Topsham, July 20

A week in review with one word to reflect...or sometimes more!


Gelato
Walking to Brunswick
Word a Minute
Autobiography
Giggly
Learning
Steak Sauce
Pre-Write
Dub Step
Magazine Writing
Character Development
Spectacular
Adventurous
Risk-Taking
Thank you's
Tight-lipped
Galavanting
Fun
Awesome Time
Free Write
Epic
"Spendiferous"
"You know I can't spell that word!"
Yum!
Writing!!
Making new friends

Kennebunk, July 20

Holy cow!  What a week.  We did so much writing, our hands are sore.  Today, we gathered all that we needed to add to the anthology.  We have poems, short stories and prologues to longer stories to include.  After we finished getting all our work typed, we played a bunch of fun games on the cool day.  We filled out a survey about the week and lots of us want to come back next year.  It was a great week, thanks YAC!

Topsham, July 19

First we met outside the Woodside Elementary School as any other day. I noticed it wasn't humid as it has been and that everyone had on their good walking shoes. We went inside the school and we saw that Kaili had brought her baby, Kenzie. Ella did opening moment. When she was done we went straight to working on our learning autobiographies. We had to get a partner and each of us had to read our autobiographies to each other in order to get feedback from one another. My partner was Greta and she did so well that I didn't even have to give her any feedback. Then, we typed our autobiographies and left for our writer's marathon with our notebooks, water bottles, pen, and money. After like 10 minutes walking, my legs really started to hurt! We crossed the bridge between Topsham and Brunswick. After another 5 minutes we stopped to write. I wrote some poems. We kept writing and then we got to go to Gelato Fiasco. I got Peanut Butter Dream. It was delicious. When we were all done, we left to go back to the school. The walk back was more difficult than the one down because of the steep hills! When we got back to school, closing moment was Rayanne, Morgan, and Meg. Overall, it was a fun day!
- Jewel F.

Topsham, July 18

Today at camp, Eliza started us off on a good note with opening circle. She read a page from a book she liked, Rumpelstiltskin's daughter. Then, we all talked about the elements of a fairy tale in case one of us wanted to try to write one. We listened to a video called "Time to walk the dog" for any people who were still unsure of what to write for their learning autobiographies. Then, we split into a younger and older group. I was in the younger group and we did a flip book. We passed it around- you either had to draw a picture or write 3-5 sentences to keep the story going. All of the stories ended up really funny. We dressed Emma up in pens and pencils right before our snack a recess break. When we came back inside, we worked on our autobiographies and listened to a song that people changed the lyrics to. We had a wonderful ending with Abby reading a paragraph from her 14 chapter book about wolves. 
- Cora S. 

Kennebunk, July 19

Today we went on a writing marathon.  We spied on peoples' conversations and moved around the town a lot.  It was a lot of fun.  We wrote scary stories and noticed things about nature.  It was a beautiful day in Kennebunk and we even treated ourselves to some ice cream.  I can't believe the week is almost over.  We needed some time in the afternoon to work on our anthology piece and author's blurb.

Kennebunk, July 18

Today, we played a gamed called gesture circle.  We copied each others motions over and over as they changed.  Then, we went to the Brick Store Museum (where our camp is) and found out that it was the first building in Kennebunk to be made of bricks.  After that, we created characters by passing our writers notebooks around a circle and added features to the face of a new character.  Then, we wrote a monologue from that character's perspective.  After a snack and casual chat, we wrote about the pictures that we took yesterday.  We had some free write time to work on our anthology piece and any other writing that we wanted to.  Another good day.
Sarah and Sarah (what a team)

Bowdoin, July 17

Today we worked on characters. We each chose a picture from a magazine and turned the person in the picture into a character. We thought of internal and external things characteristics and then somehow get those things into our story. Yesterday, we did word a minute and watched a few videos where somebody learns a lesson. We wrote what we thought the lesson was on a sticky note. One of the videos we watched was about a girl who went to Africa and learned to never complain about what she didn't have. Another girls learned how to treat a friend. 
- Ella

Today at camp we first did opening circle and then we got into groups. In those groups we were assigned a cartoon character to brainstorm internal and external character traits. Then we got to create our own character based on a magazine picture. After we had snack, we wrote our autobiographies about special stuff that we've had happen to us. 
- Eliza L.

