The program offers a wide range of opportunities for participation from 6 hours of daily immersion for 6 days, to an hour each evening of engaged listening.

Participants may choose to enroll in three or six-day sessions. Intensive Poetry Writing Workshop activities focus on helping participants generate new work and explore a wide range of literary styles and techniques, but also include close-critique of drafts and revisions. The Chapbook Workshop focuses on creating and refining a publishable chapbook-length collection of poems. Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 10 participants in each workshop.

Events include small-group discussions with Visiting Poets and Faculty Poets, Master Classes on The Making and Performance of Poetry, nightly readings, booksignings/receptions and two Poetry Festivals featuring the Visiting, Faculty and Guest Poets. Participant "Open Mic" sessions are held throughout the week.

The campus is located in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California.  The program is a project of the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program in consultation with John D. Maguire, President Emeritus, Claremont Graduate University.