A thank you letter to camp we just had to share!
Posted by centauri in Arts Camps, Centauri Arts Camp, Centauri Summer Arts Camp., Ontario Camps, canadian summer camp on July 28, 2010
Thought we would share a lovely letter we just received (edited to remove names)
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Hi Craig and Julie
There’s nothing in Camper Handbooks that tell you how to deal with withdrawal from camp. There’s always advice on what to do if your child will be homesick, but nothing about the child who wants to spend the entire summer at camp. She cried all the way home, and I think that finally, today, she has turned the corner and stopped crying about missing camp.
I have never seen her so emotional. She had a fantastic time this year at Centauri, and we thank you and your staff for running such a wonderful place for arts-minded kids. She continues to talk about all the fun activities and the amazing food, and has been in touch with some of the campers via email. She loved every minute of camp and she’s already planning for next summer.
Thank you!!
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I love my job!
Nature at Centauri Summer Arts Camp…
Posted by centauri in Centauri Summer Arts Camp., articles about summer camp on July 26, 2010
Some of you may be thinking that because we’re not located in Nothern Ontario, we’re lacking in nature here at Centauri – well, nothing could be further from the truth! Our property includes a river, two ponds, a meadow, woodland and a marsh area, so wildlife abounds. On one pond, we have a pair of muskrats, and some of our photographers recently had a close encounter with them. The other pond is well stocked with fish, and therefore is a favourite haunt of a pair of herons. We regularly see dozens of Canada Geese sitting on the banks, as well as frogs and toads as big as a fist! In the morning, the field behind the dorms are full of red wing blackbirds – easily over a hundred of them, if you count their young. Meanwhile, on the roofs of the dorm buildings there are dozens of tree swallows. We have a red tailed hawk that regularly perches on the top of the trees, flocks of bright yellow goldfinches, and a silent cluster of deer that stand along the treeline at dawn. Last session, two mourning doves nested in the eaves of Brant. The campers got to watch them feed their babies. The little ones have flown the nest now, and the parents are busy preparing their nest for the next clutch.
So this may not be Northern Ontario, but we certainly have a lot of nature to appreciate!
Julie
Session 2, 2010 photos
Posted by centauri in Centauri Arts Camp, Centauri Summer Arts Camp. on July 24, 2010
New photos have just been added for session 2, 2010, including photos of the Viking banquet!
Session Two is now Underway!
Posted by centauri in Centauri Summer Arts Camp. on July 21, 2010
We have another fantastic group of campers. Our first night evening program was the kind of event that goes down in camp history – Double Dare! Dorms competed against one another in water games for the first half of the evening, and then assembled on the field to watch the winners – B3 – complete various food-related challenges in order to win prizes for themselves and the entire camp. The challenges were completely gross – which had the entire camp cheering and groaning in seconds, and was a great way to build camp spirit. The ‘human caesar salad’ involved a slip-and-slide covered in lettuce and salad dressing. At one station, campers had to head butt eggs. At another, campers became ‘human sundaes’ with ice cream, chocolate sauce, sprinkles and whipped cream poured ove their heads. The B3 ‘performers’ and the rest of the camp had a fantastic time. At the end of the evening, the winning dorm had secured breakfast in bed for themselves, and the entire camp can look forward to a prize of smores at a bedtime campfire.
Last night we had a combined spirit supper and evening program in which we celebrated ‘GLEE’ All dorms worked on numbers to perform, and the finale was a special presentation by all our program directors.
Everyone has settled in well, and camp is harmonious right now. The weather is warm, but not baking hot. We’re looking forward to a day trip to the theatre in two days, and to a water park tomorrow. This afternoon’s elective workshops include Special Effects Makeup, Stage Combat with Found Weapons, Improvisation, Musical Theatre Dance, Short Story Creation and Photography/Film. There’s never a dull moment!!
Session One, 2010 goes out with a BANG!
Posted by centauri in Arts Camps, Centauri Arts Camp, Centauri Summer Arts Camp., canadian summer camp on July 20, 2010
Presentation Day was fantastic, with shows happening all over camp – stage combat (superheroes) in the rock garden, a fantastic, interactive art display in two locations, as well as the premiere of our session one films, and multiple stage shows. Our campers went home very happy… we lost count of the parents who stopped by to say a huge thank you before leaving with their child. Camp was quiet that night, with all of us conserving our energy for the start of the next session – yet the phone did not stop ringing with parents attempting to re-booked session one campers for later in the summer! Session One was a fantastic start to the season and we’re now looking forward to session number two!
Check out the photos and videos at www.centauriartscamp.com/media/Galleries/2010
Julie
Summer Camp: a Different Way to Be Connected!
