SAXTONS RIVER — Main Street Arts is offering four unique camps in June and August, including printmaking, puppetry, theater for teens, and its popular arts exploratory camp.
Printmaking with professional printer Clare Adams for ages 6 through 9 will meet Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 20, 21, and 22 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Adams will teach the basics of mono-printing using stencils and layering with nontoxic, water-based inks. Students will collaborate on a group wall hanging and take home individual creations. The fee is $65.
Shoshana Bass of Sandglass Theater will direct Puppet Camp for ages 8 through 12 the week of June 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fee is $240.
Participants will build a variety of simple puppets of different sizes, embellish them with character and costume, and learn techniques for animating the puppets and creating a story for them. At the end of the week, there will be an informal showing for friends and family to celebrate the week of puppetry. In addition to puppetry, there will be group-building games and focusing exercises to get the creative energy flowing.
For children in sixth through 12th grade who are interested in theater, Dominic DeBenedetto, most recently seen as Peter in the Main Street Arts production of Jesus Christ Superstar, will lead Your Voice: Expression through Theater the week of Aug. 6 for ages 6 through 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a performance Friday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. The fee is $230.
The camp will be an original, student-composed performance straight play, not a musical, though there may be music incorporated depending on the students' interests and talents. The original poetry collection called Voices We Hear in the Hall that is centered on teen issues will serve as inspiration. More information can be found at voiceswehearinthehall.org.
DeBenedetto hold a master's in education and has taught eighth grade English at Keene Middle School for 11 years and has worked at summer camps and similar programs for the past 15 years teaching writing, literature, and drama.
Rounding out the summer will be arts, crafts, and games led by JoAnne Russo and Bradie Harris the week of Aug. 13 for ages 6 through 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. The fee is $120.
Campers will unleash their creativity and explore all sorts of projects, including drawing, sculpting, design, exploring the outdoors, singing songs and playing games. Activities include sun prints, papier-mâché, fairy houses, making journals, and other creative crafts.
Russo is an artist and basket maker who has led the camp for several years.
Further information and registration information is available at mainstreetarts.org or by contacting MSA at (802) 869-2960 or [email protected].
Now in its 30th year, Main Street Arts is a catalyst for arts and community, fostering creative expression through artistic experiences accessible to all.