Summer Camp 2006
This year’s camp was different from previous ones as we experimented with new ideas. We introduced the children to the backstage of performing arts so they could become active participants in creating puppet shows. There were too many stories to chose from and eventually, breaking tradition with previous performances, we chose and opera. For most of us, operas are complex and hard to modify into a camp performance, luckily we had professional help. Anna Panti (Link to Anna Panti) from the Hungarian Opera was our distinguished guest who “translated” Mozart’s Magic Flute to a version accessible to all the children and called it The Magic Piccolo.
Another innovation, based on past year experiences, was that we operated the camp only for the eight and older age group during the week. This way, it was easier to find volunteers and our indoor facilities were less crowded. We knew it from experience, how challenging it is to keep the attention of preteens and small children in one group. The little ones were involved over the weekend as audience for the puppet shows.
Weekday mornings the boys and girls learned about the elements of opera and about the life of Mozart with musical demonstrations, and of course were working hard on their upcoming performance in The Magic Piccolo with funny lines, or even singing some parts.
On the weekend, The Magic Flute was met with great approval by parents and young siblings and was topped by another performance by two enthusiastic grown ups who staged the folktale “The Musicians of Bremen”. The youngsters were truly immersed in the performance as it was apparent by their genuine worries about the characters. The organizers felt a great deal of accomplishment as a result of this passionate interest.
The last day of camp was spent at the Presbyterian congregation’s annual picnic in Hume Park, New Westminster. All ages participated in the obstacle course and athletic team competitions.
This year’s camp was different from previous ones as we experimented with new ideas. We introduced the children to the backstage of performing arts so they could become active participants in creating puppet shows. There were too many stories to chose from and eventually, breaking tradition with previous performances, we chose and opera. For most of us, operas are complex and hard to modify into a camp performance, luckily we had professional help. Anna Panti (Link to Anna Panti) from the Hungarian Opera was our distinguished guest who “translated” Mozart’s Magic Flute to a version accessible to all the children and called it The Magic Piccolo.
Another innovation, based on past year experiences, was that we operated the camp only for the eight and older age group during the week. This way, it was easier to find volunteers and our indoor facilities were less crowded. We knew it from experience, how challenging it is to keep the attention of preteens and small children in one group. The little ones were involved over the weekend as audience for the puppet shows.
Weekday mornings the boys and girls learned about the elements of opera and about the life of Mozart with musical demonstrations, and of course were working hard on their upcoming performance in The Magic Piccolo with funny lines, or even singing some parts.
On the weekend, The Magic Flute was met with great approval by parents and young siblings and was topped by another performance by two enthusiastic grown ups who staged the folktale “The Musicians of Bremen”. The youngsters were truly immersed in the performance as it was apparent by their genuine worries about the characters. The organizers felt a great deal of accomplishment as a result of this passionate interest.
The last day of camp was spent at the Presbyterian congregation’s annual picnic in Hume Park, New Westminster. All ages participated in the obstacle course and athletic team competitions.