http://www.hyperactivitypography.com/
;-)

Typecon really isn't the best place to be if you aren't old enough to stay up all night drinking. Especially when it's happening in New Orleans.

If I were in your position I would probably just spend half the summer days tracing classic typefaces and the other half designing new ones.

That's wicked Riccardo, made my day! Thanks :)

Well, I guess you're too late for Typo Berlin (ended three days ago).
http://www.typoberlin.de/2011/index.php

TypeCon is not terribly expensive as conferences in general go. New Orleans is not the closest possible US destination, but not the worst, either.
http://www.typecon.com/

ATypI is more expensive, but its prices include lunches. However, we have substantial discounts for students, and I would expect airfare to Reykjavik would be reasonable (compared to New Orleans, anyway).
http://www.atypi.org/2011-reykjavik

ATypI has not yet announced prices for this year's conference (Real Soon Now), but they will be similar to last year's:
http://old.atypi.org/30_past_conferences/03_Dublin/70_register

Regards,

T

A type conference is really your best bet! ATypI is great, but it's
not in the summer. TypeCon is also great (even if you don't drink).

hhp

Go here!

http://www.wells.edu/pdfs/Book_Arts_Summer_2011.pdf

The Wells College summer program has a variety of classes related to typography, type design, typefounding, and book arts. I've signed up for a Monotype casting class at the Bixler type foundry, but I'm only the second person and they need at least four to run the class. If you sign up, more chance it'll happen! I went to Wells a few years ago and had a great experience. Some big names teach and attend the workshops; Julian Waters, for instance, is teaching this year.

I'm a teenager too, by the way. I've found that if you're knowledgeable, respectful, and enthusiastic, you're usually welcomed at any event.

That's a good suggestion - and it reminds me of another:
http://legacyofletters.com/
Not cheap, but at least you can get there by train!
And you might ask them about a student discount...

hhp

Thanks guys!

Typecon and ATypI are just not gonna work for me. The wells thing is pretty cool, but I' like something with a closer focus on typedesign and it's still quite expensive. I'm too late for the legacy of letters thing, I'm afraid.

I've found this on the ATypI website and it's rediculously cheap, €60,- ! http://typetalks.org/Symposium2011/Registration.html

Has any one of you been there?

Oh yeah - I forgot about that. I haven't been to any "regional" type conferences except for the two in Thessaloniki, but from that experience I believe they can sometimes be even better than the big ones.

hhp