SummerWrite

2026

SummerWrite is our flagship youth program that has been operating continuously for 40 years. Our half-day and full-day weeklong literary-themed summer camps are led by highly skilled teaching artists, who are experts in their artistic field, and also experts in youth education.

Our 2026 line-up of camps includes 28 offerings in a wide range of topics: graphic novels, fiction, fantasy, mystery, filmmaking, playwriting and screenwriting, poetry, puppetry, music, fairy tales, Dungeons & Dragons, bookmaking, and much more! Some of our camps even offer the opportunity to delve right into a beloved fictional world such as Percy Jackson’s Magic Pen, Academy for Young Magicals (formerly Hogwarts Academy), and Shiz Summer Session: A Wicked Camp.

Needs-based scholarships are available for all our camps. The link to apply is on each individual camp page.

WEEK ONE: July 6 – 10, 2026

Graphic Novels: The World in Pictures & Words | Ages: 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Free, Registration Required
Find out more
06
July
2026

Young Authors Club | 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Free, Registration Required
Find out more
06
July
2026

Percy Jackson’s Magic Pen | Ages: 9- 12

Percy Jackson is mighty with his sword; his creator, Rick Riordan, is mighty with his pen. Experiment with the writing techniques Riordan uses to weave…
General Public $420 | Members $385
Find out more
06
July
2026

Produce a 90-Second Newbery Film | Ages: 9 – 12

Transform into cast and crew to make your own short film based on a Newbery Medal-winning book! With access to St John Fisher University’s state-of-the-art…
Member $450 | General Public $490
Find out more
06
July
2026

Dragons, Dice, & Roleplaying | Ages: Teens

Calling all quest seekers! What do collaborative role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and writing have in common? Quite a lot, as you’ll discover in…
General Public $390| Members $350
Find out more
06
July
2026

WEEK TWO: July 13 – 17, 2026

C is for Create Your Own Book | Ages: 7 – 9

Do you have a favorite animal, superhero, or sport? Maybe you have a hope or dream you’re ready to share? Turn your unique view of…
Members $370 | General Public $410
Find out more
13
July
2026

Where I Can Bring All of Me | 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Free, Registration Required
Find out more
13
July
2026

Creating Heroes and Villains for Stories and Comics | Ages: 8 – 11

Characters with superpowers are cool, but how do we make them feel like real people you actually care about? With guidance from a published YA…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
13
July
2026

Building Fantastical Worlds | Ages: 8 – 11

Have you ever wondered what it’s like living in magical worlds like those in The Chronicles of Narnia or The Borrowers? How do readers leave…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
13
July
2026

Wordplay Studio | Ages: 12 – 14

Do you ever feel the urge to write, but when you open your notebook, you aren’t sure where to start? Luckily, you don’t have to…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
13
July
2026

Teen Worldbuilding | Ages: Teens

Do you love imagining richly detailed fantasy and sci-fi worlds? Are you curious about how writers create systems of magic, invent new cultures and languages,…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
13
July
2026

Build-a-Book | Ages: 10 – 13

So you want to write a book—but you need a plan. Join our community of writers to learn how to plot your story chapter by…
General Public $390 | Members $350
Find out more
13
July
2026

WEEK THREE: July 20 – 24, 2026

Fractured Fairy Tales | Ages: 8 – 11

Plot twists, parody, and satire…oh my! Welcome to the wonderful world of fractured fairy tales. Through classic and contemporary tales, participants will explore plot, characterization,…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
20
July
2026

Playwrights & Puppeteers | Ages: 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Free, Registration Required
Find out more
20
July
2026

Sound Playground | Ages: 12 – 14

Rhythm, music, and rhyme are everywhere: in songs, on stages, stuck in our heads, even in the flow of everyday conversation. This camp will celebrate…
Members $380 | General Public $420
Find out more
20
July
2026

Outdoor Writers | Ages: 9 – 16

Summertime, sunshine, green rolling hills, and you! Explore the forest, climb to the tree house, and meander with the stream while honing your writing skills…
Members $400 | General Public $440 | Scholarships Available
Find out more
20
July
2026

Open & Fold: The Art of Bookmaking | Ages: 10 – 13

A book is a container for ideas, stories, and poems. In this playful, hands-on camp, participants will explore different kinds of creative writing through imaginative…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
20
July
2026

Arts Alive: Exploring the Neighborhood | Ages: 10 – 13

We’re excited to announce this camp has been expanded into a full day experience! Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts (NOTA) has long been a hub…
General Public $390 | Members $350
Find out more
20
July
2026

WEEK FOUR: July 27 – 31, 2026

Academy for Young Magicals (Formerly Hogwarts Academy) | Ages: 8 – 14

Immerse yourself in a world of magic as Writers & Books’ three-story building transforms into the Academy for Young Magicals! You’ll be sorted into houses…
General Public $464 | Members $418
Find out more
27
July
2026

Writing Movies | 12 – 17

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp  Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Free, Registration Required
Find out more
27
July
2026

WEEK FIVE: August 3 – 7, 2026

It Could Happen Here | Ages: 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Free, Registration Required
Find out more
03
August
2026

