Students writing

About Young Authors Camps

Young Author Camps are an incredible opportunity for young writers across the state of Maine. Dynamic and engaging writing experiences are facilitated by experienced and passionate teachers. Students explore a wide array of genres and develop their skill through playful exploration and guided practice.

Campers will:

  • Explore different genres of writing that may include memoir, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, multi-genre, etc.;
  • Develop their writing with the help of experienced teachers/Southern Maine Writing Project teacher-consultants;
  • Celebrate and share in a relaxed, non-competitive summer atmosphere;    
  • Become published authors by having some of their week’s work included in our anthology.

2023 Camps

We are happy to announce the return of our writing camps. Our facilitators have planned new and exciting activities. Campers can look forward to some indoor activities, but we will be outdoors as often as possible. Get ready for an exhilarating week of writing fun! 

Registration for Gorham and Yarmouth camps IS NOW OPEN (see below).

If the camp fills up, you will be informed and asked if you want to be put on a waiting list. 

Gorham Young Authors Camp

June 26-30, 2023

9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Gorham School Department Central Office

The Young Authors Camp in Gorham is open to campers currently in grades 3-8.

Kelly Ouellette-Tukey is a Teacher Consultant for the Southern Maine Writing Project, co-directs SMWP’s Young Author Camps, and is a Grade 5 teacher in the Scarborough School District.  Kelly has facilitated this camp for many, many years and looks forward to seeing both our returning campers and meeting some new ones, as well. Kelly has been a teacher for more years than she cares to admit! She lives in Gorham with her family; Steve, Ben and Lily.  

Brigid Smith Franey

The Southern Maine Writing Project is composed of diverse educators who are passionate about building knowledge and transforming classroom practices across the curriculum to improve writing and learning for all students.

The cost for one week of Young Authors Camp is $222.

This includes five days of instruction (five hours per day), all supplies, a fun tee-shirt, and an anthology of our young writers’ works. The anthology does take several months to create, but it is well worth the wait!

Register online at this link

Register by mail by printing page 2 of this flyer and following directions. 

If the camp fills up, you will be notified and asked if you want to be put on the waiting list. 

Yarmouth Young Authors Camp*

*We are sorry, but the Yarmouth Young Authors Camp is now full and is not taking on any more campers – 5/8/2023. 

June 26-30, 2023

9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Yarmouth High School

The Young Authors Camp in Yarmouth is open to students curently in grades 4-7. 

Lorrie King has taught for forty-four years in Brooklyn & the Bronx, NY, Auburn & Yarmouth, ME.  Currently she is an Academic Support Specialist at Yarmouth High School and works with students of all ability levels in all subjects..  Lorrie co-directs the Southern Maine Young Author Camps and is a Writing Project Teacher Consultant. She loves teaching and encouraging each student to do his/her individual best while enjoying the process. This will be her ninth year running the Yarmouth YAC.  

Patricia Valley has lived the dream of teaching students in grades five through eight at Jordan-Small Middle School in Raymond, since 1988 and is enjoying her first year of retirement from full time teaching. Prior to moving to Maine, Patricia taught in Long Beach, California, followed by six years in Germany. As a Southern Maine Writing Project Teacher Consultant, she enjoys spreading the joy of writing with people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests, and watching writers grow. 

The Southern Maine Writing Project is composed of diverse educators who are passionate about building knowledge and transforming classroom practices across the curriculum to improve writing and learning for all students.

The cost for one week of Young Authors Camp is $222.

This includes five days of instruction (five hours per day), all supplies, a fun tee-shirt, and an anthology of our young writers’ works. The anthology does take several months to create, but it is well worth the wait!

Register online at this link

Register by mail by printing page 2 of this flyer and following directions.

If the camp fills up, you will be notified and asked if you want to be put on the waiting list

Once you register, more information will follow about the camp details.

For any more information contact us at yac.smwp@gmail.com

What Our Campers Say


“Teachers are sweet and inspiring.”
“This camp was really fun! I did a lot of writing and I thought deeply about a lot of things.”  
“I think this is one of the top three camps that I have ever been to.”
“Group activities are the best and going outside was inspiring.”
“I loved the socializing and the humor.”
“It was fun and improved my writing!”
“I really liked that the instructors were very enthusiastic about writing and the camp. The feeling was contagious! This camp gave me sooooooo many new ideas for stories.”

What Parents Say

“The variety of activities and level of engagement was what my child liked.”
“Location and price was great! Content and instructors are an obvious draw.”
“My son loved it. He felt safe to be creative and share his work. Atmosphere was supportive and creative.”

Learn more about the Southern Maine Writing Project