Posted by centauri in Arts Camps, Ontario Camps, articles about summer camp, overnight camp, teen camp on July 19, 2010
There’s a new challenge facing overnight camps these days. For our teens, it’s harder than ever before to leave behind their technologies, and immerse themselves in social interactions that are ‘face to face’ rather than over the internet. The average teen in North America sends and receives 200 text messages a day, something they can’t do at camp. They are constantly in touch with the mini-dramas occurring in the lives of their friends – who has split up with who, and which friends are arguing. ‘Turning off’ this constant barrage of ‘issues’ in their peer groups is a challenge when they come to overnight camp.
So what can we do to help, as camp directors, camp staff, parents and guardians? The direct social interaction that camp offers is more important than ever before. All we can do is reassure our kids that their friends will still be there when they get home. And hope that social media and text messaging do not become a reason for them to lose out on all the fabulous experiences that sleep-over camp can offer.
Any thoughts from our families? Please share them. We often hear kids tell us it’s hard to be away from the mini-dramas they share in on Facebook. But sleep-over camp can offer so much more than a summer spend interacting online. When I watch our campers share together in an arts workshop, an important group discussion, a night star-gazing, a moment celebrating new achievements, or a meal of singing and dancing together… well, you get the idea.
Julie
Session 1, 2010 new photos available!
Posted by centauri in Centauri Summer Arts Camp. on July 16, 2010
We have just uploaded the final photos from session 1, 2010 at Centauri Arts Camp. There are some great photos of the Stage combat camps, Musical Theatre, Dance, Fine Art, Theatre, Playwriting and Performance, and many more!
The photos are available at http://www.centauriartscamp.com/media/Galleries/2010/
There are also a few video clips on our youtube video page at www.youtube.com/centauricamp
Our First Banquet of the summer…
Posted by centauri in Centauri Summer Arts Camp. on July 10, 2010
Cultural Banquet Day is a big event at Centauri… and yesterday was ‘it’! We celebrated China. Campers learned Chinese watercolour technique, and took a workshop on how to make Chinese dumplings (many of our campers have the recipe and want to try it again at home!). We learned Mandarin, and played games to discover how to use chopsticks. Campers also helped with the construction of a giant Chinese dragon!
Then, the banquet. With the dining hall decorated as a Chinese banqueting hall, we wore red for good luck, and ate lemon chicken, ginger beef, sesame tofu, rice noodles, Asian soup and much more. We had a parade of famous figures from Chinese history, and learned a song in Mandarin. Once dinner was eaten, campers took cultural ‘experiences’ such as Tai Chi and ‘making Chinese candy’.
Then, the Grand Finale. In our big theatre, campers waited in anticipation in mysterious red light, while others entered underneath our spectacular Chinese dragon. We banged drums while the dragon danced. It looked amazing! Finally, the evening ended with the telling of a traditional Chinese folk story, accompanied by traditional folk music.
A terrific day was had by all.
The mood here is fantastic right now. So positive and upbeat. The campers are leaping onto their chairs and singing in the dining hall whenever we play a song they know. ALL the dorms are harmonious. It’s wonderful. Everything we love about camp. Happy kids learning new skills, making new friends and discovering more about themselves, in an environment where they can be inspired, excited and creative. It doesn’t get more perfect than that!
Julie
Centauri Arts Camp – THE BATMAN EXTRAVAGANZA!!!
Posted by centauri in Camp Events, Centauri Summer Arts Camp. on July 9, 2010
Over the past couple of days we’ve celebrated one of the biggest festivals of the summer, and the ‘big’ festival of session one! Camp became Gotham City… And we began with a spectacular mass-breakout of the villains in Arkam, while the campers cheered and hooted. Then, they turned around to see Batman waiting for the villains on the dorm porch… With the sun setting behind him! GASP!!! Hard to believe it was Evan in costume!
The Batman Festival was a day-long role-playing adventure in which every single camper became a citizen of Gotham, and got to pit themselves against the villains… The Riddler, Poison Ivy, The Joker, and more. We banded together in an attempt to prevent the ‘villains’ from stealing parts of a powerful ancient artifact hidden all over Gotham City. It was pretty hot, so we broke in the middle of the aftenoon for water games… Then proceeded with a ‘formal’ meal in Wayne Mansion, and a final face-off between the villains and Batman! In an awesome ’staged’ combat sequence, the villains were finally defeated and good was restored to the world.
After a day of cheering, plotting, creating characters and living in an exciting imaginary world full of villains and heroes, everyone was tired. The day ended differently for each dorm group, with a relaxing, extended bedtime program. Some groups went stargazing. Others watched a movie together. A fabulous time was had by all.
Julie
Centauri Arts Camp – Batman Festival Photos !
Posted by centauri in Arts Camps on July 7, 2010
Bat Man Festival Photos are now up at
http://www.centauriartscamp.com/media/Galleries/2010/