Camp Activities
Campers get to choose their own schedule from activities in theater, music, visual arts, dance, filmmaking and writing. Each camper takes five activities each day. They take the same five activities for the full camp session, allowing them to build their skills and make friends through art.
How schedules are made:
- Registered campers are emailed an activity selection form.
- Our goal is to give every camper as many of their first choices as possible. Activities are not on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Campers get their schedules on the first day of camp and can change them within the first three days on a space-available basis.
Summer 2023 activities will be posted in May 2023 after our staff is hired. However, our 2022 activities give you a good sense of the number and range of activities we’ll offer in 2023.
2022 Daily Activities
Ages 8-12
Jazz Dance – Mari Andrea
Jazz dance is a vibrant and versatile style of movement which includes leaps, turns, jumps and the entire body. Learn an introduction to multiple styles of jazz including Broadway Jazz, Street Jazz, and Pop Jazz. Come ready to move!
Stop-Motion Animation - Morgan
Before CGI animation there was stop-motion animation. Together, we’ll explore this amazing technique where you can create movement and special effects by capturing many still images per second. Stretch your imagination as you use props, toys, and clay to create unique, animated videos.
Newspaper - Skye
Interview campers! Snap a photo! Doodle a cartoon! Together we’ll come up with a name for the paper, the stories we want to report and the best way to capture all of the things that go on around camp.
Creature Creation - Travis
Do animals interest you? Have you imagined mythical or fantastical creatures? In this Daily we will make art using all kinds of materials inspired by all types of creatures, both real and imaginary.
Improvisation – Dave
Learn the basics of creating theater in the moment, and explore a world of unscripted playtime. Through fun group games try out characters, imagine environments and work with fellow campers to improvise scenes!
Ages 12-15
Musical Theater Solos & Auditions – Grace
Find your authentic voice in the audition room! You will learn how to slate, build a musical theater audition book, interpret a song and confidently audition with two contrasting 16-bar cuts.
Rock Band – Juan Pablo
Experience the creative rush when musicians get together to play. We will jam, learn new songs, develop stage presence and rock out as a band. This Daily is for instrumentalists with some experience. All instruments and voices welcome.
Movie Trailers – Smeeta
Coming this summer! If you go to the movies and the trailers are your favorite part, this Daily is made for you. Learn the basics of pre-production, production and post-production to produce movie trailers that will be ready to be shown at a Camp Arena Stage near you!
Painting – Chloe
Together we will explore different painting styles and media, such as watercolor and acrylic. Learn how to use your imagination and observation skills to capture the world in paint. Develop new skills for observation and application, develop a studio practice and work toward creating a range of paintings.
Devised Theater – Ashley & Mauricio
If you could make a play about anything that would get your community to start important conversations, what would it be? Instead of starting with a script, devised theater starts with the actors in the room and their ideas. Learn how to create evocative, ensemble performance pieces using movement, poetry and personal writing. Arena Stage is nationally and internationally renowned for its devised work and Voices of Now program.
Ages 8-12
Musical Theater – Grace
Feel the joy of musical theater where performers act, sing and dance. We’ll work on vocal and movement basics and put it all together in group numbers from Broadway shows.
Hit It! – Juan Pablo
Just about anything can be used to create rhythm or become a drum! In this Daily explore body percussion and junk percussion. Learn how to make cool beats and rhythms using anything around, from buckets to paper to pens to your chest, legs and feet. Let’s hit it!
Movie Trailers – Smeeta
Coming this summer! If you go to the movies and the trailers are your favorite part, this Daily is made for you. Learn the basics of pre-production, production and post-production to produce movie trailers that will be ready to be shown at a Camp Arena Stage near you!
Shakespeare – Mauricio
Comedy! Tragedy! History! William Shakespeare wrote many different types of plays, and people still love them centuries later. We’ll delve into the world of Shakespeare and have fun learning how to act scenes from his plays through physical movement and exploring language.
Surprise Squad
Shhh…The Surprise Squad is shrouded in mystery and cloaked in awesomeness. In this beloved Camp Arena Stage Daily, take part in one of the greatest arts: planning and practicing acts of art and kindness for our camp community and others.
Ages 12-15
Hip-Hop Dance – Mari Andrea
This hip-hop class will energize your body from head to toe. Hip-hop dance emphasizes movements that are exciting, creative, and oftentimes reflective of pop culture. Each class consists of three sections: a warm-up, an across the floor combination and a dance routine. Learn about hip-hop culture, feel the beat and, most importantly, have fun!
The Trilogy (3-Week Session) or The Two-Part Film (2-Week Session) – Morgan
Cliffhangers! Suspense! What makes people want to binge watch a show? In this Daily, we will create an original, 2- or 3-part film that we will show in installments at the Noontime Show, leaving our audiences hungry for the final episode in the last days of camp.
Improvisation – Dave
Learn the basics of creating theater in the moment and explore a world of unscripted playtime. Through games and the power of saying “Yes and…” to others’ ideas, try out characters, imagine environments and work with fellow campers to improvise scenes.
A Cappella – Keith
Who needs instruments when you’ve got a “pitch perfect” ensemble of singers? Learn to harmonize, provide percussion, hold your own part and work as a tight ensemble as you sing a cappella arrangements of songs.
Ages 8-12
Hip-Hop Dance – Mari Andrea
This hip-hop class that will work your body from head to toe. Hip-hop dance emphasizes movements that are exciting, creative, and oftentimes reflective of pop culture. Each class consists of three sections: a warm-up, an across the floor combination and a dance routine. Learn about hip-hop culture, feel the beat and, most importantly, have fun!
