GKCWP Youth Programs

The Greater Kansas City Writing Project has been serving students directly for over twenty five years through our summer program, the Student Writing Project. The SWP is a series of creative writing enrichment workshops with an emphasis on publishing. The workshops are conducted by some of the most talented teachers in the metro area and held on the campus of UMKC in July. The SWP is open to any young writer age 12-18. This program serves young writers from both the core and remote corners of our community. Diversity is a hallmark of this event.

Five years ago the Greater Kansas City Writing Project began inviting middle school students (grades 6-8) to the UMKC campus for a day of writing. Middle school teachers are also encouraged to attend for a day of discussion about the latest pedagogy in the instruction of composition. The Spring Conference (as it has come to be called) serves young writers and their teachers from across the Kansas City metro. This event embraces the diversity of our community. A writing contest in the genres of poetry and prose (both fiction and nonfiction) precedes this event but the contest is not a prerequisite.

Young Writers Conference and Contest, Spring 2010

The GKCWP is hosting our Spring Conference for Middle Schools on March 31, 2010. This is a chance for young writers to participate in writing workshops presented by the Greater Kansas City Writing Project! At the same time, their teachers are invited to attend separate in-service presentations offered by GKCWP Teacher Consultants. Students and teachers are encouraged to register in groups of 6-- 1 teacher for every 5 students. Registration is due Monday, March 1, 2010. Download the Youth Conference and Contest Registration Form.