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summer arts camp

Chris O'Connor, Camp Director: 860-678-1867 ext 102

Summer Arts Camp

Located at The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, CT

2008 Dates

Session One: June 30 - July 11 (no camp 7/4)
Session Two: July 14 - 25
Session Three: July 28 - August 8
Session Four: August 11 - 22

9:00am-4:00pm

What parents and families say about Summer Arts Camp:

"My child couldn't pick a favorite acitivty! He loves the variety; the classes were all so different from a typical summer camp."

"This was a phenomenal alternative to my son's typical sports camps. We saw a whole new side of him emerge."

"Your daily schedule is perfect. I never heard the word 'boring'."

"This is an excellent, well-organized, diverse program. I thought it was an excellent camp."

"I loved how super-organized this camp was and how staff always knew where the campers were. I felt that this was a safe place."

Summer Arts Camp daily Schedule

9:00 Morning Greeting and Sign In
9:15–10:05 Period 1
10:10–11:00 Period 2
11:05–11:55 Period 3
12:00–12:30 Lunch
12:35–1:05 Mid-Day Show
1:10–1:55 X-Period
2:00–2:50 Period 4
2:55–3:45 Period 5
3:50 Afternoon Announcements
4:00 Sign Out and Good bye

Contact Chris O'Connor with questions at
860-678-1867 ext 102 or email chrisoconnor@fvac.net.
Be sure to include "SAC" in the subject heading of the email.

Summer Arts Camp Information

Summer Arts Camp is two weeks of daily classes in visual arts, ceramics, photography, theatre, dance, and music that cover a range of topics within each discipline. Classes are small and organized by age group or topic. An additional recreation period is offered after lunch each day. Girls and boys aged 7 - 15 gain artistic and social skills as instructors focus on the learning process as well as final works of art.

The Registration Process

Register by calling 860.678.1867 ext 102 or download a camp registration form. Once your regsitration is complete, including a 50% tuition deposit, you can expect a registration packet in the mail within one week.

The registration packet is full of information for Summer Arts Camp families including schedules, allergy and medical forms, contact information and, most importantly, detailed course descriptions and a course selection sheet.

Note that all course selections are first-come first-serve. The State of CT mandates that we can not have classes of more than 12 campers. The best way to get the courses your child wants is to be prompt in returning the selection form, which can be mailed in separately from the rest of the packet materials.
The Summer Arts Camp staff puts a lot of thought into our curriculum to ensure that all Summer Arts Camp classes are engaging, fun and exciting learning experiences.

Summer Arts Camp 2008 Courses

Period One

POP-UP MURALS (grades 2 – 5)
Instructor: Kathy Good
Leave your mark at Summer Arts Camp in a BIG way! Create a life-sized mural with a subject chosen by the class such as outer space, at the zoo or In the Jungle. Three-dimensional effects will be achieved through painting, collage, stuffing and crinkling mixed materials.

LEARNING TO DRAW (all ages)
Instructor: Paula Billups
For the artist who wishes to begin at the beginning, or just brush up on some basics. Using a variety of media including charcoal, pencil, pen & ink, crayon and colored pens campers will gain a world of drawing instruction. Work from your imagination, props in the classroom and learn great techniques to create realistic and creative pieces that will impress your pals.

WHEEL THROWING AND HAND-BUILDING: (4th grade and up)
Instructor: Julie Dunn
Foster your creative spirit with clay! In this class you will have the opportunity to experience throwing pots on the potters’ wheel. Learn to center your piece and then use your hands, provided tools and sponges to create a vessel. You’ll also work with your hands as you design tiles, masks and other projects from slabs of clay. Glaze and decorate all of your pieces as well.

DIGITAL DARKROOM MAGIC (all ages)
Instructor: Bethany Altschwager
A new twist on a Summer Arts Camp classic! Black and white photography isn’t limited to the darkroom. Take black and white pictures with your digital camera. Learn how to enhance your photos using photoshop. Create black and white images to polish and display or use digital tools to make crazy contorted, avant-garde masterpieces. Students will need a digital camera for this class beginning on the second day of the session.

IMPROVISATIONAL ACTING II (6th grade and up)
Instructor: Theatre Staff
In this fast-paced, high energy Summer Arts Camp favorite, work with your peers to participate and then build on improvisation exercises. Unleash your potential and improve your improve by learning more difficult exercises and skills that have made stars out of actors from Saturday Night Live to Whose Line Is It Anyway? Find out what happens when you make it up as you go along. No experience is required – just come and have a good time.

NAMASTE (all ages)
Instructor: Amy Nesbitt
The word “yoga” literally refers to the connection of mind, body and spirit. This class will study Vinyasas (poses), the use of breath and meditation to open the creative center. This class is an excellent way to begin your day at Summer Arts Camp and open yourself to all of the creative energy that will fill your day.

