826 Valencia

This unique non-profit writers' lab offers free workshops for everyone. The workshops feature not only fiction and non-fiction writing, but also other forms of word-driven creativity, including cartooning, bookmaking, and debating. Workshops are designed and taught by talented volunteers, many of them published authors, magazine founders, teachers, and filmmakers.  826 Valencia is also a great place for school field trips.

Classes:
826 Valencia classes help students with their writing skills. 826 Valencia also conducts workshops, storytelling, and entertainment events. 826 Valencia also assists students with publishing their own works. A sample of their workshops: Comic Book Writing, SAT Prep and Writing the College Entrance Essay, Reimagining Myths and Fairytales, and Poets, Poems, and Poetics.

Camps:
826 Valencia partners with Mission Learning Center to offer a six-week writing camp for elementary-school students. The camp provides a balance of reading, writing, and two hours of outdoor activities.

2011 Exploring Words Summer Camp
Dates: June 20–July 29
Ages: 
Days/Times: Monday through Friday, 9:30am–4:30pm
Cost: FREE

Afterschool:
The 826 Valencia afterschool tutoring program provides students in the SFUSD with trained tutors to tackle their homework assignments and to engage in extra-curricular writing activities. Hours are Mon–Thurs 2:30pm–5:30pm and Sun 2:30pm–4:30pm. The weekday program requires advance registration but Sunday afternoons are open to anyone between the ages of 6 and 18 on a drop-in basis.

Criteria for admission to the afteschool tutoring program can be found here.

Gear:
Pirate lovers will delight in the wide selection of books, clothing, and pirate paraphernalia such as glass eyes, eye patches, message bottles, spy glasses, and "pirate perfume." It is fun to walk through the store and open small drawers with little surprises.