This past week I had the pleasure of attending Nerd Camp in Parma, MI. What is Nerd Camp, you ask? Nerd Camp is an educational camp for teachers, librarians, & book nerds interested in getting kids excited about reading.
Me and Tracy Holczer, author of The Secret Hum of a Daisy
Tracy Holczer, Nerd Camp creator Colby Sharp and me!
I also had the pleasure of attending Nerd Camp Jr. Authors and illustrators who attend Nerd Camp can also participate in Nerd Camp Jr to teach kids about writing or drawing. Nerd Camp was started by Nerdy Book Clubber and educator Colby Sharp and his family. Nerd Camp now hosts hundreds of educators and kids each year. And get this…Nerd Camp is FREE.
Me teaching dozens of mini-nerds about Making Trouble for Your Main Character
On the adult education side of things, I participated in two panels while at Nerd Camp. The first was on middle grade books moderated by the fabulous Kathy Burnette who is a K-8 Librarian. We discussed what we love about writing for young readers, our favorite middle grade titles, and the challenges for writing for this audience. The highlights were Jess Keating cracking jokes and Liesl Shurtliff bursting into song. The second panel I participated in was one on the publishing process. We answered questions about resources like SCBWI and how teachers and librarians can get swag. Illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw drew our heads while we chatted.
Me, Tracy Holczer, Jess Keating, Jerzy Drozd, Liesl Shurtliff & Louise Borden (not pictured)
Drawing of our panel on the publishing process by illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw
At Nerd Camp you can feel comfortable being a dork!
Kristen Kittscher, Author of The Wig in the Window and Tierra on the Terrace, me and Tracy Holczer, Author of The Secret Hum of a Daisy dorking out in the photo booth at Nerd Camp.
Nerd Camp is a place to be inspired! Please consider attending in 2016. You won’t regret it. In summary, Nerd Camp rocks!
Nerd Camp 2016 will take place July 11-12 in Parma, MI. For updates follow #nErDcampMI and @colbysharp on twitter.
Edith Cohn 
