Harriman to host writing workshop

August experience is for high schoolers: Application deadline is June 10

ISLAND PARK — From Sunday, August 1 to Saturday, August 7, Harriman Sate Park will host a writing workshop for high school students directed by a well known Idaho writer, Margaret Marti.  For some 20 years Marti worked in publishing before moving to Boise in 1999. For eight years she was the managing director of The Cabin, Idaho’s literary center. She now researches, edits, writes, and reviews grants for nonprofit and government organizations.

The instructors are professional writers who have had extensive experience working with high school students. Although the emphasis will be writing, ample time is allowed for outdoor activities, and a naturalist is part of the workshop staff.

Students entering eleventh or twelfth grade in the fall of 2010 are invited to apply. Students who are younger or older by about one year or who are in an educational program outside the public schools are also invited. About 40 participants will be selected. The application process includes an essay of up to two pages telling about your writing and why you want to attend Writers @ Harriman. A panel will review the applications, and may also conduct a telephone interview. The panel will seek students who demonstrate curiosity, an interest in writing, and potential for successful performance in this setting.

Applications must be postmarked or e-mailed by Thursday, June 10. Students will be notified of their acceptance by June 15. Details about what to bring, what will be provided, and travel arrangements will be in the acceptance letter. Tuition is $175, payable upon acceptance. Scholarships are available, based upon need. Inquire at writersatharriman@yahoo.com.

Click here to download an application.

Students arrive on Sunday before 5 p.m., settle in, have dinner, meet the writers giving the workshop, and review the basic plan for the week. Breakfast is at 8:30 daily, followed at 9 by a writing craft talk from a guest or teaching writer. At 10, students work with the writers, using the outdoors as their classroom and allowing time for small group and one-on-one interaction. Lunch is at 12:30, and at 1:15 students choose their elective groups. The electives will be for two days with the same choices available, again for the next two days.

At 3, field trips, bookmaking class, historic tours, horseback riding, writing conferences, and other activities are available — student’s choice. Campers will also do a service project directed by the Harriman State Park staff. Dinner is at 6. After dinner activities change every day, and some call for student participation. Families and friends are invited to a reading at 7 p.m. Friday, August 7, when students will share some of their writing. Camp breaks up following breakfast and thorough cleaning of the dormitory on Saturday morning.

Catherine Jones, Chris Dempsey, and Nicole LeFavour are the teaching writers.

Catherine Jones is a freelance writer from Missoula, Montana. She has an MFA from the University of Montana, and her short fiction has appeared in Black Warrior Review. In 2007, Full Glass Films optioned the manuscript of her novel, The Ceremony, and Catherine was hired to write a screenplay based on this manuscript. An earlier version of the same novel was a finalist for the 2005 Dana Award in the Novel. Ms. Jones has taught writing at University of Montana, Boise State University, and The Cabin.

Chris Dempsey, from Middleton, Idaho, is the author of Winter Horses, a book of poetry. He has been Idaho Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Teacher of the Year and Eagle High School Teacher of the Year, which is where he presently teaches eleventh grade English, honors English, American character, creative writing, and journalism. Chris also coaches track and football. He earned his master’s degree in Arts in Education from Boise State University.

Nicole LeFavour, has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Montana and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California Berkeley in the evolution of cognition. She lives in Boise and teaches creative writing at The Cabin, and has represented the state in the National Slam Poetry competition. She is the Idaho State Senator from District 19, and has a tireless record in striving for human rights through her work in the legislature and organizations to which she contributes her energy.

Jerome Stenger is a writing assistant and boys proctor. An English and journalism major, he was the fiction editor of the Ohio Wesleyan Literary Magazine, studying under Robert Olmstead. While there, he was awarded the Ulle Lewes Prize for overall promise in creative non-fiction writing. Jerome is versed in all major forms of writing, even blogging!

Dana Owen, the naturalist and girls proctor, is a graduate student at Boise State where she is studying human disturbance and American kestrels. While earning her BA in environmental studies and politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan University, Dana served as moderator of environmentally themed house of 12 students and VP of Environment and Wildlife Club. She has spent time in Honduras, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands volunteering with rural farmers, studying wildlife, and working as a naturalist guide. Dana has also served as conservation intern at Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania.

This is part of the online edition of Henry's Fork Country.

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