By Jenny Wolkowitz
Has your child’s teacher told
you since preschool that she is a gifted artist? Is your son
the next Winton Marsalis? If so, a creative or
performing arts residential program might be just
the ticket for your child this summer.
There are four main options for
arts programs:
* A traditional camp with exceptional arts
* A nontraditional creative camp that emphasizes arts
(rather than land and water sports)
* An arts program in a school-based setting (boarding school
or college campus)
* A single-focused arts program in an artist’s colony or in
a teen camp environment.
These programs can offer a mix of drama,
art, and music, or focus singly on one medium. The offerings
range from puppetry, vocal instruction, dance, visual arts
and creative arts to film making, culinary arts, circus
arts, hip-hop dance, cartooning, fashion design, photography
and more. There are programs on the East and West Coast,
with considerably different flavors. There are many arts
programs in New York and Pennsylvania and some right here in
the Midwest. The programs vary from one to eight
weeks.
When deciding upon an arts program, there
are many considerations. First, you must consider the age of
the child. Younger children (ages 7 – 10) seem to do better
in a general camp. A full day of arts instruction may be too
intense, even at the programs that offer a mix of music,
theater and crafts. For most young children, there should be
something to break up the day, such as sports and games.
Older kids (usually around 11) may have
honed their skill or craft and are looking for something
more focused. While some programs try to cater to all age
groups, other programs are tailored to middle-school-aged
kids and provide nighttime entertainment appropriate only
for that age. And for high school students, you can even
combine your child’s fine arts passion with an academic
enrichment program, including SAT prep or college visits.
The philosophy/culture of the programs and
their directors can differ dramatically from one to the
next. Some programs can be very competitive, hold auditions
and attract the child who is “Broadway bound” or may already
have an agent. Other more relaxed programs appeal to the
less-intense child and emphasize only skill development and
fun. These different philosophies can have a dramatic effect
on your child’s summer. You should feel free to ask the
director if they can provide you with a written statement
reflecting their program philosophy.
Finally, the well-informed parent should
strongly consider the credentials of the specialized camp’s
staff. It is one thing to send a kid to a general camp and
have her take tennis as one of many activities and have that
instructor not be fabulous. But if you’re sending your child
to a focused arts camp, the instructors need to be of high
quality. Some programs rely on college students as their
bunk counselors and specialty instructors. Other camps hire
graduate students and professional artisans.
Jenny Wolkowitz is the
St. Louis consultant for Tips on Trips and Camps. Now the
mother of three children, in her earlier years she was a day
camper, an overnight camper, a counselor, a teen tour
participant and a teen tour leader. She studied abroad in
college and has traveled extensively throughout the world.
For free consultations on camps, please call Jenny
Wolkowitz at (314) 432-8642 or e-mail her at
jenny@tipsontripsandcamps.com
