Spartan Writing Camp has invited elementary and middle- and high-school writers to explore their love of writing with countless opportunities to write about the thoughts, ideas and experiences that move them. Camp instructors, who are experienced teachers and Red Cedar Writing Project teacher consultants, help students nurture and develop the writer within using MSU’s campus for inspiration.

The following camps are for students in Grades 3-5.

July 15-18, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Cost: $280.

It's the Little Things: Are you an admirer of little things; a buzzing bee, a leaf on a tree, a dragonfly wing, a croaking frog, interesting words, the chime of a clock, a favorite ice cream flavor, and more? We are going to go on daily field trips around the MSU campus to capture the little things through our writing and photographs.

Wizarding World of Writing: Calling all young witches and wizards! Do you dream about attending a school for magic or having your own magical adventure? Writers will grow their imagination through activities including creating spell books and making wands.

Genres on the Loose!: Are you looking to be inspired to think outside the box and explore different genres and different ways to publish your writing? Look no more…. Genres can be so much more than your traditional personal narrative, opinion piece, or informational report. This exciting camp explores different genres besides what we learn in school.

Exploring Stories with Animals and Insects: This session offers a unique blend of creative writing exploration and hands-on animal encounters that will ignite your child’s imagination. Throughout the program, students will embark on a thrilling journey to discover the wonders of the animal kingdom through various field trips around MSU’s campus, getting up close and personal with a variety of fascinating creatures.

July 22-25, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Cost: $280

Twisted Tales and Other Writing Fun: Most people write in first person, but have you ever tried another perspective or view? Twisted Tales: Maybe the Big Bad Wolf isn’t so bad- just misunderstood, maybe Goldilocks accidentally arrived at the wrong address, maybe there is a better ending to your favorite story, it’s all up to you and the perspective or view you want to write.

July 22-25, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Cost: $280.

Adventures in Ink and Steam: This immersive camp invites young minds to explore the captivating world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) through a four-day writing adventure.

The following camp is for students entering Grades 4-6.

July 22-25, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. (half day). Cost: $150.

Library Lovers Writing Camp: Do you love libraries? Would you like to read about libraries and start stories inspired by them? In this half-day camp, students will visit special places inside the MSU Library, hear about libraries with unexpected origins and ones found in unusual places, design a dream library, and respond to library-related writing prompts.

The following camps are for students entering Grades 6-8.

July 15-18, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Cost: $280.

Discovering the Zine: In Telling Stories That Matter: A Journalism Camp, middle school students will learn to gather information effectively, ask the right questions during an interview, and organize their ideas into a story that matters. Throughout the week, campers will have the opportunity to research and interview well-known Spartans on campus and experience the editorial process firsthand.

July 22-25, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Cost: $280.

Graphic Novel Writing: Stories and images come alive when they tell a story together through graphic novels. Writers in this camp will explore cartooning, illustrating, and storytelling. Come create stories with words and images connecting on the page.

July 22-25, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Cost: $280.

Mixing Music and Lyrics: Have you ever wondered how your favorite musical artists create their songs? This is the camp for you! Students in this camp will investigate different types of songs, writing lyrics to their own song, attaching a melody to their song with a local musician, and creating a music video.

The following camps are for students entering Grades 9-12.

July 15-18, 6 - 9 p.m. (evening) Cost: $150.

Quests and Quills: Tabletop Role-Playing Writing Camp: Embark on a literary odyssey where aspiring role-players delve into the realms of imagination. Join fellow adventurers in crafting epic tales, creating exciting characters, honing your quill skills, and conquering the challenges of storytelling.

July 15-18, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day) Cost: $150.

Writing for Social Change and Connection: In this workshop, we will explore the basics of writing journalistic feature stories and editorial opinion pieces. Throughout the week, we will create a collaborative e-newsletter that shares stories, resources, and opinion pieces that are reflective of your community and experiences.

July 16-18, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day) Cost: $150.

All Star Authors: Explore Storytelling with Sport: Welcome to a writing camp where your love for the game meets the power of the pen. We will look for inspiration from books, pop culture, the sports world, and MSU’s campus to enhance our storytelling capabilities.

July 22-25, 6 - 9 p.m. (evening) Cost: $150.

Cardboard Creators: Board & Card Game Design Writing Camp.

July 22-25, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day, virtual) Cost: $150.

It’s All About the Shorts: In this session, we will dig into short stories from a diverse array of 20th and 21st-century authors, focusing primarily on sci-fi, magical realism, and culture and identity related themes and topics. Students will also have ample time to craft their own short story that will be compiled in our student anthology at the end of the week.