5 Ws
The
So we'll get right to it
Around here we know the importance of the 5 Ws
Who:
What:
When:
Where:
Why:
You, your yearbook staff, other schools from Colorado and beyond, and some of the nation's top advisers and educators.
One of the top yearbook and journalism camps in the country. We spend time sharpening individual skills like leadership, reporting and photography but our main focus is on theme development.
Boot camp is June 26; main camp is June 27-29.
In beautiful Boulder, where we will sleep, eat and play on the campus of CU Boulder
Get a head start on the best yearbook your school has ever seen.
Skills? Theme?
Why not both?!
We offer two different camps: boot camp and main camp.
If you're hesitant to attend our full camp, come get your feet wet and try our boot camp!
Or maybe you're like us and can't get enough yearbook, in which case you can sign up for both camps (and you get the extra night in the dorm on the night of the 26th)!
Can't decide? Check out more about these camps and pricing below. If that doesn't help, send us an email and we'll help you pick what's best for you!
Boot Camp
June 26, from 9-4
- You Pick a Skill Track, which is where you'll spend most of your time. You get hands-on practice and direct instruction in your chosen area!
- Attend Camp Welcome
- Enjoy lunch on the CU Campus
- Go home with all the camp swag!
Main Camp
June 27-29
- Get the complete campus experience: living alongside other RMJ campers in a dorm, enjoying meals in the state-of-the-art dining hall
- Focus on developing your 2024 theme with your staff
- 1-on-1 counseling from a renown yearbook adviser
- Evening entertainment and staff bonding (volleyball tournament, lip sync battle)
Before you dive into theme development, brush up on your skills!
BOOT
CAMP
Whether you’re a new staffer or a seasoned pro, this stand-alone day of skills training before main camp starts will prove invaluable to your year. Each track will feature instruction from an eminent instructor and hands-on practice time. Campers choose their track when registering.
Track Options
Advisers
Join a cohort of fellow advisers to plan out your year, learn new techniques, and update your systems in a collaborative setting.
Basics
If you are newer to yearbook, this will cover all of the basics you need to take your game to the next level-- storytelling, photojournalism, basic design, caption writing and more.
Design
Learn how to go beyond basic grid design, and start incorporating advanced design elements including typography, hierarchy, and graphics into your best-looking yearbook ever.
Editors
Leading your peers to produce a top-notch yearbook is a challenging adventure. Hone your leadership skills and style while making concrete plans for getting the best out of your staff this year.
Photography
If you’ve never picked up a DSLR camera, we highly recommend you do so before participating in this intensive course. Both camera technique and photo composition will be covered, and you will walk away ready to shoot in every situation a yearbook photojournalist will encounter.
Storytelling
Finding and writing compelling stories is at the heart of this course on yearbook copy. Go beyond the basic summary to get creative with formats and story angles, ensuring that your readers will be engrossed in every word.
Theme Camp is all about refining your vision for the 2024 yearbook: verbal and visual theme elements, a coverage ladder, design elements, and story ideas. Each day will be filled with instructional keynotes, guided work time, fun breakouts on focused topics, and support from our expert, award-winning instructors.
MAIN
CAMP
Our Goal is for you to leave camp with:
-polished theme statement
-opening copy
-locked-in visual elements
-start of a design package
if you have a larger staff at camp, you should also leave with:
-theme package design and copy
-gut layout designs
-coverage/ladder completion
Develop your 2024 theme with guidance and training from top yearbook educators.
Pricing
Rocky Mountain Journalism is an all-inclusive, overnight camp where students work on their publications for the upcoming year while guided by nationally and state-recognized instructors.
Full Camp Experience:
Boot Camp and Main Camp
$450
- All materials for Boot Camp and Main Camp
- Room and board
- Meals*
- Evening Entertainment
- Camp Swag
*no breakfast on June 26, no lunch or dinner on June 29
$565 Value
Main Camp Only
$400
- All materials for Main Camp
- Room and board
- Meals*
- Evening Entertainment
- Camp Swag
*no breakfast on June 27, no lunch or dinner on June 29
Boot Camp Only
$75
- All materials for Boot Camp
- Lunch at CU
- Camp Swag
Extras
Extra Night:
Adult Single Room:
Chaperone Only:
Commuter Main Camp:
$90
$100
$285
$325
Large Group Discount!
