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I am a
writer ✏️
director 🎬
teacher 📚
& public health nerd
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FEW SPOTS AVAILABLE: August 2026 Camps! (Grades 4-7)
❤️ Mondays-Fridays at the New Canaan Racquet Club
🧡 2026 Camps: Creative Writing Challenge, Screenwriting, Directing
💛 Program Fee: $275 per week ($175 for financial need or sibling discount)
💚 Camps Capped at 10 Students & All Materials Provided
Small Classes, Big Creative Growth
Taught by award-winning filmmaker and writer Claire Ayoub (EMPIRE WAIST, The GynoKid), Try Anyway Creative Writing Summer Camps provide kids with a safe and joyful space to build their creative skills, as well as develop confidence in public speaking and collaboration.
2026 Open Camps
SCREENWRITING I
(August 3-7)
A creative and collaborative week where students learn how to turn their ideas into a movie script. Kids will learn the fundamentals of screenwriting, build a hero (and a most excellent villain), write dialogue, and have fun along the way. All movie genres are welcome!
DIRECTING I
(August 10-14)
The first level of Claire's joy-filled directing workshop, students will learn ways to achieve their creative vision through the different departments in film, as well as practice the leadership skills and empathy necessary to run a set. Great training for both film and theater.
CREATIVE WRITING CHALLENGE
(August 17-21)
A mini-version of Claire's multi-week creative writing workshop, students will spark their imaginations through two writing challenges every session inspired by film, art, music, and more! Kids will share their work at least twice per class, building creative confidence. Brand new challenges for each week!
Questions? Email Claire at tryanywayproductions@gmail.com
NOW REGISTERING - Fall 2026 Writing Workshop (Grades 4-7)
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🩵 SUNDAYS from 2-3:30pm; In-Person (New Canaan Racquet Club)
💜 September 27th-November 15th (7 Sessions; No Class October 11th)
💛 Program Fee: $350 ($50/class)
💚 Financial Need Option: $250 (Additional scholarships available!)
Claire's beloved creative writing workshop for grades 4-7 is BACK with a cinematic twist! Each week, students will draw inspiration from a different film genre to create their OWN scripted scenes in the screenwriting format. A joyous way to gain confidence and skills in writing for film, TV, and graphic novels.
Led by award-winning filmmaker and writer Claire Ayoub (Empire Waist, The GynoKid, Amy Poehler's Smart Girls), this hands-on writing workshop is designed to spark kids' imaginations, challenge them to explore different avenues into their own creative process, and build confidence (and public speaking skills!) by sharing works in progress with peers in a safe and accepting space.
Each workshop, students will:
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Receive a creative challenge for the day inspired by scenes from different film genres.
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Put that creative challenge into practice by writing solo or in small groups
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Share their work in progress with their peers, even if it's not "ready"
Fun with purpose
Specifically designed to support tweens and teens battling perfectionism and self-doubt, Claire encourages students to take big creative swings, support each other by sharing their works in progress, and — when perfectionism comes calling — try anyway.
Questions? Email Claire at tryanywayproductions@gmail.com
About Claire
Claire Ayoub (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker, playwright, and writer based in Norwalk, CT.
A proud CT kid and product of New Canaan Public Schools (East, Saxe, and NCHS), Claire attended Wellesley College and began her comedy career with Amy Poehler's Smart Girls and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NYC. She is the founder of Try Anyway Productions, a CT-based production company dedicated to telling stories that combine comedy, education, and heart.
Her feature film debut EMPIRE WAIST won Best FutureWave Feature (Youth Jury Vote) at the Seattle International Film Festival, Best Social Impact and Best Empowerment Film at Sedona International Film Festival, and Best Feature at Coney Island Film Festival. The film is now streaming and on-demand worldwide through Blue Fox Entertainment, along with a free and vetted education curriculum on body image and self-confidence that Claire co-created alongside health and child psychology experts.
Teaching and mentoring have always been core to Claire's creative work. In addition to screening her feature debut EMPIRE WAIST around the world, she has taught and guest-lectured at educational non-profits, colleges, and libraries including Girls Inc., LiveGirl, Wellesley College, New York Film Academy, The New School, FIT, Stony Brook University, Love Your Labels, the New Canaan Library, Westport Library, and Danbury Library.
Claire is currently getting her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and loves using comedy to help kids (and adults!) talk about the tough stuff.
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