Each year, the Yocum Institute for Arts Education is pleased to host Summer Arts Connection, a summer-long program that features fun, innovative, and creative camps for ages 2 – 15. Whether it’s “Stealthy Spaghetti and Fruit Ninjas,” “Sheep in a Jeep,” or “Urban Myths and Legends” there is something new for campers to learn and create in one- to three-week, half- or full-day camps.
At the Yocum Institute, acting, dancing, visual art, and music all combine under a weekly theme built to stretch your child’s imagination. Each theme will encourage your child to think actively and engage with the world and their peers in a new way.
For young artists, ages 2 – 3, the Yocum Institute offers our Early Childhood Multi-Arts Camps. Each week, children will explore a beloved children’s book through the mediums of theater, dance, visual art, and music. What can your little artist create as they dance to The Circus Alphabet (June 26 – 30) or explore primary and secondary colors in Mouse Paint (June 19 – 23)? Find out at these half-day camps running from June 12 – August 18.
Campers ages 3 – 10 will participate in our Multi-Arts Camps. The students will work with professional teaching artists as they discover the music and movement of “Atlantis” (August 7 – 11), the drama in “Fantastic Beasts” (July 17 – 21), and the color and light in “Midsummer Dreamcatchers” (June 12 – 16). Whether they explore a half-day session or combine the AM and PM sessions for a full-day adventure, students will work in dance and art studios, in the classroom, on stage, and outdoors. These camps culminate in an end of the week sharing for friends and family to enjoy.
Children and Teens ages 10 – 15 can try their hand at performing in theater performance camps and specialty workshops. These camps range in length (1 – 3 weeks) and many result in performances being held at the Miller Center for the Arts and the Yocum Institute. Want to know how to build an “Escape Room” (August 14 – 18) or create a “Musical in a Week” (June 26 – 30)? Ever thought of trying your hand at “Acting for Film” (June 12 – 16) or penning your own story “Creative Writing” (June 19 – 23)? Then these workshops are perfect for your pre-teen and teenage camper.
A large feature of Yocum Institute’s Summer Arts Connection is the three-week theater workshop, Broadway Jr. Students participating in Broadway Jr will train in dance, voice, and acting. The three-week course will culminate in a fully staged production of Dr. Dolittle Jr. at the Miller Center for the Arts, under the direction of Debbi Silas with Joel Gori, Kristina Dennis, and other theater professionals. Performances of Dr. Dolittle Jr. at the Miller Center are on July 28 (7 p.m.) and July 29 (11 a.m., 3 p.m.). At this time, Broadway Jr’s registration is full. Prospective students who register will be moved to a wait list.
For a full schedule of offered camps, please see institute-of-arts.org. Prices per camp vary. Weekly camps are offered June 12 – August 18 from ages 2 – 15. For ages 3 to 10, there are multi-arts camps. Each week includes two complementary themes. Each camp runs for a half day (9:00 AM – 12:30 PM or 1:00 – 4:30 PM). Campers have the option to pack a lunch and combine the two programs for a full day (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM). The early childhood multi-arts camps (ages 2 – 3) run Monday to Friday from 9:00 – 11:30 AM. The schedule for the theater performance camps and specialty workshops vary.
Go to institute-of-arts.org for more information about scheduling, registration, and costs.
