School’s out and everyone’s happy! But after the initial excitement wears off, summer can quickly turn into three months of boredom. To help your kids avoid “summer lag,” add a twist to their usual routine with these fun and creative day camps.
Circus Camp
Finally, it’s okay to let your kids run away with the circus. Circus Camp, that is. Taught by professional performers, Circus Camp introduces children to circus, visual and performing arts in a safe, fun and non-competitive environment. For campers with previous experience, there’s Advanced Aerial Camp and Extreme Magic Camp; both run concurrently with the general camp. Advanced Aerial Camp is open to ages 8 and older and focuses on advanced aerial skills, fitness, athletic ability, balance, strength and flexibility. Extreme Magic Camp (ages 9 and up) introduces campers to advanced concepts in magic, including sleight of hand, stage technique and showmanship, while teaching them to work with assistants and perform grand illusions. Experience is preferred, but not required. Circus Camp runs from June 1 – Aug. 6 at two locations — Dunwoody and Decatur — and is open to children ages 5 and up. For more information, visit circuscamp.org or call 404-370-0001.
Museum of Design Atlanta
Looking to engage the budding artist under your roof? CampMODA is the place to be. For eight weeks, kids (ages 6 to 12) can put their creativity to work with sessions such as EnviroCoke, where campers create alternative uses for repurposed materials supplied from The Coca-Cola Company; jewelry making, which incorporates various media (wire, bead, thread, etc.) to make a range of jewelry pieces; and Lego building, where campers explore the design relationships of form and function. Camp runs from June 7—July 26. For more information, visit museumofdesign.org/camp.
Alliance Camp
Encourage your little thespians with high energy acting camps at the Alliance Theatre. Campers, grades 2-12, will have the chance to explore various elements of theater through a range of mini camps/workshops. Camps include sessions in performing arts, musical theater, camera technique, advanced scene study and more; workshops feature themes such as “Dive into Disney” and “Middle School Mania.” In addition to the sessions, older campers (ages 16+) also can become teaching assistants. For more information, visit alliancetheatre.org.
Camp Broadway
A star is born every day at Camp Broadway! Sponsored by the Fox Theatre, Camp Broadway is a weeklong (June 21-25) performing arts camp that teaches youth (ages 11-17) to sing, dance and act. Taught by New York Broadway professionals, the camp is designed to develop the camper’s performance abilities, increase self-esteem, encourage creativity and enhance their appreciation for the arts. In addition to attending a Broadway show at The Fox, campers will create an original skit and perform various songs and dances from select Broadway shows in a final presentation. For more information, visit foxtheatre.org or call 404-881-2087.
Ailey Camp
For one month each summer, the Fox Theatre also hosts the only AileyCamp in the south. Founded in 1989 by Alvin Ailey and the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, the camp is a nationally acclaimed dance program for youth. Unlike other Ailey establishments, AileyCamp isn’t a training ground for professionals dancers. Instead, the program uses dance as a way of developing self-esteem, self-discipline, creative expression and critical-thinking skills among inner-city junior high school students. Varied dance instruction is combined with personal development classes that focus on nutrition counseling, conflict resolution, drug abuse prevention, decision-making and goal setting. *There are no spaces available for Ailey Camp 2010. However, for more information, or to get an early start for next year, visit foxtheatre.org.
