CAMP

Summer

ROCKY MOUNTAIN JOURNALISM

June 22-25 at CSU Fort Collins

WE’RE OBSESSED

AROUND HERE,

WITH ALL THINGS

Yearbook

and that’s why we host our famous yearbook camp every summer.

It’s not just the highlight of your summer, it’s the highlight of your year.

WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 5 Ws, SO WE’LL GET RIGHT TO IT:

Who:
You, your yearbook staff, other schools from Colorado and beyond, and some of the nation's top advisers and educators.

What:

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.

When:

June 22-25 Start your track learning and bond with your team on day one! The rest of camp is devoted to building your theme, honing your skills, and getting a huge head start on your 2026 yearbook.

Where:

At the foot of the Rocky Mountains in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado, where we will sleep, eat and play on the campus of Colorado State University.

Why:

Get a head start on the best yearbook your school has ever seen, bond with your staff, and empower yourself as a storyteller.

SKILLS? THEME?

WHY NOT BOTH?

We pack a lot into three and half days on campus. Choose your track for skills training and work with your team on theme development. Try different breakouts to get deeper into the work of yearbook journalism.

You'll get the complete campus experience: living alongside other RMJ campers in a dorm, enjoying meals in the state-of-the-art dining hall, and making new friends in your classes and evening activities.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

  • All meals are provided from dinner on Sunday night to lunch on Wednesday at noon

  • Complete room and board with linens is included

  • 1-on-1 coaching and consultations are provided by nationally-recognized yearbook experts

  • Staffs have ample time to fully develop their 2026 theme, coverage ideas, design and more

  • Evening entertainment and staff bonding activities make it an experience to remember!

REGISTER NOW

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REGISTER NOW |

THEME DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOP YOUR 2026 THEME WITH GUIDANCE AND TRAINING FROM TOP YEARBOOK EDUCATORS.

Theme Camp is all about refining your vision for the 2026 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

SKILLS TRAINING

THROUGHOUT CAMP, WE TAKE BREAKS ON THEME DEVELOPMENT TO BRUSH UP ON YOUR SKILLS!

  • 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.

  • Finding and writing compelling stories about everyone in your school is at the heart of this course on yearbook copy and coverage. Go beyond the basic summary to get creative with formats and story angles, ensuring that your readers will be engrossed in every word.

  • In this beginner track, we will cover camera basics and composition. We’ll practice using a dSLR (so if you have one, bring it!) and cell phone photography for the cases when you don’t have your camera.

    If you’ve moved off of auto mode and are starting to use manual modes, Advanced Photography will be a better fit for you. Requirement for advanced photo: 1 year SLR experience.

  • Staring at a blank page and don’t know where to start? We’ve got you!

    Start with the basics- Square One grid design and spread anatomy- and explore some of our best eDesign tips.

  • Required: Must be profiecent in grid 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. We look at how to find and use inspiration, and work towards theme designs you can use for your next book.

  • 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. This track will empower you to take charge as a leader and ensure you feel supported to make decisions through the year.

  • This track will help prepare you for your upcoming year. This is perfect for advisers going into their first year. For advisers with a year already under your belt, we suggest reaching out to us and we can help ensure you’re in the right track.

    We help you define your job and your editor’s jobs, plan your year in the classroom, and guide you in laying out your yearbook.

  • Join a cohort of fellow advisers to plan out your year, learn new techniques, and update your systems in a collaborative setting. We’ll be putting a lot of emphasis on creating a student-led publication and ensuring you program has policies in place for everything that might happen.

Whether you're a new staffer or a seasoned pro, our skills tracks will prove invaluable to your year. Each track features instruction from a prominent instructor and hands-on practice time. Campers choose their track when registering.

TRACK OPTIONS:

PRICING

ALL REGISTRATIONS AND PAYMENTS ARE DUE APRIL 15, 2025.

POLICIES

PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION POLICY

Registrations are due April 15. Registrations or payments received after April 15 will be assessed an additional $50.00 administrative fee. Space is not guaranteed, so please contact Camp Director Rebecca McGrath at 303-601-4008 or rsmcgrath@rockymountainjournalism.com for all late registrations which will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Rocky Mountain Journalism requires cancellation submissions in writing. If you submit the request to cancel the session before canceled prior to April 15, 2025 will be given a refund of 75% of the paid tuition. If the request for cancellation is submitted after April 15, there will be no refund for your camper's tuition. Cancellation requests due to illness or accident prior to the session’s start date will require a physician’s written verification. Upon receipt of verification, 75% of the paid tuition will be refunded.

REGISTER NOW

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REGISTER NOW |

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY?

THAT’S NOT OUR STYLE.

FAQs

I can’t decide which track is right for me. Should I just wing it?

No!! Send us an email or DM on social media and we can help ensure you get in the proper track for your goals! Switching tracks once we get to camp is challenging due to room sizes.

Will I get a dorm mate from a different school?

You might! We do our best to honor roommate requests and room you with someone from your school. However sometimes the numbers just don’t work out and you get to have the extra-realistic college experience of rooming with someone from a different school.

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!

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!

The closest major airport to camp is Denver International (DEN). Campus is 75-minutes by car or shuttle, and the Landline Shuttle can take you straight to CSU from the airport. 

My yearbook publisher isn't Varsity Yearbook. 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!