Are you the one always writing in your journal? The one who lives for the open mic? The one who is always writing verse or poems or thoughts and you can’t stop even if you tried? The one who wants to write, wants to speak, but has never even put two lines together?

Then this camp just might be for you! Hearts & Daggers is a spoken-word camp for youth ages 11-15. For two weeks, campers will develop both writing as well as performance of their own verses, songs, poems, slam, and small stories. With fun, interactive exercises as well as time to write campers will explore their own themes as well as this year’s theme: hearts and daggers.

Along with individual pieces campers will also work together to write group poems as well as perform them. We will have daily open mics, writing exercises, performance exercises, movement exercises, improv, and zine-making to help campers create work that they are willing to share in our end of camp Spoken-Word Showcase.

Led by award-winning slam poet, author, and spoken-word artist Meliza Bañales, this camp aims to help youth express themselves better and get artistically organized as well as support each other. Bañales has a storied 27+ career as a Spoken-Word Teaching-Artist having also toured repeatedly in the United States as well as in Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and Europe.