Get your RIO shirt today! Click for more info.
Welcome to the AWCS (Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society) Reality Is Optional Kids’ Writing Club home page!
Affectionately known as RIO
Need a place that understands you? Come and join the RIO. Create a writing club the way you want it. Youth led, adult mentored. Guest speakers, writing games, friends and creativity. Ages seventeen and under. Play with your words — all you need is a notebook and pen.
Meetings are held the second and last Monday of every month from September to June at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society in beautiful Calgary, Alberta – from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm in the AWCS classroom.
Fees: Drop In: $5. Full Year $40.00 (basically an AWCS youth membership with all the benefits!)
RIO is directed by Kim Firmston, a real life cyborg – though one without any cool powers. When she is not writing or cursing obvious villain mistakes, she warps young minds in her Reality is Optional Kid’s Writing Club, at WordsWorth Kids’ Writing Camp and through the Alexandra Kids’ Theatre Camp. Kim’s short story, Life Before War, was short listed in the 2008 CBC Literary Award and published in FreeFall Magazine. Another short story, Returning Home, was published in the Alexandra Reader Anthology. Her children’s plays include The Block, Rock n’ Roll Trolls, Polar Power Quest, and The Siren’s Song – Curse of the Amulet (performed to a near sold out crowd at the 2011 Calgary Fringe Festival. Her YA novels , Schizo, Hook Up, and Touch are published by Lorimer SideStreets (available from any major bookseller) and her latest novel, Boiled Cat, is available at the interactive website - www.boiledcat.com . Check out her own interactive website at www.kimfirmston.com
Next meeting is:
May 13 - Sense poetry - explore your senses and pour some delicious, spicy, and turbulent poetry. 5:30 - 6:30
May 25 - D&D club meets 6:00 - 9:00 - hitting the high seas
May 27 - Dead Author night - author to be announced. 5:30 - 6:30
June 10 - Radio plays. Travel back to a world where the radio was king. 5:30 - 6:30
June 17 - Members Only Workshop - Fantasy make-up. Bring a mirror (if you have one) and be ready to look like something from a sci-fi or fantasy novel. 5:30 - 6:30
June 24 - Final meeting - we will be showing the RIO Dave/Lilly documentary (or for you not in RIO 2012/2013 documentary) having snacks, getting awards, and playing games. Fun for all.
June 29 - D&D Club meets - Party and a game. Club members: if you want to do Chinese bring $10.00 to the May 25 meeting, I'll bring the menu and we can pick out what we want for this meeting.
July 29 - Aug 3 - DramAntics Youth Drama Program (Ages 9-16) Write the play, Build the Set, Create the Props, Make the Costumes, and put it all on Stage! Perform at the Calgary Fringe Festival.
Call for more info or to register. 403-269-5588
To see pictures of previous camps click here: DRAMANTICS
Aug 26-30 - RIO Word Adventure camp.
Spend a week PLAYING with WORDS. Have ADVENTURES in the city.
Make ART, get WET, and FILM commercials and movies. CREATE a camp the way YOU want it. Fun times guaranteed. Ages 9-15
August 26-30, 2013. 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cost: RIO members $120.00, non-members $145.00
Registration Open! Click HERE
Where are we?
922 9 Avenue Southeast
Calgary, AB T2G 0S4
Ph: 403-237-6837
Or contact us by e-mailing kim@kimfirmston.com or using our Contact Us page.
*From the parking lot, go down the outside steps to the lower level. We are in the first classroom.
Need a place that understands you? Come and join the RIO. Create a writing club the way you want it. Youth led, adult mentored. Guest speakers, writing games, friends and creativity. Ages seventeen and under. Play with your words — all you need is a notebook and pen.
Meetings are held the second and last Monday of every month from September to June at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society in beautiful Calgary, Alberta – from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm in the AWCS classroom.
Fees: Drop In: $5. Full Year $40.00 (basically an AWCS youth membership with all the benefits!)
RIO is directed by Kim Firmston, a real life cyborg – though one without any cool powers. When she is not writing or cursing obvious villain mistakes, she warps young minds in her Reality is Optional Kid’s Writing Club, at WordsWorth Kids’ Writing Camp and through the Alexandra Kids’ Theatre Camp. Kim’s short story, Life Before War, was short listed in the 2008 CBC Literary Award and published in FreeFall Magazine. Another short story, Returning Home, was published in the Alexandra Reader Anthology. Her children’s plays include The Block, Rock n’ Roll Trolls, Polar Power Quest, and The Siren’s Song – Curse of the Amulet (performed to a near sold out crowd at the 2011 Calgary Fringe Festival. Her YA novels , Schizo, Hook Up, and Touch are published by Lorimer SideStreets (available from any major bookseller) and her latest novel, Boiled Cat, is available at the interactive website - www.boiledcat.com . Check out her own interactive website at www.kimfirmston.com
Next meeting is:
May 13 - Sense poetry - explore your senses and pour some delicious, spicy, and turbulent poetry. 5:30 - 6:30
May 25 - D&D club meets 6:00 - 9:00 - hitting the high seas
May 27 - Dead Author night - author to be announced. 5:30 - 6:30
June 10 - Radio plays. Travel back to a world where the radio was king. 5:30 - 6:30
June 17 - Members Only Workshop - Fantasy make-up. Bring a mirror (if you have one) and be ready to look like something from a sci-fi or fantasy novel. 5:30 - 6:30
June 24 - Final meeting - we will be showing the RIO Dave/Lilly documentary (or for you not in RIO 2012/2013 documentary) having snacks, getting awards, and playing games. Fun for all.
June 29 - D&D Club meets - Party and a game. Club members: if you want to do Chinese bring $10.00 to the May 25 meeting, I'll bring the menu and we can pick out what we want for this meeting.
July 29 - Aug 3 - DramAntics Youth Drama Program (Ages 9-16) Write the play, Build the Set, Create the Props, Make the Costumes, and put it all on Stage! Perform at the Calgary Fringe Festival.
Call for more info or to register. 403-269-5588
To see pictures of previous camps click here: DRAMANTICS
Aug 26-30 - RIO Word Adventure camp.
Spend a week PLAYING with WORDS. Have ADVENTURES in the city.
Make ART, get WET, and FILM commercials and movies. CREATE a camp the way YOU want it. Fun times guaranteed. Ages 9-15
August 26-30, 2013. 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cost: RIO members $120.00, non-members $145.00
Registration Open! Click HERE
Where are we?
922 9 Avenue Southeast
Calgary, AB T2G 0S4
Ph: 403-237-6837
Or contact us by e-mailing kim@kimfirmston.com or using our Contact Us page.
*From the parking lot, go down the outside steps to the lower level. We are in the first classroom.
