Youth Offerings
Youth Offerings
The Loft’s Young Writers’ Program offers high quality, enrichment based creative writing instruction across genres, to all levels, for kids and teens ages 6-18. Many classes are taught by award winning, published writers. Loft classes are process based, rather than product based, and seek to support children and teens as they become excited, engaged writers and readers.
Any young writer or reader (including reluctant writers and readers!) seeking to learn how to write creatively or read as a critical thinker will find a class that resonates with them. See below for upcoming youth classes! If you have questions or would like to discuss a class with one of our education associates, book an office hour appointment here.
The Loft offers a variety of youth opportunities at the Loft (online and in person), as well as through community partnerships with local schools and libraries through Bring the Loft to You.
Youth Writing Programs
Make New Connections
Find New Community
Jumpstart Creativity
Build Strong Habits
Write Your Passion
Loft After School Online Series
The Loft’s After-School Online Series is a wonderful way for your child to end their school day with creativity and connection. Your child will explore new genres, develop their skills, and connect with other young writers—all from the comfort of home.
Young Writers Day: February 15, 2025
Give your kiddo a day of creativity and fun on Young Writers Day at the Loft! They’ll make new friends, develop storytelling skills, and come home excited about writing and art. It’s a special way to spend a day off school, and you’ll love seeing them so inspired to write. Don’t forget to sign up your kiddo for the Lunchtime Care option if you'd like to combine a morning and afternoon class and make a full day of writing at Open Book!
Looking Ahead: 2025 Summer Youth Camps & Writing Intensives at Open Book
Half-day and full-day summer camps are available for all ages from June through August at Open Book for Grades 1-12. Some camps are in partnership with the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, so please register separately on their website for those accompanying classes. Registration opens in January 2025. Each week will follow these themes:
Week 1 (Future Forward): June 17-20, 2025 // Imagination writing, futuristic & forward looking, speculative classes & social justice, more craft of writing type class for younger kiddos (like arts & crafts type class) - Grades 1-3, 7-9, 4-6, 10-12
Week 2 (Fantasy, Sci Fi, Horror): June 24-27, 2025 // Sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and other related genres and sub-genres - Grades 7-9, 4-6, 10-12
Week 3 (Draft Lab and Power of the Pen Classes): July 15-18, 2025: Topics through the lens of narrative power, especially in CNF, poetry, writing + visual art, and more. - Grades 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12
Week 4 (Author Boot Camp - Middle School Intensive): July 22-25, 2025
The Loft's Summer Writing Intensives are led by acclaimed and published writers, who are experts in their field. Each workshop aims to inspire creativity, self-expression, and a passion for writing. During the week, young writers will engage with several published teaching artists across various genres and gain new insights into the craft of writing. By the end of the intensive, participants will have completed at least one piece of new writing and leave with new friends and inspiration for new projects to come. Additionally, campers will have the option to share their work in a public reading at the week's end, and there is an opportunity to publish work with the Loft's blog. Writers of all skill levels are encouraged to apply! - Grades 5-8
Week 5 (Author Boot Camp - High School Intensive): July 29-August 1, 2025
The Loft's Summer Writing Intensives are led by acclaimed and published writers, who are experts in their field. Each workshop aims to inspire creativity, self-expression, and a passion for writing. During the week, young writers will engage with several published teaching artists across various genres and gain new insights into the craft of writing. By the end of the intensive, participants will have completed at least one piece of new writing and leave with new friends and inspiration for new projects to come. Additionally, campers will have the option to share their work in a public reading at the week's end, and there is an opportunity to publish work with the Loft's blog. Writers of all skill levels are encouraged to apply! - Grades 9-12
Week 6 (Spectacular Worlds - World Building): August 5-8, 2025
Camps that cover topics of world building, screenwriting, writing + visual art, surrealism, the metaphoric, and more - Grades 4-6, 7-9, 10-12
Week 7 (Mission-Based Classes/Loft Organizational Theme): August 12-15
Camps that relate to the Loft's upcoming organizational theme of Freedom. More soon! - Grades 4-6, 7-9, 10-12
Interested in teaching with our summer youth program? Attend a free information session to learn more!
Registration
Registration is open as long as there is space available in a class. You can register your child or teen online at www.loft.org or by calling 612-379-8999. We are here to help. A detailed confirmation letter will be emailed once your registration has been processed. Please note that you will be asked to fill out a Health and Safety form after registering, which will be included as a link in your confirmation letter.
Grade Ranges and Writing Ability
The grade ranges listed for each class are suggested guidelines, but before registering your child for a class outside of their grade range, please consider that teaching artists propose classes based on age ranges they are comfortable teaching. Suggested grade ranges also consider socialization, as well as more mature class discussions; you may have an incredibly gifted child who excels at writing and learning, but please consider whether they would be comfortable in a class with children much older/younger, comfortable participating in more mature class discussions pertaining to writing for older audiences, and how it would affect the learning environment for the other students. Please note that grade levels reflect the grade the student will be entering in the fall. If you have questions, please call 612-379-8999.
Youth Access Funds
The Loft is pleased to announce our partnership with the Hearst Foundation to offer access funding to all of our youth writing camps and classes in 2024-2025. If you are experiencing financial hardship or tuition is a barrier for you, please apply to our general Access Funds Pool to get discounted access to both youth and adult classes and learn about upcoming opportunities on a monthly basis. Access Funds through Hearst Funds reduce the cost of class tuition on a Pay As You Can model - student pays on a sliding fee schedule of 5% or 25% of the cost of tuition. There are at least two Access Fund seats in each youth class, but please give us a call at 612-379-8999 or send an email to Loft's education program at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding youth access funds.
Please contact the Loft’s education department at 612-379-8999 or [email protected] if you have any questions regarding youth access funds.
Parents With Children or Teens With Special Needs
Children and teens with special needs or disabilities are always welcome at the Loft! Please call us at 612-379-8999 if you would like to discuss how the Loft can accommodate the needs of your child or teen (hearing or sight impairments, children with PCAs, learning challenges, closed caption needs) in order for them to more fully participate in and enjoy Loft classes!
COVID Safety
Masking is recommended but not required. If the student is feeling ill or has a temperature over 100 degrees, please stay home. If the student or someone in their immediate household tests positive for COVID-19, they must stay home.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
In the event the Loft has to cancel a class, you will be notified in advance and issued a 100% refund. If you need to cancel, notify the Loft education office before the start of the second class meeting to receive our standard 85% refund. Unless the Loft cancels a class, no 100% refunds can be given once registration has taken place, as there is a registration fee of 15%. No refunds will be given after the start of the second class meeting.
Accessibility at the Loft
The Loft Literary Center strives to be accessible to all, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, veteran status, economic status, sex, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, or disability. As possible, we will remove barriers to participation in our programs to persons with disabilities.
To arrange for accessibility accommodation, please contact the Loft at 612-215-2575 or [email protected] three weeks in advance. Accessibility services are partly supported by the Rachel Vaughan Memorial Fund. For more information about accessibility see loft.org/access.
Become a Friend and Support the Loft Community
Your membership is the lifeblood of the Loft and contributes directly to the development of writers and the literary community. As a member, you receive benefits and discounts as well as the knowledge that your support ensures the future of the Loft programs you value. For details on membership, visit www.loft.org/support or call 612-215-2597.