THE SINGER AND THE SONG (grades 2 – 5)
Instructor: Rick Stanton
In this class you will learn and perform a medley of fun, hip tunes with easy-to-learn melodies. We will learn the songs as an ensemble and then stage them for a live audience. In addition, participants will learn skills needed to sing with ease and confidence. Be heard! No experience necessary. This is a perfect class for those of you who belt it out in the shower or backseat.

Period Two

ANOTHER USE FOR FROZEN FISH (all ages)
Instructor: Kathy Good
This is a printmaking extravaganza done the creative way! We’ll learn the process of monotype, a form of printmaking done on a plate that allows for lots of experimentation while you learn trace additive and subtractive processes. When we’re done experimenting, we’ll use anything and everything – including frozen flounders – to make more prints!

PUPPET JAM (all ages)
Instructor: Paula Billups
Let’s put on a show; a puppet show! We will create a puppet show from the ground up. Campers will conceive, write, cast and perform a puppet show and then design and build our own puppet characters. If you could imagine yourself as anything, what would YOU be?

JEWELRYMAKING (5th grade and up)
Instructor: Julie Dunn
Learn fundamental skills to make your own beautiful and creative jewelry. Using pattern beading and wire bending techniques create necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

SPLAT! CREATIONS IN CLAY (grades 2 – 5)
Instructor: Julie Peacock
Use your hands to make crazy, fun creatures and gargoyles, or beads for jewelry and more out of clay! We will decorate these with textures and glazed to make awesome creations. When camp ends, you’ll bring home a piece to display in your room or even play with.

DIARAMARAMA (6th grade and up)
Instructor: Bethany Altschwager
Construct three-dimensional worlds or scenes using your own digital photographs and drawings. Put your face in outer space, at the beach or show yourself as a giant standing on top of buildings and foothills. Students will need a digital camera for this class beginning on the second day of the session. Also beginning on the second day of the session, students in this class should wear closed-toed shoes and sunscreen because this class goes outside when possible.

FUNKY FRESH (grades 2 – 5)
Instructor: Amy Nesbitt
This course is an introduction to the newest and hottest dance moves! Never danced before? That doesn’t matter! Learn a vocabulary of moves to use with your favorite songs, including some traditional dance basics you’ll be excited about performing on Open Arts Day! If you like to move (or can’t sit still) and have an interest in hip-hop dance, this class is for you!

SONGWRITERS’ WORKSHOP (6th grade and up)
Instructor: Rick Stanton
In this class you will tap into your creative energies and compose original pieces of music which will be performed for a live audience. You will learn how to take an idea, poem or vision and transform it into lyrics complete with melody lines and chord structure. It’s a take-home experience that will enable to you keep on writing music long after camp ends. No experience necessary: just come and have a good time!

Period Three

DIY FOR THE ART JUNKIE (5th grade and up)
Instructor: Kathy Good
In the words of Shel Silverstein, It’s “a tree-house, a free house a secret you and me house.” Here’s your chance to design and build your own amazing tree house. Using sturdy branches, found materials and balsa wood we’ll construct miniature tree houses. We will hike outside to collect some objects for our creations, so beginning on the second day of the session, students in this class should wear closed-toed shoes and sunscreen. When we’re done with our tree houses we’ll move on to houses of cards, life-sized cardboard forts, skyscrapers and castles.

LANDSCAPE PAINTING OUTDOORS (4th grade and up)
Instructor: Paula Billups
This class will work outdoors to draw and paint in nature, using watercolors. After covering basic techniques and concepts for working outdoors, we will spend the rest of the session in the field. Learn to recreate on paper the fabulous views of the country surrounding the Ethel Walker School. Beginning on the second day of the session, students in this class should wear closed-toed shoes and sunscreen.

LET’S MAKE A BIG MESS: COLLAGE AND MIXED MEDIA (all ages)
Instructor: Julie Dunn
Combine painting, paper, glue, found objects and all kinds of stuff to make some truly creative pieces of artwork! We’ll learn basic design concepts and use our new skills to transform and/or create picture frames, altered photos and much more.

WHEEL THROWING AND HAND BUILDING (4th grade and up)
Instructor: Julie Peacock
Foster your creative spirit with clay! In this class you will have the opportunity to experience throwing pots on the potters’ wheel. Learn to center your piece and then use your hands, provided tools and sponges to create a vessel. You’ll also work with your hands as you design tiles, masks and other projects from slabs of clay. Glaze and decorate all of your pieces as well.

STORYTELLING THROUGH THEATRE (grades 2 – 5)
Instructor: Theatre Staff
Did you have a crazy dream last night? Have you always thought that a lot of Fairy Tales would be more fun if the princess ran away with an iguana? Did something so funny happen to you at soccer practice that you just have to share the story? Use any story you’re heard, seen, experienced or made up. Work in a team and learn how to stage your story for performance. You’ll also pick up some acting skills on this wild ride.

