The Cole Summer Writers Institute

04/24/2026

Burns Set to Join Cole 2026!

Local writer, educator, and former Voorheesville Elementary teacher Michael Burns will be joining Cole for our 21st year! The author of the children's book Nervous Rex, Burns brings with him a unique sensibility when it comes to crafting stories. He will join us mid-week for a craft session on idea generation, story creation, and an author talk on his publishing journey....

Local writer, educator, and former Voorheesville Elementary teacher Michael Burns will be joining Cole for our 21st year! The author of the children’s book Nervous Rex, Burns brings with him …

01/07/2026

Cole 2026 Dates Set!

The dates for the 2026 Cole Summer Writers Institute have been set for July 6-10, 2026! More information will be released later in the spring concerning the identity of our guest writer and a specific room location. The 2026 application is current on the website now. Click the image below or the link here to download it!

The dates for the 2026 Cole Summer Writers Institute have been set for July 6-10, 2026! More information will be released later in the spring concerning the identity of our guest writer and a speci…

07/22/2025

Writer Paul O’Brien met with the Cole Summer Writers Institute writers on the morning of July 16, 2025. The students, despite the hot and sticky conditions, wrote, listened, and shared their writing with O’Brien as he led them through a morning filled with poetry, anecdotes, and writing. The students shared their happiness at the visit, stating that they particularly appreciated the personal connection he made with their writing, actually doing the assignments he assigned and laughing and talking with them as they read their work....

Writer Paul O’Brien met with the Cole Summer Writers Institute writers on the morning of July 16, 2025. The students, despite the hot and sticky conditions, wrote, listened, and shared their writin…

04/29/2025

So excited to have Paul O'Brien with us this summer as our guest writer! Check out the full story on our website!

The Cole Summer Writers Institute is excited to announce that local writer and former educator Paul O’Brien will be joining us this summer for a one-day workshop! Dr. O’Brien is a well-…

04/29/2025

The Cole Summer Writers Institute is excited to announce that local writer and former educator Paul O'Brien will be joining us this summer for a one-day workshop! Dr. O'Brien is a well-respected retired educator whose influence spanned five decades of teaching and impacted thousands of students and teachers. He has held leadership roles in various professional organizations, including the New York State English Council....

The Cole Summer Writers Institute is excited to announce that local writer and former educator Paul O’Brien will be joining us this summer for a one-day workshop! Dr. O’Brien is a well-…

04/29/2025

01/31/2025

The Cole Summer Writers Institute will run this summer from July 14-18! Details about guest speakers will be forthcoming in the next few months. We do know the following things: DATES: JULY 14-18, 2025 TIMES: 9-11:30am LOCATION: Clayton A. Bouton High School

The Cole Summer Writers Institute will run this summer from July 14-18! Details about guest speakers will be forthcoming in the next few months. We do know the following things: DATES: JULY 14-18, …

09/01/2024

The Cole Summer Writers Institute made the VCSD website with a story from the Communications team that highlighted the week and the overall "Cole" experience. The article focused primarily on this year's Institute, but also did a great job in getting reactions from Cole writers about their feelings toward the week, the structure of the Institute, and their feelings toward writing....

The Cole Summer Writers Institute made the VCSD website with a story from the Communications team that highlighted the week and the overall “Cole” experience. The article focused primar…

08/31/2024

The Week Author Saadia Faruqi met with ten writers from the Cole Summer Writers Institute and one writer from the Voorheesville Public Library on Wednesday, July 17, highlighting a great week at Cole that was marked with lots of laughs and great writing. Ms. Faruqi joined the group virtually and spent the morning discussing her approach to writing, her path to publication, and the writing life....

The Week Author Saadia Faruqi met with ten writers from the Cole Summer Writers Institute and one writer from the Voorheesville Public Library on Wednesday, July 17, highlighting a great week at Co…

05/10/2024

Portrait of author Saadia Faruqi Houston, Texas Tuesday June 9, 2015. July 15-19, 2024 The Cole Summer Writers Institute is excited to announce that Pakistani American writer Saadia Faruqi will be joining the Cole writers this summer for a one day workshop! The 19th year of the Cole Summer Writers Institute will kick off on July 15, 2024! The institute will run 9-11:30am from Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19, and will feature a one-day workshop by author Saadia Faruqi !...

Portrait of author Saadia Faruqi Houston, Texas Tuesday June 9, 2015. July 15-19, 2024 The Cole Summer Writers Institute is excited to announce that Pakistani American writer Saadia Faruqi will be …