The camp will welcome children and youth aged 6 to 18 at SPL branches in Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Khorfakkan, Wadi Al Helo, and Dibba Al Hisn. Running daily until 1:00 PM, the programme combines reading, writing, drawing, design, and oral and visual expression through a series of interactive workshops and creative activities.

Participants will follow the journey of an idea as it becomes a book, starting with observation, imagination, and oral storytelling, and moving through early symbols and drawings once used to express ideas. The programme then covers story development, cover design, and the stages of printing and publishing.

The camp aims to nurture imagination, storytelling, and communication skills while introducing participants to the book-making process. It also encourages creative thinking and innovation, inspiring children and youth to turn their ideas into small storytelling projects to share and showcase.

Activities are tailored to different age groups across SPL branches. Sharjah, Kalba, and Wadi Al Helo libraries will host children aged 6–13, while Al Dhaid, Khorfakkan, and Dibba Al Hisn libraries will welcome teenagers and young adults aged 14–18.

A hub for creativity and knowledge

Commenting on the programme, Eman Bushlaibi, Director of SPL, said: “The Summer Camp strengthens our role in connecting younger generations with knowledge. The school break offers valuable time to develop skills and talents, and through the camp, we provide a safe space for children and youth to explore, learn, and collaborate. This experience reinforces the library’s role as a centre for creativity and knowledge that helps shape future generations.”

Exploring story origins and evolution

At SPL’s main branch, children turn everyday moments into story ideas, build story maps, create characters, and use colour to convey meaning. They also learn the basics of book production—paper and page formats—before designing a cover and producing a short illustrated story.

At Al Dhaid, youth develop distinct storytelling styles using visual and audio prompts to spark imagination and create unconventional characters. They practise retelling stories, trace a book’s journey from concept to publication, and complete a ‘My Little Book’ project, alongside innovation workshops that reimagine everyday situations and culminate in the presentation of an original story.

Discovering storytelling roots

Children at the Kalba branch will explore the origins of human expression through workshops on cave drawings, ancient symbols, oral storytelling, and sound. The programme then shifts to activities that help children find story ideas in their surroundings, build plots, experiment with comics, and design engaging book covers.

At the Khorfakkan branch, participants will explore the stages of writing, design, and publishing. Activities begin with the creative process before writing, followed by workshops on developing ideas into clear texts, creating characters, and building narratives. The programme then covers visual storytelling, editing, proofreading, formatting, publishing preparation, and presentation techniques.

A journey through writing and imagination

At the Wadi Al Helo branch, children will embark on a ‘Young Writer’s Journey’ through workshops that spark imagination and guide them in creating characters, defining settings and timelines, and turning everyday experiences into short stories. They will learn to build plots and express ideas clearly, while interactive activities strengthen vocabulary and confidence. The programme also covers core storytelling elements—character, setting, time, and plot—before participants present their work in a closing event.

Meanwhile, Dibba Al Hisn branch will offer teenagers and young adults a programme exploring key aspects of book production, from paper types and formats to visual identity and the relationship between text and design. Creative-thinking workshops will help participants develop ideas into personal book projects, progressing through writing, design, and cover selection to produce a first draft that reflects their vision and style.

Looking ahead to the Winter Camp

Sharjah Public Libraries will continue this creative journey with its 2026 Winter Camp, themed ‘Beyond the Book’, scheduled for December 7 to 10. The programme will focus on how literary works are transformed into theatrical, artistic, and visual productions, encouraging children and youth to create projects inspired by books and stories.