Bowdoin, July 16

Despite the awful heat, my first day at Writer's camp was fantastic. We started off with an opening moment from Michele. She read and exerpt from one of her favorite books and asked us what our favorite detail was. After that, we began my favorite writing activity, a word a minute. Word a minute is when someone shouts out a word and we have to somehow insert it into our writing. The results can be pretty funny. 

Latrer on, we were allowed to free-write as I call it. When we finished, we headed outside to roam around on our own free will (well, of course we had to stay on the playground). After that, we came together to brainstorm ideas for our learning autobiographies. People came up with some pretty cool ones. To bad my idea was taken by several people. Oh well! Soon, we ventured down to the library to do some more free-writing. I didn't get much done because I couldn't think of a good enough idea. To end the day, we wrote our own  "important thing" with objects chosen at random. Finally, to conclude our lovely day at camp, Cora and Maggie dismissed us with a couple of closing poems. 

Overall, my first day at camp was fantastic. 
- Emma M. 
Returning Camper (2011, 2010)

It’s an odd experience when you have no idea what to expect from something.
This is the exact way camp works for me. Being the only boy, I was beside myself
during this new experience. But there is always room for new in the world which made
this an even better time for me. We have a set schedule everyday where we have our
opening and closing moment where we share a piece of writing that connects to us in
some way, and time to work on our learning autobiography. This is the template for our
work space with some added surprises throughout the day. I am encouraged to learn
more about improving my writing with this camp which has been successful so far. Let’s
see what tomorrow brings.
- Max B.

Kennebunk, July 17

For our second day, we started with a challenge of group juggling.  You may thing this means that we all needed to know how to juggle, but we didn't.  We worked up to level 6 and you will need to come to a YAC to learn what that means.  We hope to work up to 20!  After juggling, we did a fun writing activity called Word a Minute where Sarah gave a word each minute and we needed to incorporate it into our story.  After that, she read a story called Small Beauties and we walked around Kennebunk finding our own small beauties.  We came back after escaping the raindrops and wrote about it.  We shared a lot and there are some incredible writers in the group.  We also looked at the pictures that we took yesterday so that Sarah can print them out and we will write about them tomorrow.  It will be a rainy day, so we have a lot of fun inside.

Topsham, July 16

Despite the awful heat, my first day at Writer's camp was fantastic. We started off with an opening moment from Michele. She read and exerpt from one of her favorite books and asked us what our favorite detail was. After that, we began my favorite writing activity, a word a minute. Word a minute is when someone shouts out a word and we have to somehow insert it into our writing. The results can be pretty funny. 

Latrer on, we were allowed to free-write as I call it. When we finished, we headed outside to roam around on our own free will (well, of course we had to stay on the playground). After that, we came together to brainstorm ideas for our learning autobiographies. People came up with some pretty cool ones. To bad my idea was taken by several people. Oh well! Soon, we ventured down to the library to do some more free-writing. I didn't get much done because I couldn't think of a good enough idea. To end the day, we wrote our own  "important thing" with objects chosen at random. Finally, to conclude our lovely day at camp, Cora and Maggie dismissed us with a couple of closing poems. 

Overall, my first day at camp was fantastic. 
- Emma M. 
Returning Camper (2011, 2010)

It’s an odd experience when you have no idea what to expect from something.
This is the exact way camp works for me. Being the only boy, I was beside myself
during this new experience. But there is always room for new in the world which made
this an even better time for me. We have a set schedule everyday where we have our
opening and closing moment where we share a piece of writing that connects to us in
some way, and time to work on our learning autobiography. This is the template for our
work space with some added surprises throughout the day. I am encouraged to learn
more about improving my writing with this camp which has been successful so far. Let’s
see what tomorrow brings.
- Max B.

Kennebunk, July 16

The Brick Store Museum creates a wonderful backdrop for a writing camp.  The history and vinca are rich with interwoven themes and elements.  Our first day together, 9 campers, was spent walking around Kennebunk on a word walk.  Campers places phrases in places that made sense to them and we captured their images on film.  After a quick snack and game of alphabet, we got to work creating a writer's toolbox.  With three long lists of characters, settings and problems, we have interchangeable ideas for future writing.  It was a hot day and we were blessed with an air conditioned room to cool in.  We look forward to another great day tomorrow.

