Hollinsummer is a pre-college summer program for young women with interests in creative writing, STEM, social justice, theatre, or riding. Designed for passionate, talented high school girls, Hollinsummer brings together students from across the country for an exciting week of learning on one of Virginia's most beautiful campuses. Find out more!
REFLECT AND CREATE: CREATIVE WRITING INTENSIVE Looking for a creative and supportive writing community? Interested in a sneak-peek into one of the nations’ top creative writing programs? Our Creative Writing Intensive will help you develop a stronger writing voice in fiction, poetry, and personal narratives. This weeklong skill development program includes writers’ workshops and special events with visiting authors to help you hone your skills.
SPIRIT OF THE LAW: SOCIAL JUSTICE SEMINAR Are you a passionate champion for social justice? Want to change the world but don’t know how? Our Hollinsummer Social Justice Seminar will deepen your knowledge of community issues and encourage you in ways to bring about change within your community. You will walk away from this experience more confident in your abilities as a community leader and advocate.
EXPERIMENT AND EXPLORE: BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM Do you have a passion for the sciences? This weeklong research symposium challenges participants to experiment and explore high-interest topics in chemistry, biology, and environmental studies. So whether your future interests lie in ecology, medicine, or engineering, you will gain invaluable experience in a college-level research environment both in the lab and in the field.
HOLLINS THEATRE: STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT At the home of the Hollins Theatre Institute, you can channel your passion for theatre by exploring acting, musical theatre, and improv—and even touch on the wizardry of theatre technology. You’ll expand your theatre and vocal performance skills as you work with Hollins faculty in a unique and creative atmosphere.
RIDERS WHO ARE GOING PLACES Are you an advanced rider interested in learning from college instructors about hunter/jumper riding, barn management, and the care of horses? In this weeklong riding intensive, you will receive college-level coaching, top-notch amenities, and the pleasure of our esteemed Hollins horses used by our nationally recognized riding team. As the week concludes, you’ll show off your skills with a Saturday morning showcase and picnic farewell for parents and family members.
I attended Hollinssummer's creative writing intensive the summer between my junior and senior year of high school and had a wonderful experience. My time there was full of crafts and activities that stimulated my brain-- I definitely grew as a writer. My favorite aspect of the camp was listening to visiting accomplished authors as they explained important aspects of their writing. That year, the time of camp overlapped with the time that children's literature graduate students were on campus so we were also fortunate enough to attend part of one of their lectures and even view some of their books for their theses. I also appreciated the broad approach to the material-- not everything we did was writing itself-- we also made a variety of collages that I am still proud of.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend the camp.