Speak Up: Puppets for Change | Ages: 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Free, Registration Required
Find out more
03
August
2026

POW, SCRIBBLE, ZAP: Graphic Novels from Start to Finish | Ages: 9 – 12

Words and pictures work together to tell stories in celebrated graphic novels, comics, and manga like American Born Chinese, Black Panther, Demon Slayer, Razzle Dazzle…
Members $370 | General Public $410
Find out more
03
August
2026

Dragons & Dice: A D&D Experience | Ages: 9-12

Calling all quest seekers! Newcomers and experts alike are welcome to participate in this dynamic, immersive group. Collaboration, imagination, and storytelling are key components in…
Members $350 | General Public $390
Find out more
03
August
2026

Write a Short Play | Ages: 10 – 13

Do you love theater? Do you have a big imagination? Have you always wished you could see the characters and stories in your head come…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
03
August
2026

Shiz Summer Session: A Wicked Camp | Ages: 12 – 14

Did “Wicked” change your life… for good? Do you dream of joining Elphaba and Glinda at Shiz University? Join like-minded fans for a thrillifying week…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
03
August
2026

Screenwriting 101 | Ages: Teens

Have you ever wondered how your favorite TV show got to the screen? Want to try your hand at writing a script made for TV?…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
03
August
2026

Story Writing Boot Camp | Ages: Teens

We will spend the week learning the essentials of writing and storytelling in a supportive setting. As a group, we’ll go over plot, tension, voice, and…
$ 12:00 pm
Find out more
03
August
2026

Mystery 101 | Ages: 10 – 13

Do you enjoy a good mystery? Do you enjoy the creative writing process?  Do you want to know whodunnit? If your answer is “yes,” join…
Members $175 | General Public $195
Find out more
03
August
2026

Camp Listings

SummerWrite 2026 features five weeks of creative camps for young writers, artists, and storytellers. Each week offers a variety of themed programs led by experienced teaching artists.

Browse the upcoming camps below and follow the links for more details and registration. For assistance, email Clara O’Connor.

WEEK ONE: July 6 – 10, 2026

Graphic Novels: The World in Pictures & Words | Ages: 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Find out more
06
July
2026

Young Authors Club | 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Find out more
06
July
2026

Percy Jackson’s Magic Pen | Ages: 9 – 12

Percy Jackson is mighty with his sword; his creator, Rick Riordan, is mighty with his pen. Experiment with the writing techniques Riordan uses to weave…
Find out more
06
July
2026

Produce a 90-Second Newbery Film | Ages: 9 – 12

Transform into cast and crew to make your own short film based on a Newbery Medal-winning book! With access to St John Fisher University’s state-of-the-art…
Find out more
06
July
2026

Dragons, Dice, & Roleplaying | Ages: Teens

Calling all quest seekers! What do collaborative role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and writing have in common? Quite a lot, as you’ll discover in…
Find out more
06
July
2026

WEEK TWO: July 13 – 17, 2026

C is for Create Your Own Book | Ages: 7 – 9

Do you have a favorite animal, superhero, or sport? Maybe you have a hope or dream you’re ready to share? Turn your unique view of…
Find out more
13
July
2026

Building Fantastical Worlds | Ages: 8 – 11

Have you ever wondered what it’s like living in magical worlds like those in The Chronicles of Narnia or The Borrowers? How do readers leave…
Find out more
13
July
2026

Creating Heroes and Villains for Stories and Comics | Ages: 8-11

Characters with superpowers are cool, but how do we make them feel like real people you actually care about? With guidance from a published YA…
Find out more
13
July
2026

Where I Can Bring All of Me | Ages: 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Find out more
13
July
2026

Build-A-Book | Ages: 10 – 13

So you want to write a book—but you need a plan. Join our community of writers to learn how to plot your story chapter by…
Find out more
13
July
2026

Wordplay Studio | Ages: 12-14

Do you ever feel the urge to write, but when you open your notebook, you aren’t sure where to start? Luckily, you don’t have to…
Find out more
13
July
2026

Teen Worldbuilding | Ages: Teens

Do you love imagining richly detailed fantasy and sci-fi worlds? Are you curious about how writers create systems of magic, invent new cultures and languages,…
Find out more
13
July
2026

WEEK THREE: July 20 – 24, 2026

Playwrights & Puppeteers | Ages: 8 – 13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Find out more
20
July
2026

Fractured Fairy Tales | Ages: 8 – 11

Plot twists, parody, and satire…oh my! Welcome to the wonderful world of fractured fairy tales. Through classic and contemporary tales, participants will explore plot, characterization,…
Find out more
20
July
2026

Outdoor Writers | Ages: 9 – 16

Summertime, sunshine, green rolling hills, and you! Explore the forest, climb to the tree house, and meander with the stream while honing your writing skills…
Find out more
20
July
2026

Sound Playground | Ages: 9-12

Rhythm, music, and rhyme are everywhere: in songs, on stages, stuck in our heads, even in the flow of everyday conversation. This camp will celebrate…
Find out more
20
July
2026

