From Roots to Rivers: High School Summer Documentary Academy
Roots to Rivers is a one-week summer academy at Roanoke College for high school students interested in history, culture, documentary film, and storytelling. Students will explore the history of the Roanoke region while learning the fundamentals of media production, including scriptwriting, interviewing, oral history methods, and collaborative creation.
Dates: June 22–26, 2026
For: Rising 9th-12th graders
Cost: $550.00 (scholarships available for demonstrated need)
Schedule
This fast‑paced, beginner‑friendly 5‑day documentary workshop takes you from idea to premiere.
- Day 1: Develop a concept with a brief pitch and ethics overview
- Day 2: Plan storyboards and interviews and learn camera/audio basics
- Day 3: Record interviews and B‑roll in small teams
- Day 4 Build rough cuts with guided editing and peer feedback
- Day 5: Final polishing and a celebratory screening
Along the way, you’ll complete focused assessments designed to build confidence and quality: a 3–4 sentence idea submission with instructor feedback, a camera/audio skill check, a storyboard review, on‑set observation with a short daily reflection, a simple peer‑review rubric (story
clarity, pacing, sound), a final evaluation (storytelling, technical quality, creativity, collaboration), and a brief self‑reflection. Leave with a 2–3-minute short documentary, practical production skills, and a clear understanding of ethical, efficient, and collaborative nonfiction storytelling.
Contact Us
Roanoke College-Roanoke Valley (RC-RV) Office
221 College Lane
Salem, Virginia 24153