Welcome to LitCamp!

Summer has a whole new story

LitCamp is…

a breakthrough summer literacy program that combines innovative, research-based reading and writing lessons with an engaging and interactive summer camp approach. It is the result of a one-of-a-kind partnership between Scholastic, the literacy organization LitWorld, and best-selling author and literacy advocate Pam Allyn.

LitCamp redefines the whole notion of summer school. It is designed to bring a sense of joy, community, and accomplishment to both students and teachers.

The LitCamp program includes:

Easy to implement, standards-aligned literacy lessons
High-quality fiction and nonfiction literature
Engaging group activities
Dedicated time for independent reading

PURCHASE NOW

The End of the Summer Slide

Lit Camp in blue letters

Lit Camp in blue letters

Every summer, children from every walk of life fall behind in crucial reading and writing skills. This phenomenon is known as the “summer slide.”

LitCamp reverses the summer slide by providing a joyous, fun, and interactive framework for literacy support. LitCamp enables children to use their skills while rediscovering their natural motivation, curiosity, and confidence.

The research is clear-children need authentic, engaging, and personally meaningful experiences with reading and writing to become lifelong literacy learners. LitCamp's impeccably designed lessons and best-selling books give students the skills and opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

The LitCamp Model

LitCamp incorporates the whole learning life of the child. It integrates all the key ways children learn to read, write, speak, and listen by employing a signature set of lessons that inspire engagement and motivation.

Social-Emotional Development

Bolstering one’s self-concept
Building resilience
The 7 Strengths*

Literacy skills

Fluency
Comprehension
Analysis

lines for triangle

Engagement skills

Stamina
Motivation
Independence

*The 7 Strengths: LitCamp lessons are framed around seven key strengths that prepare children for challenges they will encounter in their educational lives, careers, and communities. The 7 Strengths are Belonging, Friendship, Kindness, Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Hope.

DOWNLOAD THE 7 STRENGTHS POSTER

A Day At LitCamp

LitCamp uses an exciting, interactive camp format to transform traditional reading instruction. A typical day might look like this*:

Opening Campfire

Community matters to literacy. Each day begins with a community-building activity and an introduction to some key academic vocabulary that will be used throughout the day.

Read Aloud

A research-proven technique that is crucial to a child’s literate life, each interactive read-aloud provides inspirational resources that connect to The 7 Strengths.

Bring the Text to LIfe

It’s not just about words on the page, it’s about stories in the world. See what happens when books become fun.

Reading Power

A time for leaders to model a key comprehension skill, and for campers to delve back into the read-aloud text to apply that skill.

Bunk Time: Independent Reading

Independent reading is a key to lifelong literacy. LitCamp encourages and supports choice, purpose, and engagement!

Community Lit

A chance for campers to connect to one another through discussion and games designed to enhance communication and a sense of belonging.

Writing Power

If reading is breathing in, writing is breathing out. These LitCamp activities make writing feel important and powerful.

Closing Campfire

Literacy learners thrive in a structured yet richly meaningful environment. The daily wrap-up lets campers reflect on what they learned and leaves them excited for the next day at LitCamp!*EL support is provided within each lesson to make the experience an inclusive one.

Opening Campfire

Community matters to literacy. Each day begins with a community-building activity and an introduction to some key academic vocabulary that will be used throughout the day.

Read Aloud

A research-proven technique that is crucial to a child’s literate life, each interactive read-aloud provides inspirational resources that connect to The 7 Strengths.

Bring the Text to LIfe

It’s not just about words on the page, it’s about stories in the world. See what happens when books become fun.

Reading Power

A time for leaders to model a key comprehension skill, and for campers to delve back into the read-aloud text to apply that skill.

Bunk Time: Independent Reading

Independent reading is a key to lifelong literacy. LitCamp encourages and supports choice, purpose, and engagement!

Community Lit

A chance for campers to connect to one another through discussion and games designed to enhance communication and a sense of belonging.

Writing Power

If reading is breathing in, writing is breathing out. These LitCamp activities make writing feel important and powerful.

