While summer camp can be a fun way for children to continue their education outside of a school setting and a great opportunity to enhance their social skills, not every child enjoys spending their free time in the great outdoors. For those with interests outside the realm of hiking, canoeing and building campfires, there are an array of specialized camps in the Capital District, many focusing on the performing arts, music and dancing. “Anyone with an interest can attend and have fun,” said David Bunce, the teaching artist-in-residence at the Theatre Institute at Sage in Troy. “It doesn’t require an outgoing kid or one that’s very gregarious to do well.” Check out Capital District Parent Pages’ complete 2012 camp directory by clicking here. Bunce and his teaching partner Sara Melita have been performance art instructors and camp organizers for two decades. The pair originally taught a camp at the New York State Theater Institute for years until it was closed in 2010. “I think what sets us apart is we are skill-based,” said Bunce. “The students do put on a show at the end of their session like other camps do, but here they do a show of their own creation that they imagine based on specific interests. It’s not a show that we pick for them.” At the Theatre Institute at Sage camps, children spend their days in classes focusing on subjects like acting, singing, dance, combat, set design and costumes. The children are then put into groups and work out a play, with each child focusing on his or her own interests to make the production come to life on stage. “It works out be something like a variety show, with each student showcasing their own talents,” he said. There are three different camps for different age groups. The Kids on Stage program is for younger learners who need theater basics, Summer On-Stage is more interest based, and the Summer Shakespeare Institute is for older thespians who are serious about the craft and may want to one day major in performance art in college. “These are camps for parents looking for individualized attention for their children,” said Bunce. “The biggest class size is between six to eight students so there’s no way for kids to get lost in the crowd. Even if they want to it doesn’t happen.” Other local performance arts camps take a different approach.
This year, the School of Performing Arts at Proctors in Schenectady is partnering with trained Broadway experts to help instruct summer camp courses for its students. “We’ve always had summer programming, but what we do best is Broadway,” said Jessica Gelarden, education program manager for Proctors. “We wanted to give these kids the chance to work with Broadway professionals and see first-hand what they do.” Proctors hires actors who are off from performing Broadway tours, or those looking to take a break from their shows. They offer classes for beginners to pre-professional levels. “I think this type of learning gives kids confidence,” said Gelarden. “They learn to be creative in front of people and find like-minded kids just like them. They are receiving actual training throughout their time with us, no matter their age, whether in a serious atmosphere or in a game atmosphere.” The Proctors School of Performing Arts includes the Summer Academy for those looking to “refine their technique and explore a career in the performing arts” and the Summer Adventures program, which “provides opportunities to explore the performing arts in a fun and non-competitive environment.” All of the spaces within Proctors are used depending on the class. “We want them to have the experience of being in the theater and on stage,” said Gelarden. Meg Kelly, executive director of the Saratoga Children’s Theatre, said her camp also has a similar teaching style. “We too hire professionals to run our program,” she said, explaining how she formed the camp in 2008 when her daughter couldn’t find an acting program closer to Saratoga. “The key to our success is putting on a production with what they’ve learned from professionals who have degrees and worked in the business.” Kelly said the students basically learn the same types of social skills they would learn at any traditional camp, but in a different way and with peers who have similar interests. “In my mind, it just builds confidence,” she said. “If you have a child who is not confident in class, that is one of the biggest changes I see. By the end, campers make great friendships and are able to get up in front of an audience and feel comfortable. It’s not like being on the sidelines with some camps that focus their attention on physical activities. This is a little more involved to get your kid out there, learn good diction and behavioral skills, everything they need to act someday.” Saratoga Children’s Theatre is a year-round program that also offers summer sessions. There are kids sessions, junior sessions, and a teen troupe, all of which last two to three weeks. Sessions are held at St. Peter’s Elementary School in Saratoga Springs and all final productions are staged at Skidmore College. “Our main goal is for the kids to leave having had a good time, but also having more knowledge then when they came in,” said Bunce from Theatre Institute at Sage.