The Nature of Writing

What happens when young writers use the great outdoors for inspiration? Explore the BYU campus as we discover the sights, smells, and sounds of summer! Each morning will include a focused writing lesson that will be applied outside in nature, and again in the afternoon in a cool indoor setting featuring works of art. Students will keep a nature journal that includes painting and writing about nature and a composition notebook for writing inspired by art. This camp is for children who like to feel the sun on their face and grass under their feet!

BYU campus locations we will visit include the duck pond, Bean Museum, Museum of Paleontology, and the bell tower pond and stream.

Grade Level: Entering 3–6
Dates and Time: June 12–16, 2017, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: Brigham Young University
Tuition: $189.00

Tuition includes five days of instruction, writing and art materials, a printed anthology, a T-shirt, lunch and snacks.

Tentative Daily Schedule

9:00–9:30 a.m. Scribble, lessons
9:35 a.m. Leave for field trip
9:45–10:45 a.m. Nature walk or field trip
10:45–11:00 a.m. Snack and sharing
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Time to write, illustrate, share

Monique FausettMonique Fausett has been teaching elementary grades for 19 years. She currently teaches sixth grade at Timpanogos Intermediate School in the Wasatch School District. Monique is a Central Utah Writing Project fellow and has taught summer writing camps for the past two summers. She resides in the small town of Wallsburg, located up Provo Canyon. Monique loves to read, write, go for walks, and spend time with her family.

Penny GardnerPenny Gardner has several years of experience as an elementary teacher, including one year as a full-time writing teacher for grades one to five. Penny has presented workshops on nature journaling to parents across the country. She participated in the Central Utah Writing Project in the summer of 2011. She is excited to combine her experiences as she leads this summer writing camp for young children. Penny is the mother of six and grandmother of four.