Storyteller's Cottage to Offer Literary Summer Camps

The Storyteller’s Cottage in Simsbury, CT will host seven weeks of immersive literary day camps this summer, beginning July 1. Each week will feature a different popular book series or genre, and will include themed creative projects, games, book discussions, writing activities, and even book-themed snacks in immersive literary spaces. Campers can spend the summer inside their favorite books in magical locations such as a medieval castle room hidden behind a secret bookcase door, a Victorian Steampunk library, a magical common room complete with a cupboard under the stairs, and more.

HARRY POTTER CAMP: Spend a week at Hogwarts! Bring your wand, wear your house colors, and take classes from a range of visiting professors in all your favorite subjects, including Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Alchemy, History of Magic, Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and more. Enjoy book discussions, scientific experiments, crafts & costuming, cooking, and even learn magic from a real magician! Come and make chocolate frogs, drink butterbeer, play Quidditch, and even take a field trip to Hogsmeade. (Two groups available for ages 6 – 9 and 10 – 13) Meets July 1-5 (no meeting July 4) from 9:00-4:00 pm. Cost: $200

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CAMP: Were you born in the wrong era? Are you really a knight, or a mage, or a bard, or an elf at heart? Spend a week immersed in a land of fantasy … create a clever and powerful character and spend your mornings crafting amazing costuming and accessories for it (like wings, horns, armor, weapons and more), then spend the afternoon playing Dungeons & Dragons as that character! (Ages 10 – 16 — Groups will be divided by age to play in different D&D campaigns) Meets July 8-12 from 9:00-4:00 pm. Cost: $250

CODE BREAKERS CAMP: Are you a fan of exciting problem-solving books like the Mysterious Benedict Society, Book Scavenger, Mr Lemoncello’s Library, Greenglass House and 39 Clues? Spend the week learning to break every kind of code there is! Come play all three of the Storyteller’s Cottage mystery rooms, then build your own room from scratch. (Ages 7 – 11) Meets July 15-19 from 9:00-4:00 pm. Cost: $250

THE LADY IS A SPY CAMP: Do you love the idea of transforming yourself into a strong, confident agent who can handle herself in any situation? Spend the week learning all the skills a lady spy will need, including disguise, self-defense, sophisticated etiquette, code breaking, surveillance, orienteering, survival skills, sword-fighting, and even how to stay calm while debating! (Two groups available for ages 6 – 9 and 10 – 13) Meets July 22-26 from 9:00-4:00 pm. Cost: $250

CAMP HALF BLOOD: Do you suspect you might be a demi-god? Come to Camp Half Blood and find out! Spend the week immersed in mythology, monster lore, weapons training, and more. (Ages 9 – 13) Meets July 29- August 2 from 9:00-4:00 pm. Cost: $250

VISUAL STORYTELLING CAMP: Stories are told many ways … sometimes they’re verbal, sometimes they’re written, and when really lucky, our favorite stories are told visually. Spend a week at the Storyteller’s Cottage exploring all the coolest varieties of visual storytelling, from graphic novels, photography, videography (think YouTube), and hybrid versions like script writing and screenwriting. (Ages 9 – 13) Meets August 5-9 from 9:00-4:00 pm. Cost: $250

GET PUBLISHED CAMP: Do you love to write? Would you like to become a published author? Spend the week at the Storyteller’s Cottage exploring all the coolest types of writing, like journalism, blogging, food critics, fan fiction, fantasy world-building, and more. Meet a different REAL PUBLISHED AUTHOR each day, and learn where to submit your writing for publication, how to write a query letter, when you’ll need a literary agent, and get professional editing on your own work. Spend afternoons at mini “CAMP NaNoWriMo”, the kid’s version of National Novel Writing Month, working on your creative writing — complete a publishable piece by the end of the week! (Ages 10 – 14) Meets August 12-16 from 9:00-4:00 pm. Cost: $250

To register, visit https://www.storytellerscottage.com/summer-camp.

The Storyteller's Cottage is located at 750 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, and features all manner of literary events and adventures, from author nights, to book-themed social hours, to challenging mystery room games. Parking for The Storyteller's Cottage is free, and is available on the street in front of the building, and in the Fiddler's Green parking lot on Wilcox Street (behind the house). For more information, please call 860-877-6099 or visit www.StorytellersCottage.com.