MUSICAL THEATRE SHOWCASE (all ages)
Instructor: Rick Stanton
Do you enjoy Broadway musicals? How’d YOU like to stand under those lights? This class is an exercise in storytelling through music. Using a song selection taken from a modern musical, you will learn the basics of singing-acting a musical text and dynamic movement while improving your performance skills and confidence in a fun, focused environment. No experience necessary: just come and enjoy yourself.

Period Four

GO! PAINT IT FAST! (all ages)
Instructor: Kathy Good
It’s like learning to use the force. At a glance, trust what you see and recreate it quickly and with expression on paper using brilliant colors and texture. This class focuses on confidence building and trusting what you see using memory games, art history, impast (thick paint), palette knife painting and more. You’ll come away with a series of representational paintings and an invaluable skill: faith in your own work.

MAKE AND BREAK MY FACE (6th grade and up)
Instructor: Laura Sohre
This class will begin with a focus on experimenting with and mastering the proportions and landmarks of the human face using traditional artists’ drawing materials. Then we’ll shake things up and break from realism to create more emotional, expressive portraits of the human face. Use you artists’ eye to draw it as it is, and then re-create it as you see it!

IT’S ALL ABOUT ME! (grades 2 – 5)
Instructor: Bethany Altschwager
The focus in this class is YOU! Using a photograph if yourself, you’ll manipulate the image to show the world the real you. What represents you? What makes you happy? Who are you… really?

ACTING FROM A SCRIPT (6th grade and up)
Instructor: Theatre Staff
This class provides instruction in acting basics and steps that take a piece of theatre from the page to the stage. It is designed for those who want to study acting in a more structured or serious way. We will cover basic methods of approaching acting and use simple scripts and scenes to practice and fine-tune our abilities.

GLOBAL DANCE PARTY (4th grade and up)
Instructor: Amy Nesbitt
Learn elements of several styles and then, in small groups, choose one style to focus on for small group performances. This class will cover movement elements found in African and Latin Dance. Learn samba, salsa, meringue and bacchata steps.

SOLO SINGING (all ages)
Instructor: Rick Stanton
For the singer who’d like to take their interest and passion to the next level. Working as an ensemble, participants will learn a song selected from contemporary music. Once the song is learned, participants will be given specific lyrics and melody lines to develop and call their own, creating a montage to be performed for a live audience. No experience is needed: only the desire to sing and shine.

Period Five

CATCHING AIR (all ages)
Instructor: Paula Billups
It sways and swings! Create art that comes alive in the breeze! Build your own stabiles, mobiles and original structures that will be created using a wide variety of materials.

THE BOOK OF… (all ages)
Instructor: Laura Sohre
Learn the process of book-making, illumination and assembly. First, we’ll work as a team in factory or assembly-mine style to grow comfortable with the process. After our first book is complete, we’ll work individually to make a second book of our very own.

BUILD ME UP (all ages)
Instructor: Julie Peacock
This class covers everything you can do with clay using your hands. We’ll use coil and slab methods to create masks, wall hangings, tiles, small birdhouses and even ideas more experienced campers might dream up! We’ll finish them all off with fun colors and glazes.

WHAT’S YOUR STORY? (all ages)
Instructor: Bethany Altschwager
Everybody has a story. Here’s a chance for the visual artist to tell theirs. Write your own fairy tale, epic comic, personal memoir, etc. and illustrate it with your own digital photographs and pictures. Come away with your own story book and the know-how to illustrate an idea or storyline through imagery. Students will need a digital camera for this class beginning on the second day of the session.

IMPROVISATIONAL ACTING I (grades 2 – 5)
Instructor: Theatre Staff
Did you know that you can learn concepts of acting and dramatic expression by playing games and laughing a lot? You can! In this class we’ll use a variety of exercises and our own creativity to see what happens when we don’t know what’s going to happen! Campers will work with their peers to utilize improvisational methods that will teach confidence and quick thinking on their feet.

BREAKIN’ STOMPIN’ KRUNKIN’ (6th grade and up)
Instructor: Amy Nesbitt
Do you watch music videos and think, “I can do that!” Of course you can. Learn the latest dance moves and styles along with traditional dance stretches and combos. Put it all together and create your own choreographed routine that will be performed for an audience. We’ll fine tune your moves by working on phrasing, timing and movement control while having a blast!

Costs and Policies

One Session: $599
One Session, FVAC Member: $540
Second Child, Same Camp Session: $540
Same Child, Additional Session: $540
Session One Holiday Rate (no camp 7/4/08): $525
Ethel Walker School Lunch Plan: $65
FVAC Membership (due in full): $50

On June 1st, camp tuition fess will be increased by a $25 administrative fee.
Payment for registrations after June 1st is due in full.

For cancellations made on or before June 1,
payment will be refunded less a $75 administrative fee.

For cancellations made after June 1,
payment will be refunded less 50% tuition total.

Membership is optional, non-refundable and due in full at time of registration.

Stay tuned to www.fvac.net/programs/SummerArtsCamp.shtml
to learn more camp news, registration notes and incentives
and what fun, exciting and creative stuff is in store for
Summer Arts Camp 2008!