YouthWrite River Valley Experience 2022
not available for sale
July 3 - July 8, 2022
Day Camp For Ages 8-13
A unique opportunity for kids to expand their writing horizons. Campers will receive guidance from published authors and learn writing techniques for specific genres.
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WhenJuly 3rd - July 8th, 2022 Full Week |
WhereBennett Centre Edmonton, Alberta |
WhoGuest instructors: Elena (Eli) Belyea Brad Bucknell Natasha Deen Angela Flatekval Marcus Fung Kathryn Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon & Jia Jia Yong Tololwa Mollel Elsa Robinson Shima Robinson aka Dwennimmen Daniel J Schneider Thomas Trofimuk Blue Pencil Café Editor: Timothy Anderson Our Special Guest Presenter: Donald McMann Our Super Supers: Andraya Diogo Amanda Erickson Mark Guerrero Aajah Sauter Lead Super Keltie Squires Mackenzie Trofimuk Client Services Tania Gigliotti River Valley Experience Coordinator Marla Albiston YouthWrite Director-Coordinator: |
Guest Instructors
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YOUTHWRITE INSTRUCTORS: THE CREAM OF THE CROP!
Throughout YouthWrite's history, we have prided ourselves on the calibre of our fine instructors. YouthWrite invites superbly talented and reputable instructors who represent the many facets of the performing, visual, musical, dance, film, and written arts. |
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Elena (Eli) Belyea
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Brad Bucknell
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Natasha Deen
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Angela Flatekval
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Marcus Fung
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Kathryn Gwun-Yee 君妍 Lennon
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Jia Jia Yong
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Tololwa M Mollel
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Elsa Robinson
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Shima A. Robinson aka Dwennimmen
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Daniel J Schneider
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Thomas Trofimuk
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Blue Pencil Café with Timothy Anderson
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Our special guest presenterDonald McMannDonald McMann has written speeches, magazine articles, technical manuals, entire communications plans. He spent time in public relations, the likely origin of his interest in writing fiction. Since 2001, he has been a full-time faculty member at MacEwan University where today he is an assistant professor in the English department. And he writes short stories. Don lives in Edmonton, Canada with his wife and critic (not to be confused with a critical wife) Elsa Rice, a practicing lawyer. |
The Amazing Supers
Handpicked and multi-talented, YouthWrite Supers are the centre of our camps. As artists, teachers and mentors, they bring the X-Factor to YouthWrite.
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Andraya Diogois a stage designer/manager, writer and mediocre skateboarder. As a longtime |
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Amanda Ericksonis more than excited to be joining you all for a very wordplayful summer! Amanda is a communications student at MacEwan University pursuing a career in journalism. They are also a member of the YouthWrite office bee team! They are deeply passionate about literature, especially Murakami and Kafka, and enjoy writing the occasional poem. Amanda is also hoping to become a part of the inner circle of Marla’s favourites this summer! |
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Mark GuerreroMark Guerrero is thrilled to be joining you all for a fun and exciting summer full of imaginative freedom and play! Mark is an actor and singer from Grande Prairie, AB. He is currently a student in the University of Alberta's BFA Acting program. His experience in that program so far has been inspiring, transformative, and has fueled his love for classical text – including Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Chekhov. Before starting his career as an actor, Mark graduated from the University of Alberta with a sociology degree and worked in program evaluation and data analysis. Mark also loves to sing and trains classically as a baritone. He’s uber-excited to be Gail’s favourite. |
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Keltie Squires - Lead Super
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Aajah SauterAajah Sauter is thrilled to be back for yet another year! She's a third-year journalism student at MacEwan University pursuing a career in radio/video journalism and documentary producing. She has a passion for storytelling and amplifying unheard and marginalized voices in her community. Before writing came along, dance was a first love: she's trained in ballet, jazz, and many Hip Hop styles and has been competing for thirteen years. Dance and writing have been incredible creative outlets. Aajah is excited to be back as a Super and surrounded by so many bright and innovative souls!. |
Mackenzie Trofimuk
Mackenzie Trofimuk has been involved with YouthWrite for her whole life and is thrilled to be returning for yet another joyous summer! She has filled the roles of camper, office Bee, Super, and was a member of the Spoken Word Youth Choir for the past several years. She is currently living in Toronto, enrolled in first-year at Toronto Metropolitan University. While she is now pursuing studies in fashion, dance was her first love, and she has trained intensively in contemporary, jazz, |
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Client ServicesTania Gigiliottiis the little Hobbit you may have seen previously working in the children's section of bookstores and comic book stores around Edmonton. When she's not working for YouthWrite, she is the Project Manager on the Young People are the Future Project researching youth engagement in living history museums. At YouthWrite, she is Master of Excel and Campfax and also Communications Manager. |
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River Valley Experience CoordinatorMarla Albistonhas been involved with YouthWrite for approximately 15 years…she can’t remember the exact number, because she’s been having so much fun! She completed her BEd degree at the U of A, and since then has had the wonderful opportunity to apply her love of education with her passion for movement, teaching Dance at various schools with EPSB. She also works as a freelance dance teacher/choreographer, dances with the local Contemporary company ViVA Dance, and performs in aerial circus with Firefly Theatre and Circus. Marla is beyond excited for the magic that once again will be taking place at YouthWrite this summer and to work with Gail who loves her best! |
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YouthWrite Director- CoordinatorGail Sidonie Sobatis a multi-award-winning teacher and author, with twelve books for children, teens and adults, and a number of educational and academic articles. A Global News Woman of Vision and an Arts and Culture Citation Award recipient, she is the YouthWrite creator/ coordinator, an international presenter, an instructor in the professional writing program at MacEwan University and in the Faculty of Education at U of A. Gail was The Writers’ Union of Canada Regional Representative for Alberta, NWT and Nunavut, and writer in residence with the Metro Edmonton Federation of Libraries. She has moved forty times in her life from Badlands to Siksika Nation Reserve to hideous suburbs to Istanbul to the Sunshine Coast to her writer’s garret in a century-old temperamental house. She adores all of her Supers & Coordinators equally, and loves YouthWrite like a madwoman! |
Join the FunCome one, come all YouthWriters! Have fun, make new friends, and create great experiences. |
Use your passion for writing and apply for a scholarship from our list of available scholarships & grants.