$25 off per person
8 or more attendees from your school
Cancellation Policy
Registrations canceled prior to May 20, will receive a full refund. After June 5, there will be a $100 late fee assessed.
Payment Policy
Campers must be paid in full by May 20 to attend camp. There will be no exceptions. If paying by school check, a PO number is needed in order to attend. No-show campers will be liable for the full cost of tuition as well as a $30 inconvenience fee. We do not accept personal checks.
Life at Camp
In between all of your hard work, don’t forget to have some fun.
RMJ is the perfect place to bond with your staff on CU-Boulder’s beautiful campus. Stay up too late in the dorm, gossiping with your roomie. Watch your adviser try to balance on a scooter (it's for team-building)! Pile up your dessert plate in the dining hall. Sign up for the volleyball tournament and compete in our legendary lip sync battle (we go all out).
Sample Schedule
Boot Camp
8:30 am
Arrive on CU’s campus for check-in and move into your dorm for the next few days (if you're also enrolled in Main Camp)
9:30 am
Attend an Opening Keynote
10:00 am
Meet up with your track instructor for direct instruction and hands-on practice
12:30 pm
Break for lunch at a state of the art campus dining hall. Don’t forget some softserve!
1:30 pm
Track Time
4:00 pm
Camp Closing
4:30 pm
Check out and drive home if you aren't staying for Main Camp. If you are, head back to the dorms before dinner. In the evening, spend some time team-bonding with other students from your school or meeting new friends
Sample Schedule
Main Camp
8:00 am
Get breakfast
9:00 am
Attend a Keynote on Visual Theme
10:00 am
School work time with counselors
11:00 am
Team Bonding Activities
12:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm
Choose a breakout session to attend
2:30 pm
Keynote on building a style guide and design library
3:30 pm
School work time with counselors
5:00 pm
Dinner
7:00 pm
Lip Sync Battle
9:00 pm
Work time
11:00 pm
Lights out
FAQs
My yearbook publisher isn't Herff Jones. Can I still come to camp?
Yes! Yearbook camp is for all yerds and we welcome everyone!
Anyone will benefit from our direct counseling with top advisers and hands-on instruction. Plus you get to meet other staffs from all over!
Can I still come to RMJ if I am not from Colorado?
Yes! We have schools, advisers and counselors come from all over the country! To help logistically, we offer an extra night in the CU dorms for $90.
Our closest airport is DIA. Campus is only 45 minutes by car or shuttle and an hour via RTD SkyRide Bus service. Once in Boulder, RTD public transportation can help you get around Boulder easily if needed, and even to Denver!
I would be the only staffer from my school there. Should I even come?
Yes! Whether you are the only staffer or 1-of-20, RMJ camp is perfect for you!
About
Rocky Mountain Journalism has a proud tradition of helping yearbook staffs meet and exceed their true potential, working with each school community to create a treasured keepsake made by students, for their fellow students.
We are passionate about partnering with yearbook advisers, helping them train strong yearbook staffers who fall in love with the process of taking photos, managing a business, designing layouts, leading teams and the many other skills that define the yearbook experience. We love what we do and we are here for you!
We represent Herff Jones Yearbooks, a division of Varsity Brands with a 100-year track record of offering expert yearbook consultation and high-quality printed products to both the K-12 and College levels. Herff Jones consistently prints more CSPA AND NSPA award-winning yearbooks at both the state and national level than all of the other yearbook companies combined.
Nothing prepares you for the year quite like RMJ.
Our journalism summer camp has been educating and inspiring young journalists for over 30 years. We create the perfect environment for amazing theme-development (you will be guided and supported by well-known “gurus”), next-level staff bonding (nothing brings you closer than choreographing your lip-sync battle routine), and personal development you didn’t know you were capable of.
Get in touch
CAMP DIRECTOR: REBECCA MCGRATH
