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Playing: July 9th through August 17thFrom 9am to 2pm each day Optional: Extended day until 5pm! Our program is a pragmatically-based drama workshop that teaches and incorporates the basic elements of pragmatic language, leadership, and team work. We use the powerful art of drama as a tool to teach voice, body language, leadership, and social communication. Each day, the students attend 3 workshops, each with different goals and objectives that promote confidence, leadership, and successful social development.
Our older teens participate in the CIT Program in which they learn skills through "teaching," producing, and modeling. This workshop teaches job and college entry skills (e.g., interviewing), as well as preparation for independent living. Each week one of six core areas are addressed on a daily basis. These areas include:
In addition to our program curriculum goals, our staff members meet everyday after the program to develop and review individual goals for each camper. These goals are discussed with parents/guardians during the third week of our program, and a final progress note is written after the program describing the students goals, progress, and recommendations. We also provide two parent workshops during the summer. Parents are always free to ask for feedback anytime over the summer. The weekly breakdown of the Leadership topics can be viewed here.
In Film Class, the students will be working on their portion of a movie that will be video-taped. This workshop focuses on teaching skills such as group work, negotiation, and leadership, on several different levels. For example, during a rehearsal, our actors work on their lines and how to relay information using body language and the various aspects of voice (e.g., using elements other than volume to relay emotions such as anger, excitement, etc.). They also learn how to be part of a scene where an individual does not have lines, and how to contribute to this scene as a supporting actor though body language... without taking the scene away from those with lines. Every effort is made to give all of our actors the same number of lines. With the exception of a few key characters, all actors have a similar number of lines. Also, while most of the movie is scripted, there are many scenes that are blank and require improvisation. During these scenes our actors, with support, have to work together, negotiate for lines, and include in their scene several important elements to be included in the dialogue. Such elements include information that is important for the audience to follow along (theory of mind and perspective taking), such as context, important clues, and setting the stage for the next scene. At the end of the program, we will have a showing of the movie, "The Premiere" for the actors/actresses and their families with a "Cast Party" afterwards for all!
This year's movie will be a Sixties spoof of The Pink Panther called, "Will the Real Pink Panther Please Stand Up!" In this comedy, Inspector Clouseau will find himself right back in the 1960's, and struggling to solve a mystery amidst a slew of imposters!. Last year, we filmed "Ghostbusters: Cadets in Training!," will be a comedic spoof of Ghostbusters. Other movies from the past years include: The Amazing Rat Race!, Phantom of the Marionette Opera, Winner Take All! (based on the 1970's hit movie, Scavenger Hunt), Clue (an 80's spoof based on the game), The Hogwarts Bunch (a 70's Harry Potter prequel with James and Lily Potter), The Mystery of the Camp Ghost, and The Case of the Missing Twin.
During this time, our counselors act as
"social coaches" and work to ensure all the children are engaged with
each other. They also help the children initiate and sustain
interactions.
On Tuesdays, our campers enjoy indoor swimming. The swimming accommodations at Regis College are wonderful and provides the campers with a great mid-week break. Click here to see what Our Days look like
We also go on weekly outings. Examples of past outings include: A live production of High School Musical, The New England Aquarium, Boating and Canoeing, Boston Duck Tours, Franklin Park Zoo, etc. Our outing for the last week of our program is always Canobie Lake Park.
Our 2011, the field trips included:
Our Extended Day Program We also offer academic tutoring, speech and language, and occupational therapy services. |
See trailers from our previous productions: Click on the Posters
Below! Summer 2011
Summer 2010
Summer 2009
Summer 2008
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The workshop size is limited to 32 children between the ages of 7 and 18. Our staff members and counselors are carefully chosen for their level of study and expertise. Our lead counselors (Leadership, Drama Coach, and Film Director) generally have advanced degrees, are pursuing advanced degrees, or if appropriate, have experience in their chosen area. Our counselors includes students pursuing a career in psychology, drama, education or other related fields. Our camper to staff ratio is a minimum of 4:1. All of our staff member attend a full two-week training prior to camp. Often this is in addition to independent training and experience. Costs: The cost of the regular program is $4,000 for the 6 weeks. This includes admission for the outings. The cost for the extended day program ranges from $444 to $1,800, depending on how many days are attended. Our Peer Model program has limited spacing and different pricing. For more information on this program, please click here.
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The Program...
Our
Leadership Workshop teaches students Confidence,
Leadership, and advanced
Social Skills. While concepts
that help children struggling with social skills are covered, this
workshop was developed to challenge all mainstream children and teens.
Drama and fun age-appropriate activities are carefully chosen to engage
the students. The children
will also participate in a variety of other activities including arts and
crafts, group activities, and outings.
Drama is a powerful tool for
teaching confidence, social skills, body language, and the mechanics of social
interactions. As such, the children receive direct instruction
in Drama Techniques over the course of the summer. Much of the
techniques taught are tied into nonverbal language skills such as physical
expression (e.g., use of space when interacting) and use of voice (e.g.,
relaying emotion with aspects other than volume and rate). These
skills are taught through real acting techniques and acting games.
For example, the students will be doing a piece on Pantomime (body only)
and either Marionette Work or Voice Over (depending on age of camper). The children also receive instruction in improvisation for the purpose of
reading cues from other actors and determining an appropriate manner to
continue the dialogue in a safe manner, non-personal manner (i.e., it is
easier to receive direction as an "actor").
There is a break between two of
our workshops. Then, at noon, the children break for lunch and
have many choices including:
As the children attend film class at
different times in the morning, this final shoot time is reserved
on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays for scenes that may include the whole
group or children who attend Film Class at different times. We
also hold a rehearsal for the next day's scenes during this time.
Children may be in film or rehearsal 1 or 2 times a week. During
the rest of the time, they are free to choose whatever activity they
would like.
During these less structured times, appropriate interactions
among the students will be facilitated by our staff (Social Coaching). 
