Welcome to the
AWCS Youth Programs
Fostering creativity, community, and youth leadership in an accepting environment.
Need a place that understands you? Come and join the us. Youth led, adult mentored. Writing games, art, improv, friends, and creativity. Ages seventeen and under. Play with your words — all you need is a notebook and pen.
Next Meeting Is:
Welcome!
Register now for our classes, clubs, and educational programs today. Play with your words!
www.alexandrawriters.org
SPRING CAMP NOW REGISTERING! Does your child or teen love writing, creating, drawing, and playing with words? Well, this camp is for them! Explore language, make friends, create incredible works of art, learn all kinds of new things and improve on already established skills. March 25-29 More information HERE
January 21, Monday, Winter Homeschool classes start - Join us for some great classes. Get more information and Register Here
January 21, Monday, Youth Council Meeting - do you want to help guide the direction of our youth programs and work on the anthology, plan parties and events, and actually make a difference in the youth writing community? Then join us. Must be an AWCS Member (youth or otherwise) and part of at least one of the youth programs. 5:00-6:30.
January 22, Tuesday, Rogue Poets - Be prepared to have everything you think about poetry blown away by this unique and inspiring poetry club. Have fun experimenting with what poetry can be while you take it to the outer edges. 5:00-6:30 PM. Free for club pass holders. Register here
January 23, Wednesday, CPL Shawnessy Reality Is Optional Writing Club. Come on down to the program room at the Shawnessy Calgary Public Library for some writing games. Free, drop in! 6:30-8:00 PM
January 26, Saturday, Dungeons & Dragons Club - Crawl a dungeon with a bunch of other adventurers solving puzzles, battling monsters, getting treasure while having fun and making friends. No experience required. Join anytime. 6:00-9:00 PM. Free for club pass holders. Register here
January 27, Sunday, The Writers’ Circle – Writer Self Care - Writers and Artists, more than any others, suffer from anxiety, depression, and sore bodies from sitting for long hours. Bring your best remedies, techniques, and stretches to share so we can all practice Writer Self Care. Adults and youth - Members $10, Non-members $20 - 10:30PM - 12:30PM
January 20, Sunday, Poetry Café - Poetry Cafe combines poetry prompts or exercises to generate poems with workshopping and discussion. It’s great for both emerging and established poets, and it’s open to poets of all ages. Join us to write with prompts from 12:30-1:45 and workshopping from 1:45-2:30. Great for both emerging and established poets and it’s open to poets of all ages. Let’s have some fun and write together. Adults and youth - Members $10, Non-members $20 - 10:30PM - 12:30PM
January 28, Monday, Winter Homeschool classes - Join us for some great classes. Get more information and Register Here
January 28, Monday, Reality Is Optional - Play writing games with other word enthusiasts. 5:00-6:30 PM. Free for club pass holders. Register here
January 30, Wednesday, Writers Unplugged – An Open Mic Night at the Owls Nest Book Shop (Britannia Shopping Plaza, 815a 49 Ave SW). Join the AWCS on the last Wednesday of the month for Writers Unplugged. An open mic for all writers. Share your stories, poetry or music in front of the best audience this side of the Elbow River, or just come for the entertainment.Throw your name into the hat. Readers are drawn at random. 5 minutes per reader max. Free. All ages welcome. 7 - 8:30 pm.
January 31, Thursday, Kidlit Roundtable - Are you writing for children or thinking about writing for children? Picture books, middle grade, YA and anything in between. Join in a lively and engaging discussion about this popular genre for kids. Teens and Adults, 7:00-9:00 PM, Free for members, $5.00 for non-members
February 1, Friday, PD Day Workshop - Focus on Non-Fiction – whether you are writing school essays, book reports, or even a travel blog, learn to improve your writing with this one day, all grades, workshop. 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Register here.
February 1, Friday, First Friday Sandbox - Word Art - Make a large poetry art piece using words, pictures, and collage with other artists and writers, then break it apart and take your section home. All ages welcome (Adult and Youth) $3.00 Members/$8.00 Non-Members, 7:00-9:00 PM Register Here
February 4, Monday, Winter Homeschool classes - Join us for some great classes. Get more information and Register Here
February 6, Wednesday, Can You Hear Me Now - poetry open mic and slam. Join other poets at Shelf Life books and either read or slam your poetry. 1302, 4th street SW, 6:30-8:30, Free!
February 7, Thursday, Pen & Panel - Comic Creation Class. A class for kids looking to create comics on line and on paper. 5:00-6:30 PM. Register here.
