Spring has just begun, and while most parents have given next to no thought about what their kids will be doing this summer when school lets out, there are those who know that all the “best” summer camp programs will be full by the end of April. Hopefully, dear reader, you are not a parent who will be scrambling to get their kid registered to be somewhere safe and developmentally stimulating between June and August. There are so many programs available, at least in my area, whether it’s at a commercial daycare center, a public school summer recreation program, outdoors camp, athletic camp, arts camp, public library summer reading program… there’s just no excuse for any student on summer break to be hanging around the house or community with nothing meaningful to do.
But will your child have fun, or will summer feel like two months of study hall? Look around, read the promotional materials. Most programs schedule exciting field trips, lots of craft projects, organized group games, and possibly even a final showcase in August. In my opinion, the best summer camp programs for school-age kids are the ones that have guest performers come in. It may be a talented storyteller, a historic re-enactor, a kid-friendly musical group, a live reptile demonstration, or even a funny magician!
Flabbergast & Friends have been performing shows for summer camp programs since the early 1990’s. We love the energetic atmosphere, free of the rigid schedules and assessment expectations of the school year! On occasion, I’ve even received “thank you” cards for my show made by the kids as a craft project after they’ve seen me. It’s very rewarding to see that not only did I fill an hour of their summer vacation with laughter and amazement, but they also got some inspiration to draw their impressions of the magic show and my puppet friends!
Parents, I want to let you in on a little secret. Shows like mine don’t just kill time for your kids while they wait for school to start back up. Live performance is an educational experience! That’s right. They get a little practice during the school hiatus in attending as a group, practicing active listening skills, showing respect to a visiting presenter, all while being exposed to an art form or cultural element they may not even get to see at school or home. So I am really looking forward to performing at summer camps this year! I hope you are fortunate enough to get your child enrolled in a program that will have Flabbergast as a guest, and I hope that I am fortunate enough to be where your child is participating. Summer of 2024 is going to be the best in years!
Leave a Reply