Bowdoin, July 13

This week was really fun. I met new friends and did a lot of really fun activities. Some were: journal-in-a-round, prompt challenge, and writing using our senses. Hannah, Ricky, Ellie, and I made a cool magazine with comics and big stories. I also wrote stories about my life and fictions stories. I loved going to the writing camp and hope to do it again next year. 
- Tess H. 

Things I loved from the writing camp were: fun activities, the cool playground, awesome times, nice teacher, new friends, long and strong time, free writing, and getting cool stuff like t-shirts and stickers. 
- Ricky H. 

Kaili was a great teacher! It was a great experience. I loved writing in my journal. 
- Skyler H.

This camp was: fun, organized, amazing, cool, and super awesome. We learned a lot, it was a very positive atmosphere, and everyone's spirits were always high. It rocked! 
- Ellie H. 

I had a lot of fun this week. I learned a lot of things and made many new friends from all over Maine. This is a wonderful program. Our teacher was wonderful, too. She taught us a lot and was always there if we had questions. This camp was wonderful!
- Maiya S. 

The week went by really fast. I like the teacher- she's nice. I hope I can come back here next year. 
- Ben K. 

I had LOTS of fun and I like to write now!!! I hope I can do this again next year. I especially liked writing poems. 
- Caitlin C. 

I really like the Bowdoin camo. It's so fun! We do poems, long and strong, fairy tales, and many more types of writing. It's cool, awesome, and amazing. I recommend it with 5 stars!
-Hannah L. 

Amazing, neat, super cool and fun!
- Winston 

This week was so fun. We played outside and had snacks for a little while each day but my favorite parts were the writing activities. My favorite writing was long and strong. We wrote for ten more minutes every day until we were writing for an hour straight! I also enjoyed the character sketch we wrote. Maiya and I came up with this snobby character- it was so fun. But my favorite part was ice cream and popsciles on Friday- we wrote about the senses as we ate the treats. I loved the camp and 200% recommend it. 
- Kaitlyn D.

Portland, June 13

Today in the morning we played a game that the camp made up with a beach ball.  But it got to noisy and we hit a lamp so we had to stop.  So, then we played Quackditilioso, and Elsa won.  Then we had a great opening moment in which we heard the poem Water Lilly.  After that we played Poloroid and follow the leader.  Then we filled in a survey for the last day of camp.  These are some things a few kids said:
Nicky: "It was really good and fun.  Thumbs up."
Tom: "It was cool.  My favorite part was lunch."
Jude: "Good.  Overall 4."
Corina: "It was really fun."
Cam: "It was a lot of fun especially the writing marathon."
Sadie: "Good."
Eliza: "It was fun and exciting."
Maddie: "Awesome."
Then we typed or stories for the book.  During lunch, Jude, Nicky, and I Made a funny sentence on the board.  This is it:
My life is uber bloody fire knives spike donuts into mystic catastrophic goats with hippoptomonstrosesquppedaliphbia (fear of long words) pizza and elemental honey that knives want dead.
Isn't that a long sentence?
Some people went outside.
Then we did the writing share.
It was really cool and there were some great stories.
I think writing camp was awesome!
 - Gabriel G.

Bowdoin, June 12

Bowdoin Writing Camp is extremely fun place to be. The camp instructor, Kaili, is really nice and I have met a lot of new people. Today we wrote poems and made recipes for anything we wanted. I love spending time writing and at the Bowdoin Writing Camp.
-Tess H.

Portland June 12

First, we did a gesture game.  How to play is:  everyone stand in a circle and someone makes a gesture like, maybe a fancy bow or a funny wave.  One by one, everyone does the gesture.  Notice how it is almost like playing moving gesture telephone!
Next, we did word a minute.  Here's how to do it:  Sarah said one word a minute and we all wrote stories and added a word each minute.  After, we make six word memoirs.  One of mine is, Eat, nap, bark, from, the dog.  Then, we had snack.  After, we made detailed stories, some having "I remember" in them.  We had lunch out on the town again and then had time to free write and get our pieces done for the anthology.  What a great day!

Bowdoin, June 11

We  were working on characters today. That's how Bikini Bill was created. The Bowdoin Camp Gossip Magazine was created by Ricky Henry, Ellie Hodgkin, and Hannah Lawrence. The President of the magazine is me, Ricky Henry.
- Ricky H.

Today we worked on a character sketch and did long-and-strong for 50 whole minutes. I like long and strong because it is nice and quiet.
- Ben K.

