The Orpheum Theater Group recently announced that its June summer camps and intensives (Rising Star Camp, Broadway Boot Camp, and Mending Hearts Camp) will return this summer on a digital platform. The theater group’s innovative camp directors and professional artists will utilize Zoom technology to provide campers with interactive classes that will bring creativity, community, and collaboration directly into their homes.
“During this uncertain time, the young people and communities we serve remain at the forefront of our mission,” says Jennifer McGrath, vice president of education and community engagement. “While we may not be able to gather in person, these strategically created online camps are highly interactive and are designed to build confidence, make space for students to express themselves, and maintain a sense of community — all of which is crucial to their growth and processing of this unique time.”
The Virtual Rising Star camp for students entering grades 3-5 and the Virtual Broadway Boot Camp for children entering grades 6-8 are designed to instill confidence in children while they develop skills in the performing arts through week-long classes in acting, movement, storytelling, and music.
“Our summer camps are about so much more than performance skills,” says McGrath. “Our camps are designed to build confidence, foster creativity, improve communication and cooperation skills, and provide a sense of belonging through community building. All of these are crucial skills to make empathetic, compassionate, and productive human beings.”
McGrath says that activities through the digital platform may be slightly different from past years but that children will still remain engaged and active through hands-on activities.
“Students will be moving, making noise, singing, creating, and working together to collaborate across cyber space,” she says.
At the culmination of the program, parents are invited to sit in and catch a glimpse of campers sharing what they learned throughout the week.
Click here for more information about the Virtual Broadway Boot camp and here for the Virtual Rising Star Camp.
The Virtual Mending Hearts Camp is suited for children entering grades 6-8 who have experienced the death of one or both parents. Campers will be surrounded by peers who have experienced similar losses, and together, they’ll participate in activities that encourage teamwork and give children an outlet to express themselves and build self-confidence through song, music, dance, poetry, writing/journaling, and more. Children will also hear from adult community leaders about their experiences with the loss of a parent. Campers will then have the opportunity to reflect in small group counseling sessions with professional healing counselors.
“As with all young people, it is important to find a sense of community and belonging and a constructive way to process one’s emotions and express them safely in order to facilitate a journey to coping and healing,” says McGrath. “The performing arts provide healthy tools for young people to express themselves, and surrounding young people with others who have experienced a similar loss helps them feel that they are not alone and shows them that they can continue to live their lives in a productive manner, even with the loss they have experienced.”