Why Theater Camp Isn't Just for Theater Kids

February and March mean the start of camp season at Artistree and I sit watching these amazing kids spend 6 hours with us every day, I feel so very blessed. The studio is filled with singing, dancing, laughter and slime–the art project of choice these days. And as I look around, I realize that all this glorious noise is coming from such a wide variety of kids. We definitely have hard-core theater kids, but we also have campers who are more reserved or ones that are just creative who want to be around that kind of environment.

Camp is a wonderful place to introduce your child to theater. And believe me, theater camp is NOT just for theater kids. Camp is always a more laid-back environment than the normal school year rehearsal process here at Artistree. You include additional snack and lunch time, arts and crafts, field trips and just FUN. Without the normal pressure of putting on “big” shows, camp can be a time for kids to find their confidence onstage and “test the waters” if you will, while experiencing how awesome theater can be. Spring and summer breaks are more laid- back, as they WELL should be, considering how our children have to self-regulate so much on a daily basis as school. This laid-back attitude translates into theater camp as well, making it a wonderful introductory experience.

Many parents like to rotate their weeks in the summer and introduce their kids to lots of different activities. If this is you, then you should definitely put theater in the mix. Even if your child leans more toward sports or science, give them the opportunity to improve their communication skills and learn the great art of storytelling through theater camp. I can guarantee you, they will love it, jazz hands and all.