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Programs

Discover Theater Summer Camps

Category: Arts, Culture & Humanities - General Arts Education
Beneficiaries: Poor/economically disadvantaged, indigent, general; Children only (5-14 years)
Priority: 2
Budget: $80,000.00

Through Junior Players' tuition-free summer camps, all children ages 7 to 14 are provided with an opportunity to explore their creative potential through the theater arts. In 2010, over 1,200 children enrolled in 50 camps. Our free summer theater camps are our largest program open to the general public and each year they are funded primarily through the private support of local corporations and foundations. With the current recession and economic outlook, we anticipate that some of that private support will be lost and at the same time, the demand for our tuition-free summer programs will increase due to the economic restraints many families are facing.

The summer camps are open to all children ages 7 to 14 from the residential neighborhoods near participating centers. For management purposes, classes are limited to 25 participants on a first come, first serve basis. In addition, Junior Players works closely with the Park and Recreation Department and the Dallas Housing Authority to place camps in areas where we can reach the most children and have a significant impact on their lives. No other arts organization in Dallas provides completely tuition-free programming to all its constituents.
Professional artists from the Dallas community work with the students in daily two-hour classes for the two week camps. Students learn about the various aspects of performing arts and theater arts specifically. Children will play theater games, learn improvisation techniques and develop a presentation for The Festival of Plays, a culminating production that includes multiple camp sites. If possible, a field trip to a professional theater production is an important event in the two week sessions and children in the program receive a free Junior Players t-shirt for their participation.

Definition of long-term success:

To be in a financial position that will allow us to offer the program annually.
To grow the current level of programming so that we can offer more sequential learning opportunities for middle school and high school students.

Definition of short-term success:

To maintain our current level of summer camp programs for low-income youth.
To teach basic theater and performing arts skills to children.
To increase language skills of children ages 7 to 14.
To increase reading comprehension in children ages 7 to 14.
To increase self-esteem and self-confidence.
To provide access to the theater and the arts.

Success monitored by:

A questionnaire specifically designed for the program that is completed by all participants and their parents.
Site visits are made by Junior Players’ Education Specialist, Program Director or the Program Manager to insure guidelines and objectives for the program are being adhered to.

Evidence of success:

Program continues and increases. We continue to see a high level of attendance over multiple years (over 40%). Participants continue on in Junior Players middle school and high school programming.