Operation Literacy presents
GENERAL INFO
WHO?
Teens ages 13-19 seeking an epic summer camp!
WHERE?
Utah Valley University
Lehi Campus
WHEN?
June 25-27th
9:00 am-4:30 pm
COST
$179 Includes:
Lunches, 3-days of amazing instruction, and a custom workbook.
Enter the portal to an epic 3-day summer camp filled with tabletop role-playing games!
From the minds behind Teen Author Boot Camp comes a new immersive conference experience connecting teenagers with industry professionals.
Join professional dungeon master Dax Levine of Dungeon Master Direct as he assembles a party of published authors, theater educators, and game designers to deliver the best training to level up your writing, acting, and gaming skills to make your D&D campaigns more epic than ever!
Each morning, prepare for battle with instructional workshops on worldbuilding, improvisation, voices, puzzles, combat tactics, and more. Each afternoon, enter the dungeon with your friends or become the Dungeon Master yourself. Become the hero (or villain) of the world’s greatest roleplaying game!
CLASS THEMES
2024 PRESENTERS
AUTHORS-ACTORS-TTRPG GAMING EXPERTS
Adam Berg
Cinematic Inspiration
TRACK:
Performance
Adam Berg is a real human boy and not a figment of his dog’s imagination. He started his career in sketch comedy, spending seven years writing and acting for Studio C. Now he works for JK Studios. His love of writing has pushed him to explore TV, film, gaming articles, and YA fantasy novels. Born and raised in Utah, he spends his days jotting down dumb jokes and annoying his maltipoo with relentless kisses. If you Google him, just know he's not actually worth 10 million dollars (yet?) or is a 50-year-old Swedish film director (yet).
Come learn to add cinematic flair to your gaming sessions by taking inspiration from a variety of acting techniques. We'll discuss ways to develop your characters to make them richer, more fun to play, and someone you really don't want to be killed off by a red shirt. It's time to bring your writing and character creation to life!
Lydia Suen
Crafting Compelling Adversaries
TRACK:
Game Design
Lydia Suen is a game designer, game writer, and developmental editor. She does work for Brotherwise Games (as Lead Writer of their RPG based on Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive), Edge Studios, and Salt & Sage Books. Her GM style is character-driven, fast-paced, and always puts story first.
In order for their characters to grow in bravery, tenacity, and glory, you must first create a need for that growth. In this class, we’ll cover how to craft ADVERSARIES so daring, clever, and cruel, they’ll lure your characters to the brink of extraordinary choices. We will workshop developing a dynamic adversary’s backstory and motives, and customize a stat block to pull everything together.
Tyler Whitersides
Making Magic Immersive
TRACK:
Writing
Tyler Whitesides is the author of 12 novels, including the award winning middle grade series JANITORS, as well as an epic fantasy trilogy, THE KINGDOM OF GRIT. In addition to writing, Tyler is a crafter and builder, constructing large pieces for live theatre, as well as miniature crafting for tabletop gaming. He lives in Utah with his two young sons.
"I cast Fireball," is boring. "I raise my finger and a bright streak flashes from its tip, blossoming with a low roar into an explosion of flame," is exciting, ominous, filling everyone in the room with dread. In this class, we will discuss how to use magic in an interesting way to enhance storytelling aspects during combat.
Mari Murdock
Organizing an Epic Journey
TRACK:
Writing
Mari Murdock is a writer and professional dungeon master based in Utah. She is the author of Whispers of Shadow and Steel and has had novellas, short fiction, and gaming content published by Fantasy Flight Games, Green Ronin Publishing, and Gallant Knight Games. Visit her website at marimurdock.com.
Discover the art of narrative orchestration in 'Organizing an Epic Journey,' a class focusing on the behind-the-scenes mastery of Dungeons & Dragons storytelling. Learn to structure epic campaigns, plot arcs, and character development, transforming chaotic ideas into cohesive and captivating adventures.
Heidi Voss
Combat Staging for Maximum Flair
TRACK:
Performance
Heidi Voss’ debut novel Frogman’s Response has been praised as being “instantly engaging” and her award-winning short fiction has been featured in multiple anthologies. She serves as the president of the Salt City Scribes chapter of the League of Utah Writers and has won two submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments.
Need your character to grapple an owlbear and scratching your head with how to describe such a situation? Join MMA trained writer Heidi Voss for the basics of real hand-to-hand combat. She'll go over what it's like to get in the ring with someone who wants to take off your head and how to have fun with fight scenes even if you don't have much in the way of technical knowledge. Yes, she will choke someone during this presentation.
