July 14th, 2015

Brainstorming  Ideas

Monday July 13, 2015


Welcome to the First Day at UNCG Young Writer’s Camp


Hello everyone, this is Melissa Moreno. The first time I joined the Young Writer’s Camp was in the 12th grade.  I considered myself a good writer at the time, but after participating in the activities, meeting new friends, learning new writing techniques and engaging with the staff, I became more involved in my writing and creativity.  Now I am a rising sophomore in UNCG, as well as the 2015 UNCG Young Writer’s Camp blogger.


To those who are new to the summer program, the staff of the UNCG young Writer’s Camp would like to say welcome and we are all looking forward to meeting bright new faces this year. To the former campers who enjoyed the camp experience so much that they could not wait for another year of fun and excitement, we are glad you decided to join us again and we promise this year is going to be 10 times the enjoyment, with stimulating lessons and a most memorable experience this summer.


Everyday for the next two weeks, we will begin with a guest speaker, as they discuss projects, events, careers and writing techniques to help demonstrate the students the limitless possibilities of writing, from publishing a book to establishing marketing and promotion.  It is also a chance for students to ask questions and develop brainstorms for their stories in which they will present to their parents and classmate at the end of the camp session.  Then everyone will go to their assigned classrooms based on grades and continue with their writing lessons.  Here, the students will learn writing formats, grammar, use computer programs and websites to edit and illustrate their projects and discuss with the teachers for any advice.  


Today, Theresa Lee came to elaborate on the Melon Project, a non profit organization in which food, education and clothing are provided for kids in Africa.  It is a chance to show the wonders of reading and writing to those who could not afford it.  One of the projects in which the camp participates in is to write a story and share the published piece with kids in Africa.  Some of the texts from the Writer’s Camp were about basketball, sonic the hedgehog, an animal’s point of view or a memoir of themselves.  Though some people in Africa suffer through poverty, especially the kids participating in the Melon Project, they are happy to receive the published pieces, especially those that were written by previous UNCG campers; it provides them an insight of another child in a foreign land.  Every kid in the world, no matter the color of their race, or the borders between languages, countries and culture, equally deserves the opportunity to an education.  


After the discussion, the students begin brainstorming ideas for their books, websites, or poems.  The most significant objective of the Young Writer’s Camp is to demonstrate to the students that creativity is limitless and to teach them the importance of capturing the audience.  So far, most of the students are on the blackboard, writing, typing drawing their ideas, while others are already working on their stories.  The first day truly sparked their inspiration to make something of themselves, to show their side of the story to others.  Of course this is only the beginning and we hope to continue working with the students, help them break out of their comfort zone and really challenge them to new opportunities and enrichment.


To the readers, I hope you enjoyed my blog so far.  There is more to come, so please feel free to comment and if you did not join us this year, there is next time.  I will keep you updated.