I had the privilege to attend the Highlights Summer Camp at the Barn. I enjoyed my trip to a great writers’ summer camp. Here are memory photos taken by my fellow campers and me.
If you get the chance to attend a Highlights Summer Camp, you will learn so much and meet some wonderful people.
By Judie Anderson Offerdahl
By Theresa Milstein
By Judie Anderson Offerdahl
We had some great food too. I took this photo.
The Barn made a great gathering place for our summer camp. Photo by Mary Hill
We visitied the Highlights Magazine offices. Photo by Mary Hill
Beautiful flower beds found everywhere on the property inspired beauty and peaceful feelings. By Mary Hill
We had opportunities to make new friends and enjoy great conversations. By Mary Hill
By Gayle C Krause
The Highlights Foundation really supports aspiring children’s book authors. The Summer Camp provided me with great opportunities to learn and meet lots of fun people. We also met authors and publishing professionals during the week long camp.
FACULTY & SPECIAL GUESTS AT HIGHLIGHTS SUMMER CAMP
Kathy Erskine
Lamar Giles
Susan Campbell Bartoletti
MITALI PERKINS
Mitali conducted an informative workshop on creating settings that resonate. has written many novels for young readers, including Rickshaw Girl (chosen by the New York Public Library as one of the top 100 books for children in the past 100 years) and Bamboo People (an American Library Association’s Top Ten Novels for Young Adults, starred inPublishers Weekly as “a graceful exploration of the redemptive power of love, family, and friendship.”) Her newest novel, Tiger Boy (Charlesbridge), is a Notable Book for a Global Society and an NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor Book.
JILLIAN SULLIVAN
Jillian inspired us with her beautiful poetry. Jillian has written young adult novels, collections of short stories, picture books, a book on mythology, a book on writing, and a collection of poetry titled parallel, which was recently released. Her awards include the Highlights Fiction Award and New Zealand’s Kathleen Grattan Prize for poetry.
ALISON GREEN MYERS
Alison shared with us idea on how to use music to inspire our writing. She is a National Writing Fellow and Literacy Specialist. She specializes in connecting curriculum-driven instruction to creative writing and language work.
PETER P. JACOBI
Peter shared information about writing biographies and nonfiction for children. He is professor emeritus of journalism at Indiana University and a consultant with magazines and corporations, helping CEOs, writers, and editors learn to express their ideas more effectively. His articles have appeared in World Book, the New York Times, Highlights,and others. His two guidebooks, The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It, Write It and Writing with Style: The News Story and the Feature, are standard reference sources for journalists.
JAN CHERIPKO
Jan conducted a session on creating memorable supporting characters and pacing your story. He is author of seven books for children and young adults, including the award-winning YA novel,Imitate the Tiger. For more than twenty-five years, Mr. Cheripko worked with at-risk teens at a private school in upstate New York. He has been a featured author at NCTE, IRA, and numerous regional, state and local educational conferences.
ADRIANA DOMÍNGUEZ
Adriana answered our questions related to finding and working with an agent. She has twenty years of experience in publishing. Prior to becoming an agent, she was Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, where she managed the children’s division of the Rayo imprint. Before that, she was Children’s Reviews Editor at Críticas magazine, published by Library Journal.
JESSICA ECHEVERRIA
Jessica is an editor at Lee & Low Books, an independent children’s book publisher focusing on diversity. Jessica detailed information on a great awards program offered by Lee & Low Books for authors of color.
Clara Gillow Clark
Carol offered support and advice throughout the camp. She is a critically acclaimed author of six novels of historical fiction for middle grade readers. In addition to many of her books being shortlisted for numerous State awards, her novel, Willie and the Rattlesnake King won an International Reading Association Young Adult Choice Award, and her novel, Hill Hawk Hattie was a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year 2004.
Linking up with many parties listed on my Linkups Page.
Wow Mary! Sounds like a wonderful time with lots of lessons and great teaching : ) Thanks for sharing, so glad you could go!
Your photos remind me of all the fun we had, of all that I learned. Thanks for posting these, Mary!
What fun! I was afraid to go to any summer camps as a kid, but I think now as an adult it would be a blast– especially if it’s geared toward one of your passions. So glad you got to enjoy it!
Heather recently posted…How to Deal with the Dangers of Distraction