Austin Bat Cave hosts a number of free, half-day creative writing summer camps all over the city.
Summer camps explore genres like Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, Poetry Writing, Horror Writing, Magical Realism, and more. Whatever your interests, we have a camp for you!
For the young writer who craves a deeper intensive and wants to discover their writing community, our week-long Overnight Writing Retreat for Young Authors at St. Edward’s University is the perfect getaway. Scholarships for eligible students are available.
Half-Day Summer Camps
Below are our 2021 Summer Camps!
6th – 12th Grade
Speculative Fiction Camp
June 14th–25th, 11am–1pm M-F each week (Two-Week Camp)
Zoom interface
Have you ever imagined new worlds and/or radically different futures? Do you read Octavia Butler and think, “I could do this!” Join us to explore the world of speculative fiction. In this workshop, you will write your own speculative stories that imagine new forms of connection, living, and community that span science fiction, dystopian worlds, and themes of mutual aid and care. Over the course of the workshop, campers will complete at least one short story or scene and showcase their work.
6th-12th Grade
Poetry Camp
June 28th–July 2nd, 11am–1pm each day
Zoom interface
We all have a story to tell, and expressing these stories through poetry can be a great way to share your story with others. In this workshop, you will learn about a variety of poetic forms and how to share your memories, experiences, and personality through the art of poetic writing. Campers will learn the different styles that poems can take, and, using inspiration from published poets, will write a few poems about meaningful themes or experiences from their lives.
3rd-5th grade
Intro to Science Fiction Camp
June 14th–25th, 10am–12pm, M-F each week (Two-Week Camp)
Zoom interface
Robots, extraterrestrial life, time travel—when it comes to sci-fi, the possibilities are endless! In this camp, you will learn about the genre of science fiction, and will hear from sci-fi writers and guest speakers in STEM fields in order to discover how different forms of science can be incorporated into your stories! Campers will work on completing one short story over the course of the week and will have the opportunity to participate in a final reading!
3rd – 5th Grade
Intro to Poetry Camp
June 28th–July 2nd, 10am–12pm each day
Zoom interface
This workshop for young poets will explore a variety of different poetic forms including lyrics, sonnets, blank verse, and more, all while teaching campers how to find poetic inspiration in the world around them! For the young William Carlos Williams or Louise Gluck in your life! Campers will work on learning various literary devices and crafting several different types of poems over the course of the workshop and will work towards a live performance at the end of camp.
Overnight Retreat
Stay tuned for our 2022 retreat.
6th – 9th Grade
Summer Writing Retreat for Young Authors
July 13th — 17th, 2020
St. Edward’s University
Join Austin Bat Cave for our week-long overnight writer’s retreat dedicated to fiction, poetry, and autobiographical storytelling. Perfect for young authors who want to immerse themselves in their craft! Campers will engage in daily creative writing workshops taught by local Austin writers, guest speakers, and educators, all while experiencing the lifestyle of a university campus. Past ABC instructors and guest speakers have included Karen Russell, Natalia Sylvester, and Carrie Johnson, Naomi Shihab Nye, and more!
Our interactive workshops will encourage students to delve into their imaginations while learning forms and structures of literary genres and subgenres. As students develop poems and stories, they will learn to critique and receive feedback, edit and revise, working closely with instructors and fellow campers to develop pieces they are proud to share and publish. As a culminating project, students will work together to prepare for a public reading (parents invited!) on the final evening of camp!
Following a full day of writing, students will spend evenings engaging in art and leisure activities guided by camp counselors, along with team-building and relationship-building games and adventures. Opportunities for one-on-one mentorship and feedback on writing will be provided each evening as well. Each camper will stay in a private, single-bed dorm room in St. Ed’s residence halls, chaperoned by program staff, and eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the university cafeteria.
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