Welcome back to The Front Row blog, Encore fans. This #TechTuesday, I’m excited to introduce a new series. The staff here at Encore love what we do and deeply believe in the power of theatre to bring happiness, encourage growth, and build friendships…but you hear us share about that quite a bit. Want a fresh take on our programs? Who better to ask than the families that have experienced the camps and put them to the test? Join us over the coming weeks as we hear from some of our recent virtual camp participants!
Encore: Please briefly introduce yourself. What was your family’s previous experience with Encore
prior to this summer, if any?
Dasha: My name is Dasha, and my daughter’s name is Sayuri. Sayuri is seven years old. Before this
summer, Sayuri had attended The Tales of Beatrix Potter classes and a mini-camp (Matilda) during
the school year at Encore.
Encore: If you weren’t already enrolled in an Encore camp, what prompted you to seek out/sign up
for virtual summer camp programming?
Dasha: Because Sayuri had such a great time with Encore during the school year, I enrolled her in an
Encore summer camp, knowing that she would enjoy it. After the pandemic started, I decided that
a virtual summer camp would be a good alternative because I knew I would be studying for the
Bar Exam during the summer.
Encore: What expectations did you have about virtual programming before the camp started?
Dasha: This was our first experience with the online camps, and I did not really know what to expect. I just hoped that the camp would be interactive enough, and Sayuri would enjoy participating in it. I was sure that Encore would be able to successfully transition to an online structure, and I was right. Sayuri enjoyed interacting with her new friends and teachers, playing theatre games, and developing new skills.
Encore: What new skills or lessons did your child learn from their time at camp?
Dasha: Sayuri learned how to participate in an online setting, which will be extremely helpful for an upcoming online school year. Also, she learned how to attend online performances (online etiquette). On top of that, she continued developing her acting, singing, and dancing skills.
Encore: Are there any key moments from your student’s virtual camp experience that particularly stand out in your memory (a favorite song they learned, a new friend they made, etc.)?
Dasha: Sayuri enjoyed that Encore camps included some of her favorite musicals. The favorite songs she
learned were “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins and “A Million Dreams” from The
Greatest Showman.
Encore: Any words of advice to future virtual participants/their families?
Dasha: Your child(ren) will enjoy how interactive Encore’s camps/classes are. Encore will provide the structure and support your family needs while attending the virtual camps/classes. During the breaks, I recommend going for a walk outside when possible to get the sunshine/vitamin D. Otherwise, Encore provides plenty of activities for the children to be active (dancing, theatre games, etc.) Also, I recommend setting up a routine: treat a virtual camp the same way you would treat an in-person camp: set up a morning routine and make sure you child(ren) dress comfortably and properly. It will help your child(ren) start their day right and set their mind to enjoy Encore’s fun activities.
Many thanks to Dasha and Sayuri for sharing about their experiences with Encore’s virtual summer camps this year. We can’t wait to see you in our programs again soon! Has this interview piqued your interest? You’re in luck: Encore has three more weeks of virtual summer programming available this year. There’s still time to join in on the fun – we look forward to seeing you on Zoom!
Virtual Summer Camps for August
It’s Elementary (ages 5-9)
August 17-21, 2020 – Laugh Out Loud
August 24-28, 2020 – Around the World in 5 Days
August 31-September 4, 2020 – Under the Sea
Scenes for Tweens (ages 8-12)
August 17-21, 2020 – Improv-a-thon
August 24-28, 2020 – Summer Nights Live
August 31 – September 4, 2020 – Movie Mash-Up
Photos by Cindy Kane Photography. Additional photos contributed by Encore participants. Graphic design by Aileen Pangan Christian and Aimee Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.