Cameron Abaroa
Accents, Dialect, and Mannerisms
TRACK:
Performance
Cameron is an actor, singer, educator, and TTRPG enthusiast. When he's not slaying dragons, playing with funny voices, or hand-crafting dice out of resin, he is a high-school theater teacher dedicated to helping his students tell stories and create strong, meaningful characters and tell stories that matter.
Creating powerful characters and NPCs can be daunting, but once you have the perfect backstory... What's next? Learn how to seamlessly add depth to your characters by exploring how the human voice works with pitch, intonation, and rhythm. Playing with voices to inhabit your character can improve your game, your table, and Dungeons & Dragons experience.
Sylvia Langille
Hallmarks of Horror
TRACK:
Writing
C.R. Langille an award-winning author with a deep love for weird and creepy tales. This prompted her to form Timber Ghost Press in 2021. She is a member of the Horror Writers Association, the League of Utah Writers, and she earned her MFA from Seton Hill University in 2014.
COMING SOON
Dax Levine
Master of Game Play
TRACK:
Director
Dax Levine is a full-time professional Dungeon Master who runs games of Dungeons & Dragons for clients all over the world. He helped set the Guinness World Record for the largest game of D&D in 2023. He utilizes his training in acting, improv, psychology, writing, and business to craft immersive experiences and dramatic performances for new and experienced players alike. Join the adventure in an online D&D campaign, a weeklong Game Night Getaway, a Dungeon Master University course, an epic fan convention, or your next corporate teambuilding event. Learn more at www.dungeonmasterdirect.com
As director of Teen Dungeon Boot Camp, Dax Levine will lead all of the general sessions and game play!
Andrew Ashby
Tactical Terrain for Epic Battles
TRACK:
Game Design
Andy runs a gaming tavern in Provo UT. He loves to be part of and support the nerd community. Notable achievements are supporting his lovely family, and the small world record of the biggest game of D&D ever played.
COMING SOON
Drew Gerken
Character-Driven Objectives
TRACK:
Game Design
Drew is a builder of worlds, master of dungeons, and wayward writer. He has been a TTRPG enthusiast since sixth grade and has translated his passion into a side hustle via podcasting, streaming, presenting at conventions,designing games, and freelancing. Drew is the co-author of the ENNIE-nominated TTRPG, Arium.
Understanding a character’s true motivation is essential for engaging campaigns. In this class, we’ll explore ways to help your players determine their characters' driving forces. With this knowledge, we can weave deeper stories, tying the threads of our characters’ ambitions and desires throughout. Understanding these objectives creates more meaningful story arcs, more emotional encounters, and more satisfying games. We will explore ideas around character questionnaires, how to approach a Session Zero, and how to leverage these tools to create meaningful, dynamic objectives for the characters and their players.
Jess Smart Smiley
Branching Story Paths
TRACK:
Writing
Jess Smart Smiley makes rad pictures with his bare hands and has helped thousands of people around the world in creating their own stories. Jess is an award-winning, #1 bestselling creator and loves sharing his passion for interactive storytelling with students of all ages and skill levels.
Dive deep into the art of conceptualizing multiple-path stories that span campaigns, video games, books, and beyond. Learn to craft dynamic characters and narratives that adapt to audience choices, ensuring each path is as compelling as the last. Master the art of crafting satisfying endings and creating waypoints that seamlessly bridge story paths. Whether you're a budding storyteller or a passionate gamer, join us and unlock the limitless possibilities of your imagination!
Kristy Gilbert
Sensory Descriptions to Bring Worlds to Life
TRACK:
Writing
Kristy S. Gilbert is an editor and book designer. She is the editorial director for Dragonsteel and the executive editor for Looseleaf Editorial & Production.
COMING SOON
Max Coltrin
Master the Music
TRACK:
Performance
Max, the music composer of Coltrin Compositions, creates thematic background music and themes for worlds of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, particularly as they pertain to the TTRPG space. He also works with film, podcasts, ads, and video games.
COMING SOON
Mic Matarrese
Voice! Narration! Drama!
TRACK:
Performance
Mic has been a professional stage actor for 32 years and discovered a love of TTRPG’s at the same time he started acting. His career has taken him across the country. He teaches movement and voice at the University of Delaware where he is a founding member of the Resident Ensemble Players.
The most epic moments in the games we play are made all the more memorable when the storyteller fully embodies the world and all the NPC’s in it! If you want a deeper relationship with the performative aspects of TTRPG’s then this is the class for you.