February 9, Saturday - We Hate Winter, Summer Party and Movie. Party with your pals with a mid winter summer luau and then watch the Canadian movie, Don't Talk To Irene. PG 14 - Irene must endure 2 weeks of community service at a retirement home. Following her passion for cheerleading, she secretly signs up the senior residents to audition for a dance-themed reality show to prove that you don't need to be physically "perfect" to be perfectly AWESOME. Free for Members / $5.00 for Non-Members (or bring a friend with your frozen frog wand). From 6:00-9:00 PM.
Register now for our classes, clubs, and educational programs today. Play with your words!
www.alexandrawriters.org
SPRING CAMP NOW REGISTERING! Does your child or teen love writing, creating, drawing, and playing with words? Well, this camp is for them! Explore language, make friends, create incredible works of art, learn all kinds of new things and improve on already established skills. March 25-29 More information HERE
January 21, Monday, Winter Homeschool classes start - Join us for some great classes. Get more information and Register Here
January 21, Monday, Youth Council Meeting - do you want to help guide the direction of our youth programs and work on the anthology, plan parties and events, and actually make a difference in the youth writing community? Then join us. Must be an AWCS Member (youth or otherwise) and part of at least one of the youth programs. 5:00-6:30.
January 22, Tuesday, Rogue Poets - Be prepared to have everything you think about poetry blown away by this unique and inspiring poetry club. Have fun experimenting with what poetry can be while you take it to the outer edges. 5:00-6:30 PM. Free for club pass holders. Register here
January 23, Wednesday, CPL Shawnessy Reality Is Optional Writing Club. Come on down to the program room at the Shawnessy Calgary Public Library for some writing games. Free, drop in! 6:30-8:00 PM
January 26, Saturday, Dungeons & Dragons Club - Crawl a dungeon with a bunch of other adventurers solving puzzles, battling monsters, getting treasure while having fun and making friends. No experience required. Join anytime. 6:00-9:00 PM. Free for club pass holders. Register here
January 27, Sunday, The Writers’ Circle – Writer Self Care - Writers and Artists, more than any others, suffer from anxiety, depression, and sore bodies from sitting for long hours. Bring your best remedies, techniques, and stretches to share so we can all practice Writer Self Care. Adults and youth - Members $10, Non-members $20 - 10:30PM - 12:30PM
January 20, Sunday, Poetry Café - Poetry Cafe combines poetry prompts or exercises to generate poems with workshopping and discussion. It’s great for both emerging and established poets, and it’s open to poets of all ages. Join us to write with prompts from 12:30-1:45 and workshopping from 1:45-2:30. Great for both emerging and established poets and it’s open to poets of all ages. Let’s have some fun and write together. Adults and youth - Members $10, Non-members $20 - 10:30PM - 12:30PM
January 28, Monday, Winter Homeschool classes - Join us for some great classes. Get more information and Register Here
January 28, Monday, Reality Is Optional - Play writing games with other word enthusiasts. 5:00-6:30 PM. Free for club pass holders. Register here
January 30, Wednesday, Writers Unplugged – An Open Mic Night at the Owls Nest Book Shop (Britannia Shopping Plaza, 815a 49 Ave SW). Join the AWCS on the last Wednesday of the month for Writers Unplugged. An open mic for all writers. Share your stories, poetry or music in front of the best audience this side of the Elbow River, or just come for the entertainment.Throw your name into the hat. Readers are drawn at random. 5 minutes per reader max. Free. All ages welcome. 7 - 8:30 pm.
January 31, Thursday, Kidlit Roundtable - Are you writing for children or thinking about writing for children? Picture books, middle grade, YA and anything in between. Join in a lively and engaging discussion about this popular genre for kids. Teens and Adults, 7:00-9:00 PM, Free for members, $5.00 for non-members
February 1, Friday, PD Day Workshop - Focus on Non-Fiction – whether you are writing school essays, book reports, or even a travel blog, learn to improve your writing with this one day, all grades, workshop. 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Register here.
February 1, Friday, First Friday Sandbox - Word Art - Make a large poetry art piece using words, pictures, and collage with other artists and writers, then break it apart and take your section home. All ages welcome (Adult and Youth) $3.00 Members/$8.00 Non-Members, 7:00-9:00 PM Register Here
February 4, Monday, Winter Homeschool classes - Join us for some great classes. Get more information and Register Here
February 6, Wednesday, Can You Hear Me Now - poetry open mic and slam. Join other poets at Shelf Life books and either read or slam your poetry. 1302, 4th street SW, 6:30-8:30, Free!