Ellie reporting: we did poems today which were fun, fun, fun. We also did characters. I had NO trouble coming up with my characters. Long and strong is still my favorite time. Ricky, Hannah, and I made up a magazine. It is so cool. This camp is awesome!
- Ellie H.

Today we did 50 minutes of long and strong! We always have time to share our stories after we write one. I love YAC!
- Hannah L.

Portland, June 11

Today we formed into groups and had a writing marathon in Portland.  Each group went to different locations, but my group went to parks, cemeteries, the farmers' market and the library.  Everyone had a terrific time exploring Portland.  We also talked about using our five senses; looking, smelling, tasting, hearing and feeling.  We had a great time writing down stories and being creative.  We came back and talked about our day.  Here are a few quotes:  "Just because he is furrier than you, doesn't mean you can bite him."  and "I hate when you can taste bruises on apples."  and "I can't stand standing."  We look forward to another great day tomorrow.
Sydney

Bowdoin, June 10

Hello from Day 2 of Bowdoin's writing camp!

Today we focused on how to develop setting in a story using descriptive language and having the "end in mind" when sitting down to write. Here are some thoughts from the campers:

Hi! It's Ellie talking. Bowdoin Camp is fun, fun, fun. The thing that I really like the most is long and strong. We write a lot of stories and it is so fun. We learn a lot as well. If you like writing, definitely go to Bowdoin's writing camp!
- Ellie H.

Today I wrote a story about a huge monster that destroyed New York City, played tag at recess, and did fun writing activities with all of the campers.
- Ricky H.

I like long and strong because you get a lot of time to write.
- Winston Z.

Bowdoin Writing Camp is fun because of the couselor and what we do- every day we have a little time to write about whatever we choose and we also do group writing activities. Every camper also gets to tell about themselves in an opening or closing moment for one of the days of camp. I love writer's camp!
- Hannah L.

Portland, June 10

Blog notes, by Cameron

• We had a great opening story by Sydney
• We did lots of drawing of characters and relaxing writing in the morning
• We watched a Mr. Roger's video that the adults loved
• We went around town and had little strips of paper that we had to find places for.  It was a lot of fun!  It gets our creative juices flowing.
• Over lunch, we chatted and some of us even belly danced!  Some made a secret sentence and shared after lunch.
• Then, we did an activity called sap to syrup where you basically boil down your writing intil you have the syrup.
• Lots of fun with a busy day!

Bowdoin, June 9

Today in writing camp, we came up with character names, character jobs, settings,  and conflicts that a story could have- something Kaili called the Writer's Tool Box and is meant for times that we need inspiration or ideas for what to write. Then, we did a word-a-minute where Kaili told us a word and we have to use that word in our writing. My favorite part of the day was writing long and strong. I love the Bowdoin Writing Camp.
- Kaitlyn D.

Hi, I'm Ellie and I'm going to the Bowdoin Writing Camp. We had so much fun today. I wrote a skit with Tess, Hannah, and Ricky. It was so fun! Kaili is also very fun and she is a great teacher. She helps us so much. It's a lot of writing but a lot of fun. Everyone should do to Writing Camp.
- Ellie H.

Portland, June 9

The headlines read...Nineteen campers, quiet as mice in a dark cave, transformed into a group of giggling kids - awesome!  Our first day at camp flew by.  Whether flopped on the couch, huddling two to a seat, or more reserved in the corner, all of the campers seemed to enjoy the day.  We started by creating a writer's toolbox to use in a writing-block crunch.  It must have been the snack at 10:00 that started to make personalities blossom.  Later, we mapped an area of our lives; a yard, a room, a secret doorway and wrote a story about it.  By lunch, groups were formed and some took to the city to eat and enjoy a warm day with a cool breeze.  After lunch, we created a sound symphony with the setting of a zoo at night.  Ask what sound your camper contributed.  For the last time of the day, campers sprawled and listened to a book, Small Beauties, and then took time to write about some small beauties in their lives.  Sprinkled among the great day were some funny quotes that were overheard:
"Do you have a holster?"
"I've seen a moose eat a Twinkie."
"You could draw a map of the Kentucky Derby!"
"Should I draw the property line or is it kind of obvious?"
"Her real name is Snickers."
"This is my dog's best-friend's house."
"You spell barfy, b-a-r-f-y, right?"
Looking forward to another great day tomorrow.
Sarah