Despite its looming closure, the Iowa Youth Writing Project’s fall slate is shaping up to be one of the most vibrant.
In August, the University of Iowa’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences announced it would cut ties with the youth writing project, citing “ongoing funding changes.”
More: UI ends long-running youth and adult writing programs amid ‘funding challenges’
Though the future of the program remains uncertain, the Iowa Youth Writing Project has plenty of programs planned, from writing clubs to workshops.
Here’s what the Iowa Youth Writing Project plans to finish 2025:
Ghosts on the Radio: Writing Workshop
Participants in the Ghost on the Radio workshop will listen to and read ghost stories, and finish by writing their own stories. There are two sessions available on Saturday, Sept. 13. The first session will happen from 10:30 a.m. to noon for seven to 12-year-olds. The second session for 13 to 17-year-olds is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Each session will be held in Meeting Room A at the Iowa City Public Library.
Guests can register online.
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Video Game Creation: Writing Video Games fall camp
The Video Game Creation camp will teach sixth to eighth-grade students how to level up their storytelling through video game development. The two-day camp will be held Oct. 2-3. Students will leave with a choose-your-own-adventure text-based video game ready to play.
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Feasting on Senses: The Poetry of You writing workshop
The Feasting on Senses workshop in November focuses on personal narratives, sensory language, and the development of a unique voice. More information, including registration details, will be released in the coming weeks.
Students are pictured at the Iowa Youth Writing Program’s 2024 Middle School Writing Conference, an annual event for 300+ middle schoolers from across the state.
What is the Iowa Youth Writer’s Project?
The Iowa Youth Writers’ Project provides “one-of-a-kind writing, publishing, and creative learning opportunities to Iowa’s children and teens.”
Much of the program is offered at little to no cost, anchored by volunteers and partnerships with local organizations. The program connects children and teens to a “larger writing community,” cultivates writing skills to promote “confidence and self-advocacy,” and serves as “a resource for student writing and publishing.”
During its 15-year run, the Youth Writing Project secured a permanent home with the Magid Center for Writing in the UI’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The project offered programs at more than 20 schools and community centers.
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“We are proud of the work (Iowa Youth Writing Project) has done since 2010 to bring creative writing workshops to young people in our community and around the state,” said Sara Sanders, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in a news release. “This decision (to end the program) is in no way a reflection of the dedication or effort of the staff of IYWP — only the realities of the resources required.”
A child makes a craft at the Iowa Youth Writers Program’s booth at the UNESCO City of Literature’s One Book Two Book Festival.
What is next for the Iowa Youth Writing Project?
Thhough the future of the youth writing project is still uncertain, the program is searching for a new home.
The program is looking for partners beyond the university, according to an email from Gwyneth Forsythe, the associate director of the Iowa Youth Writing Project.
“We are currently in the process of setting up meetings with folks inside and outside of UI who might be interested in helping us find a new home,” Forsythe said. “We at the (Iowa Youth Writing Project) have always been champions of creative thinking, and now more than ever, it’s going to come in handy.”
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: What programming will the Iowa Youth Writing Project offer in 2025?