February 7, Thursday, Pen & Panel - Comic Creation Class. A class for kids looking to create comics on line and on paper. 5:00-6:30 PM. Register here.
February 9, Saturday - We Hate Winter, Summer Party and Movie. Party with your pals with a mid winter summer luau and then watch the Canadian movie, Don't Talk To Irene. PG 14 - Irene must endure 2 weeks of community service at a retirement home. Following her passion for cheerleading, she secretly signs up the senior residents to audition for a dance-themed reality show to prove that you don't need to be physically "perfect" to be perfectly AWESOME. Free for Members / $5.00 for Non-Members (or bring a friend with your frozen frog wand). From 6:00-9:00 PM.
Where the Heck Are We?
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We are located on the 4th floor, across from the elevator in the AWCS of the cSpace King Edward in Marda Loop.
1721, 29th Ave SW, Suite 460 Calgary, AB T2T 1P5 Or contact us by e-mailing firmstonwriting@gmail.com or using our Contact Us page. Reality Is Optional also has RIO Pod groups at the Calgary Public Library's Central and Crowfoot locations. Register through the CPL website. |
More Information
MEETING DAYS and TIMES:
CLUBS (September - June)
THE CLUBS
CLASSES
Have a need for more formal education in your chosen field? We have a class just for you! The class fees include a full year of classes from the time you sign up. Join in anytime.
Drop-In Fees – Not ready to commit? Have a crazy schedule? Want to check out Pen & Panel? Drop into a session and see what you think. Members $10.00, Non-members $15.00. (Exact change only please).
PD DAYS
Need a fun place to go when school isn’t in? Come and play with us. We have great topics, lots of writing, and a good time spent with new and old friends. The day runs from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. All grades welcome. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
SOCIAL STUFF
MEMBERS ONLY EVENTS – Created by the youth themselves, these fun Saturday nights may include anything from a party, movie night, board games, or something else. Become a member and find out what we have in store! You can even help plan them by joining the Event Planning Committee (contact Kim Firmston for more information kfirmston@alexandrawriters.org)
AWCS YOUTH STEERING COMMITTEE – Do you want to influence how the AWCS Youth programs are run? Do you want to help them continue to become a thing of greatness? Join us on the steering committee, not only does it look good on your resume/scholarship application, but it is also a wonderful way to support your youth writing community. (contact Kim Firmston for more information kfirmston@alexandrawriters.org)
AWCS YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY – A couple of times a year our youth are encouraged to join larger projects where we partner with other creative community groups. In the past, we have worked with Rocket House on the International Children’s Festival, Ramsay Robots on BeakerHead, and Calgary Reads for Reading Week, among others. It’s a great way to get some cool stuff on your resume! Contact Kim Firmston to find out what we have in store and how to get involved. kfirmston@alexandrawriters.org
TAKE PART IN WRITING AN E-ZINE (electronic magazine) – four times a year our youth programs come out with an electronic magazine on our website www.realityisoptional.com. Club members and students are encouraged to send in their art, writing, ads, photography, poetry, stories, novel excerpts, and whatever else they have created. We are always looking for new stuff! You can submit on line or in person at one of our club meetings.
WANT TO SEE OUR SCHEDULE? For a complete schedule of AWCS Youth Programs - see above.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, Need a subsidy? Go HERE
SEE ALL OUR PROGRAMS HERE!
- AWCS YOUTH MEMBERSHIP – $50.00 annually
Become an AWCS Youth Member today! Not only does your membership last a full year from the time you get it, but membership includes discounts on all our classes, clubs, camps, homework help, and more! As a bonus, membership includes five special, members only, events held throughout the year, and a (virtual) Frozen Frog Wand – which allows members to bring a friend to any club or members-only event for free up to three times (after which the frog thaws and hops away).
CLUBS (September - June)
- Whether you want to join one club or bounce through them all using your club pass, our clubs will open up the world of writing to you. Fees include a full year of club participation from the time you sign up. Jump in at any point of the year to start your journey.
- Club Pass – Go to all the clubs and save $100! Club passes are available for $175.00 for Youth Members or $230.00 for Non-members. The pass lasts a full year from the time you get it. GET ONE TODAY
- Drop-In Fees – Not ready to commit? Have a crazy schedule? Want to check out a club? Drop into a session and see what you think. Members $10.00, Non-members $15.00. (Exact change only please).
