Cost and application

Thursday, June 27-Sunday, June 30
4 days, 3 nights (NOTE: We’re currently full for June Camp. Because there’s an element of payment, there’s a chance we’ll have some spots open up in the future, and we’ll update this space if that happens)

  • Private room: $750

  • Shared room: $475 per person

  • Bunkhouse: $450 per person

    • Groups of 4-6 can book a bunkhouse for themselves - contact us at campbarrelhouse@gmail.com for more information

  • Tent camping: $375 (You bring the tent, we'll provide the food and bathrooms.)

    • For an additional $75, Godspeed will provide a tent, tarp, cot, sleeping bag, pillow, and chair

Wednesday, July 31 - Sunday, August 4
5 days, 4 nights

  • Private room: $900

  • Shared room: $600 per person

  • Bunkhouse: $575 per person

    • Groups of 4-6 can book a bunkhouse for themselves - contact us at campbarrelhouse@gmail.com for more information

  • Tent camping: $425 (You bring the tent, we'll provide the food and bathrooms.)

    • For an additional $75, Godspeed will provide a tent, tarp, cot, sleeping bag, pillow, and chair

What’s included in your fee?

  • Your choice of a private room, a shared room, a bunk in the bunkhouse, or tent camping. (See our facilities and location page to learn more about each option.)

  • Brunch and dinner will be prepared by Godspeed Events and Lodging and are included in the price. If you have any dietary considerations, just let us know - the Grande family, our hosts, are excellent cooks and can accommodate just about anything. All meals will include vegetarian and gluten-free options. If you need additional dietary allowances, let us know. There may be a $25 fee.

    Barrelhouse will pay for a welcome party (beer, wine, bourbon, soda, whatever) on the first night and we'll figure out any beer/wine/bourbon cost sharing after that.

  • One-hour sessions with an editor. One during the shorter camp, or a one-on-one and a small group session with your editor during the longer camp. You choose the topic, and we try to pair you with an editor in a similar genre. Please note: this is totally optional. If you'd rather take the extra time to write (or nap, or fish, or whatever), you won't hurt our feelings. :)

  • Most of your fee goes to Godspeed Events and Lodging to pay for food and lodging. As you’ll see, it’s a beautiful place and the Grande family takes amazing care of us. The rest goes to Barrelhouse. Our editors are volunteers, so we use camp funds to pay writers, fund our Amplifier grant for upcoming literary organizations, and keep building relationships and increasing outreach in the lit community.

What isn’t included?

  • We can pick you up and drop you off at the State College airport and bus stations, or the Amtrak depot in Tyrone, PA, but other than that, travel costs are your own.

  • Either bring your own or pitch in - ten or twenty bucks should take care of it for the remainder of camp.

    Barrelhouse will pay for a welcome party (beer, wine, bourbon, soda, whatever) on the first night and we'll figure out any beer/wine/bourbon cost-sharing after that.

  • We keep our outings free-to-cheap - hikes, arboretums, etc. However, there may be incidental fees (kayak rentals, ice cream, an hour of laser tag) that are not included. We try to keep it under twenty bucks per session, and have a free option as well.

Refund policy

No refunds for cancellations, but you can roll your fee forward to a future camp. If you cannot come, please contact us as soon as possible.

In the event of cancellation, Writer Camp is not responsible for any camp-related travel expenses.

How to apply |

How to apply |

Application Process

Our application is geared toward finding out whether you’re a good fit for what we’re doing. “Good fit” means a few things: Do we think Writer Camp will help you make your writing better? Do we have the right editor for your style of writing? Does it seem like spending four days in close quarters in the middle of the Pennsylvania countryside might be cool for you? For us? Our application is fast and will ask for a quick bio, an optional writing sample, and a few questions about sharing close quarters with a bunch of writers.

If you’re selected, then we’ll ask you to pay within two weeks of acceptance, so we can be sure you’re serious about coming, and we can work to fill your spot if it turns out you can’t join us. 

If you’re interested in a shared room: We have shared cabanas and shared bunkhouses available. If you have a friend or significant other who would enjoy a few quiet days near a stream, doing non-writing things, just give us their name and email so we can be sure to include them on pre-camp communications. Standard shared cabin fees will apply.

Application fee: There is no application fee.