Renae Kingsley
Secrets to Great Puzzles
TRACK:
Game Design
Renae Kingsley is a world-winning creativity coach and master game designer. With over a decade of teaching experience, she captivates minds with her imaginative teaching style. She commands both the stage as a professional actress and the canvas as an artist, but her true passion is mentoring and inspiring youth.
The best puzzles in D&D aren't just solved with a lucky roll of the die, but are engaging hands-on experiences! Whether you are a GM wanting to craft your own puzzles or a player learning how to solve puzzles, this fun class is for you! Come learn the different classes of puzzles, how to create your own versions, and how to solve them.
Ryan Bouché
Mapmaking and Cartography
TRACK:
Game Design
Ryan is the dungeon master for the live play D&D podcast Dads'NDragons, the twitch channel DragonsKeepTV and a Pro DM at We Geek Together. He writes his own TTRPG game adventure modules for D&D and DreadRPG. For the last three years, Ryan has served as the gaming track head for LTUE.
Breathe life into your worlds through well-designed maps. You'll learn how to build both landscape maps and dungeon maps to tell the story and give challenges to your characters that they will never forget. Finally, we'll cover the wide variety of online tools available to you to start creating your own maps today!
Samantha Daynes
The Power of Improvisation
TRACK:
Performance
Samantha Daynes is an actor, director, teacher, and playwright. She studied Theatre Arts and Education at Brigham Young University, wrote a Mayhew-award winning musical, taught physical theatre and mime in Washington DC, and now teaches High School Drama in Fairfax Virginia. She loves all things to do with theatre, stories, and creativity.
Oh no! You’re facing down an angry castle guard and you need to say just the right thing so that he’ll allow you access… The roll of the dice is one thing, but coming up with something clever and quick on the spot? That’s the tricky part. This class is for anyone who’s ever wished they could think quicker on their feet. Players and GMs both will benefit from learning how to come up with ideas on the spot, react quickly, and make your stories sizzle with added flair and action!
Sofiya Pasternack
Collaborative Backstories that Rock
TRACK:
Writing
Sofiya Pasternack is a mental health professional, the highly-distractible author of Jewish MG and YA fantasy, and prone to oversharing gross medical stories. She enjoys speaking to crowds about writing and mental health. She is actually a gremlin in a bad wig.
COMING SOON
Welden Bringhurst
Ecology of a Dungeon
TRACK:
Game Design
Welden Bringhurst has been playing and designing RPGs and board games his entire life. He specializes in crunchy, strategy games. Recently, he has worked on Adventures in Rokugan and the upcoming Stormlight RPG. In his free time, Welden enjoys playing Magic: The Gathering and League of Legends with friends.
COMING SOON
SCHEDULE
BREAK OUT CLASS INFO WILL BE AVAILABLE FEB 1ST
Day 3
9:00 AM-9:50 AM
Morning Shake Up (50 minutes)
10:00 AM-10:50 AM
Break Out 5 (50 minutes)
11:00 AM-11:50 AM
Break Out 6 (50 minutes)
12:00 PM-12:30 PM
LUNCH (30 minutes)
12:30 PM-1:00 PM
Keynote (30 minutes)
1:10 PM-2:20 PM
Gaming Session 5 (70 minutes)
2:30 PM-3:40 PM
Gaming Session 6 (70 minutes)
3:50 PM-4:30 PM
Closing Ceremonies (40 minutes)
Day 1
9:00 AM-9:50 AM
Opening Ceremonies (50 minutes)
10:00 AM 10:50 AM
Break Out 1 (50 minutes)
11:00 AM-11:50 AM
Break Out 2 (50 minutes)
12:00 PM- 12:30 PM
LUNCH (30 minutes)
12:30 PM-1:00 PM
Keynote (30 minutes)
1:10 PM-2:20 PM
Gaming Session 1 (70 minutes)
2:30 PM-3:40 PM
Gaming Session 2 (70 minutes)
3:50 PM-4:30 PM
End of Day Wrap Up (40 minutes)
Day 2
9:00 AM-9:50 AM
Morning Shake Up (50 minutes)
10:00 AM-10:50 AM
Break Out 3 (50 minutes)
11:00 AM-11:50 AM
Break Out 4 (50 minutes)
12:00 PM-12:30 PM
LUNCH (30 minutes)
12:30 PM-1:00 PM
Keynote (30 minutes)
1:10 PM-2:20 PM
Gaming Session 3 (70 minutes)
2:30 PM-3:40 PM
Gaming Session 4 (70 minutes)
3:50 PM-4:30 PM
End of Day Wrap Up (40 minutes)