The Program...

Playing: July 9th through August 17th
From 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.

Workshop 1:  Leadership

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. 

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:

*   Exploration of Self and Others
*   Body Language
*   Communication and Social Exchange
*   Social Language
*   Emotions and Relationships
*   Peer Issues

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.

Workshop 2:  Drama Techniques

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"). 

Workshop 3:  Film Class

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.

Noon - Lunch and Free Choice

There is a break between two of our workshops.  Then, at noon, the children break for lunch and have many choices including:

*   Outdoor Sports
*   Arts and Crafts (geared for both kids and Teens)
*   Free Choice in the Common Area
*   Trail walks

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.
 

1:00 to 1:45 - Film, Swimming and Free Choice

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.

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

Weekly Outings

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. 

During these less structured times, appropriate interactions among the students will be facilitated by our staff (Social Coaching).

Our 2011, the field trips included:

Live Stage Production of TARZAN
at the North Shore Musical Theatre


Beaches and Boats
 


Mini-Golf, Bumper Boats, and Ice Cream

 
   Exhibits and IMAX show
 
   
Extended Day - Optional

Our Extended Day Program
Our extended Day Program is offered to children who are interested in staying a full day or who are interested in additional workshops.  The afternoon session, includes a variety of workshops and fun activities.

We also offer academic tutoring, speech and language, and occupational therapy services.

Click here to learn more about
EXTENDED DAY

 

 

See trailers from our previous productions:

Click on the Posters Below!

 

Summer 2011

Summer 2010


 

Summer 2009

 

Summer 2008

 

 

 

 

 

Other Information

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.