Acting: Retelling Disney – Skye
Have you ever watched a classic kids movie and thought “What if this happened instead?” We’ll try on our writing, directing, and acting hats in this Daily. We’ll choose a classic Disney film, write a bite-size version of it, and learn how to act through taking on a role. This is a great Daily for creative thinkers looking to learn the fundamentals of acting and putting on a stage play.
Painting – Chloe
Mix, brush, smear, spread, splatter! We will explore different painting styles and media, such as watercolor and acrylic, and learn skills to create our own masterpieces! This Daily is perfect for anyone looking to express their imagination in paint.
Solo Voice – Keith
Ever want to be on Broadway? Do you picture yourself on a TV talent show? Come discover music that suits your voice or singing style and learn important singing techniques. At the end you’ll have a performance-ready solo piece that is all you.
Ages 12-15
Musical Theater – Grace
Attention triple threats: build your skills in acting, dancing and singing and create a polished performance. Learn how to take on songs and scenes, working toward group numbers from some of Broadway’s biggest shows.
Film From Pre to Post – Morgan
Lights, camera, short films! In this Daily, we will go through every step of filmmaking including scriptwriting, acting, camera operating, directing, and editing to create one complete, class-made film.
Sculpture - Travis
Design and build work in three dimensions. We will investigate a variety of media and sculpture techniques which will allow you to explore and express your individual style.
Monologues & Auditions – Mauricio
In this Daily, we’re going to home in on what makes you a great performer. We will each work on two monologues: one from a contemporary play and one from Shakespeare. In addition to expert coaching on monologues, you will learn techniques for auditions that involve cold readings, and ways to handle stage fright. You’ll walk out of this Daily ready to book any role. Confidence is key, and together we’ll highlight what makes you a unique talent.
Ages 8-12
Pop Band – Juan Pablo
Experience the creative rush when musicians get together to play. Campers will jam, learn new songs, develop stage presence and rock out as a band. This Daily is for instrumentalists with some experience. All instruments and voices welcome.
Music Video – Smeeta
Audio and visual go hand in hand when it comes to making a music video. We will explore the art of joining the two. We’ll create videos for songs with the possibility of collaborating with other Camp Arena Stage music makers.
Sculpture - Travis
Get ready to get (kind of) messy! A sculpture is a piece of art that you make by carving, shaping or putting things together. Using materials like cardboard, paper mâché and found objects we’ll create 3-D art that can stand on its own.
Acting: Scenes! – Dave
Have you ever pictured yourself in a play? In this Daily, you will learn about teamwork and the acting tools you can use to become different characters and perform on stage! We will learn to work with a script by rehearsing and performing scenes with our fellow actors.
Ages 12-15
Dance Company – Mari Andrea
As an ensemble, we will study ballet, modern, and contemporary dance technique, and learn choreography in preparation for a culminating performance. The goal is to provide students the opportunity to learn various styles of American mainstream dance in a fun, inclusive, and nurturing environment. Some dance experience required.
Drawing – Chloe
How do you become better at drawing? By drawing! We will draw new things every day, experimenting with landscape, still-life, gesture drawing and more. This Daily will focus on growing your practical and imaginative skills as an audience and developing a sketchbook practice.
Acting for the Stage – Mauricio
Want to explore being a serious actor? Learn how to use objectives, obstacles and tactics to create realistic performances. You’ll analyze and perform scenes from modern and contemporary plays and learn to bring honest and believable characters from the page onto the stage.
Solo Voice – Keith
Ever want to be on Broadway? Do you picture yourself on a TV talent show? Come discover music that suits your voice or singing style and learn important singing techniques. At the end you’ll have a performance-ready solo piece that is all you.
Ages 8-12
Movie Styles – Morgan
Action, comedy, drama, fantasy, epic: with so many types of movies, why just pick one kind? That's why in this Daily, each week we will learn about and recreate a specific movie style or “genre,” voted on by the class!
Comics & Cartooning – Chloe
Do you have a story you want to tell? Do you like to draw? Then this Daily is for you! We’ll learn how to write a story through drawing. We’ll create our own worlds, characters and learn more about making comics.
Movie Magic Show Choir – Keith
Get ready to sing and dance your face off in this high energy show choir! The group will perform show-stopping acts and learn how to shine as a group and individuals. We’ll sing songs made popular by favorite movies. (If you can’t get enough of Encanto, we can definitely promise you some Encanto! But which song will it be…).
Acting & Design – Grace
Costumes, props, sets and lights: these are just some of the elements that make a play exciting for an audience. This Daily blends acting on stage and making magic happen backstage. You’ll get to act in a scene and design costumes and props to help bring the story to life.
Ages 12-15
Ukulele & Singing – Juan Pablo
Are you a singer who wants an easy way to accompany yourself? Good news! CAS can teach you how to play this Hawaiian instrument. No ukulele needed! We'll provide it! This relaxing and fun class will focus on learning basic chords that you can use to accompany yourself on your favorite songs. Come sing and strum along with us!
Experimental Film – Smeeta
Experimental filmmakers are willing to learn new techniques and break the rules. The result? Something entirely out of the box. Learn how to tell a story and achieve unique effects using mixed media and non-traditional techniques. This Daily will also focus on editing to structure our films in surprising ways.
CAS Classics: Reimagined – Skye
Reinterpret and reimagine scenes from classic plays. We’ll work as an ensemble to mine the universal theme from the play and communicate that theme with a unique vision of time, place, character and scenario. This Daily culminates in a full performance of the scene.
Abstract Mixed Media – Travis
In this Daily, we’ll use a variety of materials, including paint, textiles, clay, and more, to create abstract artwork that can only be interpreted by the imagination.
Long-Form Improvisation – Dave
Learn the basics of creating theater in the moment and explore a world of unscripted playtime. Learn foundational improv games and then move forward to explore more complex forms and structures.
More Camp Information:
