Rochester is home to some of the most creative people on the planet. We have authors, artists, chefs, musicians, and more. So it’s only natural that this is also the place for the most creative kids around. And those kids need some options when it comes to summer camp.
Writers & Books (W&B) is the spot for young readers and writers. SummerWrite is an entire season of more than twenty different camps for kids and teens. From worldbuilding and role playing to screenwriting and photography, the options are endless. Some of the camps even focus entirely on one book series such as Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
Violet, age ten, attended Hogwarts Academy 2024 and was surprised to find all the teaching artists had been transformed into characters from the books. “We got sorted into houses and earned house points all week. And I got to write for the Daily Quibbler every day!” Her favorite courses included Potions, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures.
Many of the camps at W&B take walking trips around the beautiful Neighborhood of the Arts. Campers in Urban Outdoor Writers spend a full day at Highland Park, taking a nature tour of the gardens and conservatory. Artists lead the group in yoga and spoken word poetry, and kids and teens create journals and are encouraged to write stories and poems while observing the nature around them.
Sally Bittner Bonn was a student at the very first Summer Write camp in the mid-1980s. She returned as an adult to take creative writing classes and then became a teaching artist, eventually becoming the SummerWrite coordinator and director of youth education. She believes that storytelling builds empathy and imagination, builds bridges between people, and opens doors for new thinking.
“Now, more than ever,” says Bonn, “at a time when technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, at a time when our country and planet are facing challenges we’ve never seen before, now is the time to provide space for kids and teens to find their voices, to find opportunities for them to learn to build the confidence they need to speak their minds, to tell their truths, to trust their creativity and their agency. They are our future. It is an honor to work with them!”
Many of the camps at Writers & Books partner with the Flower City Arts Center and the Memorial Art Gallery. They are also excited to offer SummerWrite in the Branches, a program that brings their youth educators to area libraries to offer tuition-free summer camps. This year these libraries include the Arnett, Lincoln, Lyell, and Phillis Wheatley branches.
One of the best spots in town for your budding artist is the University of Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery (MAG). From exploring color and creativity in All the Colors of the Rainbow camp to diving into the eerie and mysterious in Night & Day: After Dark camp, each one offers a unique theme and hands-on experiences in various artistic mediums. Campers can harness the power of nature in Elemental: Mixing Mediums, craft their own stories and illustrations in Myths, Fables & Stories, or develop their storytelling skills through Comic Creations.
For teens looking to refine their artistic skills at the MAG, Portfolio Development provides guidance to build a strong collection of original work. Whether experimenting with tie-dye, ceramics, jewelry making, or bookbinding these camps offer an immersive and inspiring summer filled with creativity, self-expression, and artistic growth.
Casa Italiana is a camp for kids interested in the language and culture of Italy. Held on the campus of Nazareth University, children will participate in week-long activities including indoor and outdoor language games, cooking, history, geography, traditions, theater, folk dancing, and more. They’ll get to explore the cultural heritage of Italy with some new friends and guest presenters.
The Mary Therese Friel Modeling Agency has an exciting week of runway and print modeling planned for their campers. From TV commercials and motion picture acting to presentation skills and self-development, kids and teens will gain confidence and enjoy a personal photo shoot.
If you can’t get enough of American History, Historic Pursuits in Palmyra might be the place for you. Camps on the thirteen-acre homestead include candle making, open hearth cooking, dance lessons, and a Revolutionary War encampment.
Rochester is brimming with camps for kids who love to sing, dance and play instruments. School of Rock’s music camps offer an incredible selection of experiences from beginner music camps to intermediate and advanced sessions. Camps at the Victor location include performance boot camps, artist-themed camps including Taylor Swift and the Beatles, songwriting, and more.
You can always spend the summer singing and dancing at OFC Creations or Spotlight Theaters. Both offer camps for all ages where every child gets to be part of a musical performance like Matilda, Beetlejuice, Peter Pan, The Addams Family, and so many more.
If you’re a creative kid (or parent to one), summer camp can be a great way to unleash that creativity and find your people. Whether you cook, sew, paint, sing, draw, dance, or write get out there and create something this summer!For contact information about these and other camps visit our 2025 Summer Camp & Activity Guide!
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of (585) Kids.
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