black Belt give you firsthand context for your assignments, helping you connect local stories to broader cultural themes.
10. Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program (The Adroit Journal)
Cost: $575; no application fee
Location: Online
Program Dates: June 26–July 28
Application Deadline: March 1 (extended to March 10)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), including graduating seniors and gap-year students
The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program is a selective, correspondence-based writing experience where you work one-on-one with an established author in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. You’ll submit work weekly (for poetry) or biweekly (for prose), receiving detailed written feedback and participating in peer workshop threads that sharpen your revision process. You’ll also learn editorial etiquette, including how to write cover notes, track revisions, and prepare submissions for publication. With high-feedback density and a clear revision cadence, the program builds your stamina and vocabulary as a writer.
11. Juniper Institute for Young Writers (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
Cost: Residential: $5,100; Commuter: $2,200 (need-based scholarships available)
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts (UMass Amherst campus)
Program Dates: Session One: July 13–26; Session Two: July 27–August 9
Application Deadline: Final: March 7
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders; graduating seniors eligible
The Juniper Institute for Young Writers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a two-week residential program that helps you build a focused writing practice while living and working alongside a small cohort of peers. Each day includes Writing Labs (capped at around ten students), craft sessions, guest talks on the writer’s life, and optional write-ins that support both structure and creative freedom. Week One focuses on generating new work and building momentum. Week Two introduces a personalized project plan, scheduled drafting blocks, and one-on-one mentor meetings to help you push a piece toward completion. You’ll receive a written evaluation at the end of the week that outlines your progress, revision goals, and next steps, including guidance on publication.
12. Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference (University of the South)
Cost: $2,600 including room & board + $175 refundable key/prox deposit
Location: Sewanee, Tennessee (University of the South campus)
Program Dates: June 29–July 12
Application Deadline: Applications open in December; Final Deadline: March 3 (Rec. letters due March 14; Financial aid due April 18)
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders (rising sophomores–seniors)
The Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference at the University of the South is a two-week residential program where you live and write in a small, genre-specific workshop focused on fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or playwriting. Each morning, you dive into studio sessions that sharpen your craft, working on scene structure, pacing, point of view, image systems, dialogue, and line-level choices. Afternoons feature faculty readings, guest talks, and fast-paced writing sprints that help you generate new pages and refine your voice.
Your drafts go through a rigorous critique loop with peer feedback and instructor notes, helping you separate global revisions from line edits and build a writing routine that lasts beyond the program. Evenings include social activities that strengthen the cohort without pulling you away from your creative focus. By the end, you leave with a cleaner manuscript, detailed feedback, and a clear revision plan to guide your next steps as a writer.
13. Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops (Kenyon College)
Cost: $2,575; no application fee; need-based financial aid available
Location: Gambier, Ohio (Kenyon College campus)
Program Dates: Session One: June 22–July 5; Session Two: July 13–26
Application Deadline: March 1 (teacher recommendation due March 7)
Eligibility: High school students ages ~16–18; most participants are rising juniors/seniors; international students are eligible
The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops at Kenyon College offer a two-week residential experience built around intensive craft development and disciplined revision. You’ll join a small cohort of 12 to 14 writers and spend five hours each day in workshops that span short fiction, poetry, and essays. Daily prompts, close reading, and structured revision help you generate new work and refine your technique. One-on-one conferences and focused genre sessions sharpen specific skills like scene architecture, image systems, voice calibration, and the difference between line edits and global edits.
14. Iowa Young Writers’ Studio (University of Iowa)
Cost: $2,500 (includes room & board); $10 reading fee; need-based aid available
Location: Iowa City, Iowa (University of Iowa campus)
Program Dates: June 14–27; July 12–25
Application Deadline: Application window: January 19–February 1; Deadline: February 1 (via Submittable)
Eligibility: Current 10th–12th graders; international applicants welcome
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio at the University of Iowa is a two-week residential program where you focus on one core course, fiction, poetry, creative writing, TV writing, or playwriting, taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and other MFA programs. Daily workshops emphasize drafting, close reading, and critique, while process sessions help you refine structure, voice, and revision strategies. You’ll attend readings by published authors, craft talks, and discussions on topics like literary translation, expanding your understanding of writing beyond the page. Small-group collaborations give you regular practice in giving and receiving feedback, and community events like open mics and icebreakers build a strong cohort without distracting from your work.
15. Yale Young Writers’ Workshop (Yale University)
Cost: On Campus (with housing): $3,275; On Campus (no housing): $2,905; Online: $1,320
Location: New Haven, Connecticut (on-campus) and Online
Program Dates: June 21–June 27
Application Deadline: Application window: January 15–April 1; rolling decisions weekly; payment due upon acceptance
Eligibility: Ages 16–18; rising high school seniors
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio at the University of Iowa is a two-week residential program where you focus on one core course, fiction, poetry, creative writing, TV writing, or playwriting, taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and other MFA programs. Daily workshops emphasize drafting, close reading, and critique, while process sessions help you refine structure, voice, and revision strategies. You’ll attend readings by published authors, craft talks, and discussions on topics like literary translation, expanding your understanding of writing beyond the page. Small-group collaborations give you regular practice in giving and receiving feedback, and community events like open mics and icebreakers build a strong cohort without distracting from your work.
Image source – University of Iowa