Screaming children, exhausted counselors, thunderous chants, and creative expression characterized the organized chaos of ARTS Camp 2016. Taking place the first week of summer, the annual camp admitted children from kindergarten through seventh grade who wished to explore their artistic talents in a multitude of different areas. It provided students with an immersive experience; their day was packed with attending classes that mimic the various majors at Dreyfoos, punctuated only by snack and recreation times.

“Our days [at ARTS Camp] were incredibly busy and tiring, yet so rewarding,” head counselor and vocal alumni Hadley Bouchlas said. “You have to always be energetic and full of life; you have to participate in all the activities and try to be a role model for the kids. It’s definitely a lot of work, especially since the camp spans from the early morning all the way to early evening. Yet, I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything: watching the kids have fun, delve into their artistic abilities, and discover their passions and interests is one of the most fulfilling feelings.”

Children were categorized by age into six “star groups” named after different colors. The students were guided by Dreyfoos student counselors, who were assigned to star groups in a 1:1 camper-counselor ratio. Furthermore, two head counselors were appointed to each group to facilitate the daily activities and foster organization. Throughout the day, the various groups experienced what it is like to attend communications, digital media, theatre, visual, dance, and music classes. Dreyfoos students acted as teachers and created lesson plans for each group’s classes.

“I would say that there’s different challenges associated with being a counselor or a teacher,” visual teacher and alumni Jailine Cano said. “As a teacher, you constantly have to come up with new material to keep the children entertained and engaged. Also, a crucial component of the role is organization. At the end of the week, we have to organize all the art that each individual camper has completed throughout the whole week and give it to them in a cute little gift bag; however, doing this for over 200 campers is no easy task. But despite the struggles, seeing the kids smile truly made every second of my time at ARTS Camp worth it.”

At the end of the camp, a showcase was put on to display all that the campers have learned throughout the week. Each star group performed a dance routine, a brief theatre presentation, and a music piece in front of an audience that consisted of staff, friends, and family. Furthermore, digital media teacher and senior Joe DiRienzo put together a video that showed campers and counselors interacting, children with wide grins that lit up their youthful faces, and the creative activities that they’d engaged in during their time at ARTS Camp.

“It was amazing to perform with the kids; they brightened up the entire room with their endless energy and spirit,” visual alumni and counselor Victoria Pouille said. “Getting the kids to practice their routines was a bit of a challenge, and backstage at the show it was difficult to organize the kids into a single-file line and get them on stage at such a rapid pace. However, difficulties aside, I think that the showcase unfolded beautifully. This is my last year doing ARTS Camp, and when we all sat down to watch the video that [DiRienzo] created, I realized just how much I would miss being a counselor.”

Furthermore, ARTS Camp bred a sense of teamwork, friendship, and unity that won’t be forgotten. From playing double-dutch to singing chants to performing routines together, the camp gave both students and campers the opportunity to experience mutual growth and form strong bonds with one another.

“[Bonding with campers] was probably my favorite aspect of the whole camp,” theatre alumni and counselor Alyssa Gates said. “Even though it was only a week, I grew to really adore the campers in my star group and I learned so much about them and myself. One of my campers aspires to be a nurse like her mom, because she saves lives and helps so many people. Another one wants to help develop cancer research because his grandma recently died of breast cancer.”

Essentially, ARTS Camp demanded hard work, dedication, and endless responsibility from its participants, yet it provided a space in which they could develop their artistic talents, recognize their interests, and cultivate friendships that will surely stand the test of time.