The Benefits of Theater Camp

The very fact that you've found this post suggests that you already understand that summer camp is a great way to keep young minds fresh. But what makes theater camp one of the most popular choices among parents compared to other types of camp is the hidden educational elements that trick your children into learning new skills they'll use for the rest of their lives under the guise of having a good time.

For instance:

memorization (you've got to remember your lines)

timing (you've got to hit your cues)

leadership and public speaking (you've got to project and engage an audience)

camaraderie (you have no choice but to learn who all the other campers are)

Combine these new life skills with the friends and memories they're going to keep with them for years to come and you've got a recipe for a happier and more active child.

So What's Camp Like?

It's impossible for me to say with certainty how every theatrical summer camp in the world is run, but what I can tell you is that when a summer camp chooses to supplement their camp curriculum with one of our kids theatricals, it's a blast! -- so that even if you don't happen to live in the tri-state area, you can still get a general idea of what to expect. Our Camp Shows are geared around walking the children through the step-by-step process of putting together an actual movie that the kids can then premiere for their parents at the end of camp. During this time, students will work with acting coaches and friends to remember their lines, act and participate in the production of their movie, and be introduced to some of the more technical aspects of theater (for instance, lighting and sound) in a very basic way that kids can comprehend.

An Eye on the Future

While I'm not suggesting that you can go straight from a summer camp to Broadway or Hollywood, what I am telling you is that instilling that seed of interest in the arts does two things: firstly, it feeds the curiosity of your child (a trait which carries over to all parts of life) and, secondly, it has the potential to encourage a child to pursue a career in film production -- a career path that has many branches.

And having the confidence to stand in front of a camera and perform is a life skill that could potentially allow them to someday climb the corporate ladder or persevere as owners of a small business. The memories and associations made at a theatrical summer camp have the potential to have long-reaching effects on the rest of your child's life.

Pen Pals and Other Benefits

Keep in mind, like all summer camps, it has the potential to foster friendships between the campers that could last throughout the year. With the advent of the Internet, it's clear that the days of seeing your friends for one week per year at summer camp are a thing of the past. Using social media, the friends your child makes this year could easily become his or her friends for years or even decades. And technically, there's homework to be done. When the child isn't here with us filming scenes, they'll be at home learning lines and recounting the exciting parts of their day at the dinner table over plates of spaghetti and hot dogs. This turns summer camp into an all-day affair that can be shared by the whole family.

Bringing the Magic of Theater to Summer Camps Across NJ, PA, and DE!

Riddlesbrood Touring Theater Company partners with summer camps throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware to bring the excitement of live performance directly to kids. Our interactive shows and workshops allow campers to experience the inner workings of a real theater, sparking their imaginations and introducing them to the magic of storytelling.

Our instructors are professional actors and theater experts who share their real-world experiences, helping to educate and inspire the next generation of performers, stagehands, and passionate theatergoers. Through engaging performances and hands-on activities, we create an unforgettable experience that blends entertainment with learning. Now more than ever, fostering an appreciation for the arts is essential. With budget cuts impacting arts education in schools, summer camps play a vital role in providing children with meaningful exposure to theater and creative expression. Every opportunity to ignite a love for the arts in young minds is one we should seize.

Want to bring the magic of Riddlesbrood to your camp? Visit our website for more details, or contact us directly at 609-377-9125 to learn how we can customize a performance or workshop for your campers!