It’s Not Just Finger-Paints Anymore..
Choosing an Arts Program for Your Child
Has your child’s teacher told you
since preschool that she is a gifted artist? Is your son the next Winton
Marsalis? If so, a creative or performing arts residential program
might be just the ticket for your child this summer.
There are four main options for arts programs:
* A traditional camp with exceptional arts
* A nontraditional creative camp that emphasizes arts (rather than land
and water sports)
* An arts program in a school-based setting (boarding school or college
campus)
* A single-focused arts program in an artist’s colony or in a
teen camp environment.
These programs can offer a mix of drama, art, and music,
or focus singly on one medium. The offerings range from puppetry, vocal
instruction, dance, visual arts and creative arts to film making, culinary
arts, circus arts, hip-hop dance, cartooning, fashion design, photography
and more. There are programs on the East and West Coast, with considerably
different flavors. There are many arts programs in New York and Pennsylvania
and some right here in the Midwest. The programs vary from one
to eight weeks.
When deciding upon an arts program, there are many considerations.
First, you must consider the age of the child. Younger children (ages
7 – 10) seem to do better in a general camp. A full day of arts
instruction may be too intense, even at the programs that offer a mix
of music, theater and crafts. For most young children, there should
be something to break up the day, such as sports and games.
Older kids (usually around 11) may have honed their
skill or craft and are looking for something more focused. While some
programs try to cater to all age groups, other programs are tailored
to middle-school-aged kids and provide nighttime entertainment appropriate
only for that age. And for high school students, you can even combine
your child’s fine arts passion with an academic enrichment program,
including SAT prep or college visits.
The philosophy/culture of the programs and their directors
can differ dramatically from one to the next. Some programs can be very
competitive, hold auditions and attract the child who is “Broadway
bound” or may already have an agent. Other more relaxed programs
appeal to the less-intense child and emphasize only skill development
and fun. These different philosophies can have a dramatic effect on
your child’s summer. You should feel free to ask the director
if they can provide you with a written statement reflecting their program
philosophy.
Finally, the well-informed parent should strongly consider
the credentials of the specialized camp’s staff. It is one thing
to send a kid to a general camp and have her take tennis as one of many
activities and have that instructor not be fabulous. But if you’re
sending your child to a focused arts camp, the instructors need to be
of high quality. Some programs rely on college students as their bunk
counselors and specialty instructors. Other camps hire graduate students
and professional artisans.
Jenny Wolkowitz is the St. Louis consultant
for Tips on Trips and Camps. Now the mother of three children, in her
earlier years she was a day camper, an overnight camper, a counselor,
a teen tour participant and a teen tour leader. She studied abroad in
college and has traveled extensively throughout the world.
For free consultations on camps, please call Jenny Wolkowitz
at (314) 432-8642 or e-mail her at jenny@tipsontripsandcamps.com
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