Open & Fold: The Art of Bookmaking | Ages:10 – 13

A book is a container for ideas, stories, and poems. In this playful, hands-on camp, participants will explore different kinds of creative writing through imaginative…
Find out more
20
July
2026

Arts Alive: Exploring the Neighborhood | Ages: 10 – 13

We’re excited to announce this camp has been expanded into a full day experience! Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts (NOTA) has long been a hub…
Find out more
20
July
2026

WEEK FOUR: July 27 – 31, 2026

Academy for Young Magicals (Formerly Hogwarts Academy) | Ages: 8 – 14 – Copy

Immerse yourself in a world of magic as Writers & Books’ three-story building transforms into the Academy for Young Magicals! You’ll be sorted into houses…
Find out more
27
July
2026

Academy for Young Magicals (Formerly Hogwarts Academy) | Ages: 8 – 14

Immerse yourself in a world of magic as Writers & Books’ three-story building transforms into the Academy for Young Magicals! You’ll be sorted into houses…
Find out more
27
July
2026

Writing Movies | 12 – 17

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Find out more
27
July
2026

WEEK FIVE: August 3 – 7, 2026

It Could Happen Here | Ages: 8-13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Find out more
03
August
2026

Speak Up: Puppets for Change | Ages: 8-13

A SummerWrite in the Branches Camp Families facing economic challenges are especially encouraged to register their young readers and writers in tuition-free camps held at…
Find out more
03
August
2026

POW, SCRIBBLE, ZAP: Graphic Novels from Start to Finish | Ages: 9-12

Words and pictures work together to tell stories in celebrated graphic novels, comics, and manga like American Born Chinese, Black Panther, Demon Slayer, Razzle Dazzle…
Find out more
03
August
2026

Dragons & Dice: A D&D Experience | Ages: 9-12

Calling all quest seekers! Newcomers and experts alike are welcome to participate in this dynamic, immersive group. Collaboration, imagination, and storytelling are key components in…
Find out more
03
August
2026

Mystery 101 | Ages:10 – 13

Do you enjoy a good mystery? Do you enjoy the creative writing process? Do you want to know whodunnit? If your answer is “yes,” join…
Find out more
03
August
2026

Write a Short Play | Ages: 10 – 13

Do you love theater? Do you have a big imagination? Have you always wished you could see the characters and stories in your head come…
Find out more
03
August
2026

Shiz Summer Session: A Wicked Camp | Ages: 12 – 14

Did “Wicked” change your life… for good? Do you dream of joining Elphaba and Glinda at Shiz University? Join like-minded fans for a thrillifying week…
Find out more
03
August
2026

Screenwriting 101 | Ages: Teens

Have you ever wondered how your favorite TV show got to the screen? Want to try your hand at writing a script made for TV?…
Find out more
03
August
2026

Story Writing Boot Camp | Ages: Teens

We will spend the week learning the essentials of writing and storytelling in a supportive setting. As a group, we’ll go over plot, tension, voice, and…
Find out more
03
August
2026

WEEK ONE – JULY 6–10

Graphic Novels / The World in Pictures and Words (8–13)
Young Authors Club (8–13)
Produce 90 Second Newbery Film @ SJF (9–12)
Percy Jackson’s Magic Pen (9–12)
Dragons Dice & Roleplaying (TEEN)

WEEK TWO – JULY 13–17

Graphic Novels / The World in Pictures and Words (8–13)
Young Authors Club (8–13)
Produce 90 Second Newbery Film @ SJF (9–12)
Percy Jackson’s Magic Pen (9–12)
Dragons Dice & Roleplaying (TEEN)

WEEK THREE – JULY 20–24

Fractured Fairy Tales (8–11)
Playwrights & Puppeteers (8–13)
Outdoor Writers (9–16)
Arts Alive: Exploring the Neighborhood (10–13)
Open & Fold: The Art of Bookmaking (10–13)
Sound Playground (12–14)

WEEK FOUR – JULY 27–31

Academy for Young Magicals (8–14)
Writing Movies at Irondequoit (12–17)

WEEK FIVE – AUGUST 3–7

It Could Happen Here (8–13)
Speak Up: Puppets for Change (8–13)
POW, SCRIBBLE, ZAP: Graphic Novels from Start to Finish (9–12)
Write a Short Play (10–13)
Mystery 101 (10–13)
Shiz Summer Session: A Wicked Camp (12–14)
Story Writing Boot Camp (TEEN)
Screenwriting 101 (TEEN)

Program Information

SummerWrite in the Branches camps are tuition-free camps held at Rochester library branches; families facing economic challenges are especially encourage to register for these. Please use the links below to see details about each camp and to register.

 

Visit our Things to Know and Teaching Artists pages for more information.

 

For assistance, email Clara O’Connor.

 

Please note: You may only register one camper for a single camp using the registration form. Please complete a separate registration for each individual camper, and each individual camp.

 

Financial Assistance

Scholarships

Writers & Books is committed to making our programs available to all members of the community. We offer partial and full scholarships based on need.

Click here for our secure, confidential online scholarship portal.