Eligibility

UT GEAR UP students are nominated by their Coordinators on campus to apply for the Youth Voices Rising Writing Camp. Coordinators observe behavior, grades, and recommendations from their teachers in English and Writing related classes.

The student applicant and their guardian will be notified in person and through phone call/email if they are eligible for this opportunity.

The following grants/school districts are eligible for this experience in Summer 2027: 

Application Process

If nominated, students will receive a registration link from the Camp Director via email. Students and guardians will be required to attend a mandatory Zoom meeting where they will go over camp programming and participant expectations.

What does a day at camp look like? 

8:00AM -- Wake up call

8:30AM -- Breakfast

9:30AM - 9:45AM -- Walk to Benson Building

9:45AM - 10:00AM -- Writing into the day

10:30AM - 11:15AM -- Community Cultural Wealth & Funds of Knowledge- Family Pictures with Carmen Lomas Garza

11:15AM - 12:15PM -- Archives with Maribel Falcón - Family Pictures/Gloria Anzaldúa 

12:30PM -- Lunch

1:30PM - 2:00PM -- Walk to WCP & Starbucks Visit

2:00PM - 3:00PM --  Leadership Lab Workshop with Austin Lensch 

3:30PM - 4:30PM --  Plática & desserts with UT doctoral and undergraduate students  

4:30PM - 4:45PM -- Closing Writing/Closing Circle

5:00PM -- Dinner

7:00PM - 9:30PM -- Evening Activities