Apply

Fir Acres Writing Workshop is open to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.

Workshop Dates: June 22–July 5, 2025

General Application deadline: March 7, 2025

The application deadline has now passed. Thanks for applying!

 

Important notice: Anyone flying after May 7, 2025will need a Real ID or a valid passport. Please make sure you plan ahead if you and/or your participant plan to fly into PDX!

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Prospective students should submit the following (items marked with * are required):

• An online application* form 
• Statement of purpose* (300 words), explaining why you want to attend Fir Acres Writing Workshop, what the experience of living within a community of writers might teach you, and how you hope to develop as a writer and as a person
• Writing sample* in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction (no more than 5 pages)
• A high school transcript*, official or unofficial
• A letter of recommendation* from your high school teacher or counselor; teacher or counselor submits either “open file” letter, which parents and students can read, or teacher or counselor submits a “confidential letter.” (See below.)
• Scholarship support form (if applicable)

The Director reviews applications to determine admission. 

HOW TO APPLY

You can easily apply online. We have provided everything you need below, including teacher recommendation forms, statement of purpose form and, if applicable, the scholarship support form.

Please fill out the online application and upload your statement of purpose, creative writing sample (no more than 5 pages), a scan (or picture) of your high school transcript, and your teacher’s letter of recommendation. If you are applying for a scholarship, you can also upload the scholarship support form.  You can download statement of purpose and teacher recommendation by clicking the links above. Student and parents may agree to have a teacher / counselor submit a confidential letter of support; here is the downloadable recommendation form if your teacher submits (mails) a confidential letter of recommendation.

FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

There are two options for submitting a teacher letter of recommendation:  

An “open file” letter of recommendation to upload and submit with online application.

or

A confidential letter of recommendation to be mailed to our office by the school. Forms should be emailed to Fir Acres (firacres@lclark.edu) or mailed to:

Fir Acres Writing Workshop
Lewis & Clark College
615 S Palatine Hill Rd., MSC 58
Portland, OR 97219

SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT

Fir Acres Writing Workshop does award some partial scholarships and one full scholarship to students who demonstrate merit and financial need. A limited number of scholarships are available. Fir Acres does expect most participants will pay the full fee for the Workshop.

If applying for a scholarship, please upload the scholarship form with the online application.

Tuition to Fir Acres goes toward student housing, facilities, meal plan, and faculty, staff, and program administration.

BLAIR BONNEY FIR ACRES WRITING SCHOLARSHIP 

Due to the generosity of the Bonney family, Fir Acres Writing Workshop is honored to award one student per summer the Blair Bonney Fir Acres Writing Scholarship, which covers full tuition to the Workshop. To be considered for the scholarship, please upload the scholarship form with the online application. The scholarship is intended for talented student writers who merit acceptance to the Workshop and may require financial assistance. 

BREAKDOWN OF TUITION COSTS

$500 Deposit (due after acceptance is received)
$825 Housing and facilities for one student
$550 Full meal plan for one student
$1,925 Remaining tuition (programming, faculty, and administrative costs)
$3,800 total