"I shared my work with other teenagers for the first time, which can be nerve-racking, yet I always received praise and constructive criticism, rather than the rejection I feared. I grew a lot as a writer and as a person." - Calvin, 2018 camp attendee.
For many writers, being nestled under a starry night sky in the woods is enough to ignite inspiration. For others, a solitary log cabin or the gentle sounds of a nearby lake is what puts pen to paper. Yet other writers work best in groups, talking over ideas and working through their story arches. Whatever does the trick for you, Writers at Harriman has what it takes to get the words flowing.
Working side by side with experts in the field, like this year's Dwayne Blackaller, Associate Art Director for Boise Contemporary Theater, students are able to combine nature, education, relaxation, and motivation--all in one week.
Started by former IDPR Director, Yvonne Ferrell, alongside Sheilah Prevost, Writers at Harriman is now in its 11th year. The idea for the camp came about while Harriman's Scovel Center was being planned. The vast education center is comprised of 10 cabins, focalized around a conference area and a court yard. Ferrell and Prevost wanted to coordinate an annual event around the center's opening, and thus, Writers at Harriman was born!
"It costs us more than $1,000 per student to run the camp every year. Thanks to generous support from foundations, including the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Harry W. Morrison Foundation, we're able to keep the tuition low at $175. We also give several full scholarships each year. Additionally, we have named scholarships where an individual, company, or family contributes a full tuition ($1,000)," says Rick Just, Director of Friends of Idaho State Parks, the oversight board for the camp.
And while the camp is centered on writing education, it also provides an opportunity for students to experience the natural beauty of Eastern Idaho and Harriman State Park, which boasts more than 10,000 acres of breath-taking landscape, within the Greater Yellowstone Wildlife Refuge.
Each student gets the opportunity to...
- Experience nature's beauty and solitude first-hand.
- Explore your thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
- Open yourself to new writing styles.
- Join a community of writers your age.
- Try watercolor painting, storytelling, or paper making.
- Ride horses, meet moose, and watch trumpeter swans.
- Explore the trails and meadows of Idaho's finest outdoor classroom.
- Read your work to an appreciative audience.
- Publish your finished work (or works) in Henrys Fork Journal.
"I was hesitant at first, considering my prior experiences at summer camps hadn't been the best. After looking at the Writers at Harriman website, and reading about the offered activities, it seemed more and more like something I would enjoy attending. I met people at Harriman that I regularly speak with to this day. We call ourselves and the other attendees the "Harriman family," because that's what we are to each other. I, along with many of the other attendees from last year that I've spoken to, plan on attending this year again." - Calvin, a 2018 camp attendee.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Writers at Harriman website for information and registration.