THE CLUBS
- Reality Is Optional Writing Club (RIO) – Need a place that understands you? Come and join us. Youth-led, adult mentored. Guest speakers, writing games, art, improv, friends, and creativity. Play with your words — all you need is a notebook and pen. RIO meets on the second and fourth Monday of the month from 5:00 – 6:30. (Occasionally rescheduled due to holidays). All Ages up to and including grade 12. Sept-June. (Members $75.00, Non-Members $100.00) Free with Club Pass or register for RIO exclusively.
- Novelmancers Novel Writing Club – Heading out on a long project can be hard, but it’s made easier with friends. If you’re serious about writing and want to get that novel done, join us and lighten the load. We explore all aspects of novel writing from character to climax and everything in between. Novelmancers meet the second Thursday of every month. 5:00-6:30. All Ages up to and including 19 year olds. Sept-June. (Members $50.00, Non-Members $65.00) Free with Club Pass or register for Novemancers exclusively
- Rogue Poets Poetry Club – Explore what poetry can be, then take it past those limits. Join Em Williamson, on a journey to the outer edges of poetry. Rogue Poets regularly have the opportunity to perform on stage as a group or individually (optional). The Rogue Poets meet the third Tuesday of every month from 5:00 – 6:30. Grades 7-12. Sept-June. (Members $75.00, Non-Members $100.00) Free with Club Pass or register for Rogue Poets exclusively.
- Dungeons & Dragons Role Playing Game Club – Enjoy fantasy? Want to live it? Then join us for this epic and wildly creative game called Dungeons and Dragons. Battle monsters, solve puzzles, find treasure and learn to work in a team while telling and experiencing your story together. D&D club meets on the last Saturday every month from 6:00 – 9:00 PM (Occasionally rescheduled). Grade 5 to age 19. Sept-May. (Members $75.00, Non-Members $100.00). Free with Club Pass or register for D&D Club exclusively
CLASSES
Have a need for more formal education in your chosen field? We have a class just for you! The class fees include a full year of classes from the time you sign up. Join in anytime.
- Pen & Panel Comic Creation Class (September - June) – Play drawing games, improve your art style, learn to make comics both online and on paper, and pitch ideas, plus lots more! Hang out with like-minded artists and comic writers. Work on individual projects or collaborate. Focus on topics that will help you expand your skill set. Pen & Panel classes are on the first and third Thursday of each month from 5:00 – 6:30. Ages 12 t0 19. (Members $175.00, Non-Members $230.00). – REGISTER
Drop-In Fees – Not ready to commit? Have a crazy schedule? Want to check out Pen & Panel? Drop into a session and see what you think. Members $10.00, Non-members $15.00. (Exact change only please).
PD DAYS
Need a fun place to go when school isn’t in? Come and play with us. We have great topics, lots of writing, and a good time spent with new and old friends. The day runs from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. All grades welcome. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
SOCIAL STUFF
MEMBERS ONLY EVENTS – Created by the youth themselves, these fun Saturday nights may include anything from a party, movie night, board games, or something else. Become a member and find out what we have in store! You can even help plan them by joining the Event Planning Committee (contact Kim Firmston for more information kfirmston@alexandrawriters.org)
AWCS YOUTH STEERING COMMITTEE – Do you want to influence how the AWCS Youth programs are run? Do you want to help them continue to become a thing of greatness? Join us on the steering committee, not only does it look good on your resume/scholarship application, but it is also a wonderful way to support your youth writing community. (contact Kim Firmston for more information kfirmston@alexandrawriters.org)
AWCS YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY – A couple of times a year our youth are encouraged to join larger projects where we partner with other creative community groups. In the past, we have worked with Rocket House on the International Children’s Festival, Ramsay Robots on BeakerHead, and Calgary Reads for Reading Week, among others. It’s a great way to get some cool stuff on your resume! Contact Kim Firmston to find out what we have in store and how to get involved. kfirmston@alexandrawriters.org
TAKE PART IN WRITING AN E-ZINE (electronic magazine) – four times a year our youth programs come out with an electronic magazine on our website www.realityisoptional.com. Club members and students are encouraged to send in their art, writing, ads, photography, poetry, stories, novel excerpts, and whatever else they have created. We are always looking for new stuff! You can submit on line or in person at one of our club meetings.
WANT TO SEE OUR SCHEDULE? For a complete schedule of AWCS Youth Programs - see above.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, Need a subsidy? Go HERE
SEE ALL OUR PROGRAMS HERE!
OUR SPONSORS
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