Closing Campfire

Literacy learners thrive in a structured yet richly meaningful environment. The daily wrap-up lets campers reflect on what they learned and leaves them excited for the next day at LitCamp!

*EL support is provided within each lesson to make the experience an inclusive one.

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE LESSON PLAN

Implementing LitCamp

The LitCamp program has been designed for flexible implementation. Each of the 20 lessons provides 2.5 hours of learning and fun. Lessons can be formatted according to four, five, or eight week implementation models, as shown below.

single crayon butterfly

4-Week Model

One daily lesson for four weeks.

5-Week Model

Four daily lessons per week, with the fifth day being either:

A free day (no camp or summer school)
A day reserved for field trips or other activities
A day to customize learning through more independent reading or to pursue LitCamp-related reading and projects

8-Week Model

Each LitCamp lesson is split over two days.

The first day of the lesson includes the first two lesson pages plus time for independent reading
The second day of the lesson includes the second two lesson pages plus time for independent reading

two crayon butterflies

crayon flowers

crayon flowers

LitCamp Materials

LitCamp materials are designed for summer use, and each grade level is denoted by a Bunk Color.

K-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6

LitCamp Red Bunk

20 titles, including:

Bunker K-1 books

I Got the Rhythm
One World, One Day
Giraffes Can’t Dance
The Hello, Goodbye Window
Big Al

My Friend Rabbit
Pierre the Penguin
Z Is for Moose
Violet’s Music
…and more

LitCamp Orange Bunk

20 titles, including:

Bunker K-1 books

Blackout
What if You Had Animal Teeth?
Library Lion
Big Mama’s
Yo! Yes?

Suki’s Kimono
Chrysanthemum
Frog and Toad All Year
Stone Soup
…and more

LitCamp Turquoise Bunk

20 titles, including:

Bunker K-1 books

A Beam of Light
A Chair for My Mother
My Name Is Yoon
For You Are a Kenyan Child
Big Red Lollipop

Those Shoes
Zen Ties
Mice and Beans
…and more

LitCamp Green Bunk

20 titles, including:

Bunker K-1 books

No Dogs Allowed
If the World Were a Village
Exclamation Mark
Crow Call
Two Bobbies

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters
Chicken Sunday
Road Runner’s Dance
Tito Puente: Mambo King
…and more

LitCamp Blue Bunk

10 titles, including:

Bunker K-1 books

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People
Testing the Ice
Because of Winn-Dixie
Butterfly Boy
Abe Lincoln’s Dream

Bobby the Brave (Sometimes)
Planting the Trees of Kenya
The Matchbox Diary
…and more

LitCamp Purple Bunk

10 titles, including:

Bunker K-1 books

Long Shot: A Comeback Kids Novel
Weslandia
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain
Tsunami!
How Strong Is It?

Crossing Bok Chitto
Nelson Mandela
Little Red Writing
…and more

LitCamp Grade K-6 individual sets include the books listed above and:

Every Child A Super Ready book cover

Every Child A Super Reader

A foundational text that shows what it is to be a super reader, writer, and learner.

Preview

LitCamp Leader’s Guide book cover

LitCamp Leader’s Guide

Helps teachers create effective, joyful lessons supported by engaging activities.

Preview

LitCamp Student Portfolio cover

LitCamp Student Portfolio Folders

Give students a place to archive and preserve their own writing (15 included).

Plus…

15 in fun handwriting

Wristbands with LitCamp Logo

bee flying right

bee flying right

bee flying right

About the Author

Pam Allyn

PAM ALLYN is a world-renowned literacy expert, advocate, and author. Her books include Every Child a Super Reader, a foundational LitCamp text which is included with every purchase. She has also written Your Child’s Writing Life (Avery), Best Books for Boys (Scholastic), and The Complete Year in Reading and Writing, a K-5 Series (Scholastic). Allyn is a national leader in the field of professional development and speaks globally on the learning lives of children and young adults. Among her many contributions to global literacy is her work as founding director of LitWorld (litworld.org), a widely heralded global literacy organization serving children across the United States and in more than 60 countries.