Student writers from our seventh grade class had the opportunity to go on a Mystery Writer Retreat at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. This writing retreat was designed for motivated students who show an affinity for writing. The goal was to help spark and foster interest in young people to pursue writing.
The all day workshop included sessions on investigating unsolved mysteries, learning about gathering evidence, exploring mystery writing, and writing time to begin to craft a mystery piece. A police officer and a crime scene investigator were there to build background knowledge for the young writers. The retreat wrapped up with an opportunity to have a short train ride overlooking the Fox River where the students could begin their writing piece.