How to Choose a Summer Theatre Camp for Kids

A good summer theatre camp can give a child confidence, friends and a love of performing that lasts for years. A poor fit can leave them bored or overwhelmed. With so many options, from half-day drama clubs to intensive musical theatre programmes, it helps to know what to look for. This guide uses the camps and classes Apple Hill Playhouse ran over two decades as real-world examples of what good programmes offer.

Why theatre camp is worth considering

Theatre camp teaches more than acting. Children learn to speak clearly in front of others, to listen, to take direction and to work towards a shared deadline. Apple Hill's camp descriptions put this plainly: its Let's Make a Show course aimed to mesh individual acting, singing and dancing skills into an ensemble performance that stressed responsibility, reliability, commitment and cooperation. Those are qualities that help children well beyond the stage.

Camp can also be a low-pressure first step. A child who is not ready to audition for a full production can try singing, dancing and acting alongside others of the same age, often finishing with a short show for family and friends.

1. Match the camp to your child's age

The most important question is whether the programme is designed for your child's age group. Look at how Apple Hill's Summerfun Theatre School organised its classes around 2000 to 2005:

• Summersong (ages 4 to 6): an hour and a half a day, three days a week for two weeks, using songs, dances, games, stories and fingerplays to introduce ideas such as pitch, beat and rhyme.
• Movin' On Up (ages 6 to 9): two hours a day for two weeks, working from an elementary musical script so children experience putting on a real show.
• Spotlight (ages 8 to 12): four hours a day for three weeks, creating a short musical from start to finish, with some backstage experience.
• Curtain Up! (ages 13 to 19): an evening intensive on the building blocks of theatre, including movement, music and drama.

The pattern is sensible: short, play-based sessions for the youngest, and longer, more demanding work as children grow. A four-year-old in a four-hour rehearsal day, or a fourteen-year-old in a class of six-year-olds, is unlikely to thrive.

2. Look at the daily schedule and length

Half-day camps suit younger children and families who want the afternoon free. Apple Hill's later camps ran from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, in two-week sessions, while its teen programme ran for four hours a day. Check the start and finish times, whether early drop-off is available, and how long each session lasts. Two weeks is enough to put together a short show; a three- or four-week programme allows for more ambitious material.

3. Find out who teaches

Ask about the instructors' backgrounds and whether they work regularly with young people. Apple Hill's classes were taught by teachers experienced in music, acting and dance. In its later years the camps were led by a director who also worked as a teaching artist with a professional Pittsburgh theatre, alongside a musical director. Good camps are usually happy to tell you who will be in the room.

It is also reasonable to ask about the ratio of staff to children, whether helpers are adults or older students, and what safeguarding checks are in place.

4. Understand the final performance

Most theatre camps end with a performance, but the style varies. Apple Hill's younger camps presented a short musical on the main stage for an invited audience, with students helping to create their own costumes, props, programmes and set pieces. The teen programme ended with a cabaret-style show of songs and scenes chosen to suit the interests and strengths of the group.

Ask how parts are assigned, whether every child has a moment to shine, and how much time goes on rehearsal compared with games and skills work. Some families prefer a polished final show; others prefer a camp focused on process and fun. Neither is wrong, but it helps to know which you are signing up for.

5. Check what you need to provide

Some camps supply everything, while others ask families to help with costumes or props. Apple Hill's Let's Make a Show asked students to provide or create their own costumes and props, using materials at the playhouse or from home. That can be part of the fun, but it is worth knowing in advance. Also check whether children need packed lunches, water bottles, comfortable shoes or clothes that can get paint on them.

6. Compare costs, deposits and discounts

Camp fees vary widely. For reference, Apple Hill's 2009 camp for ages 6 to 12 cost $135, or $110 with early registration, and its teen programme cost $200, or $175 early. By 2014 the younger camp was $175 with a non-refundable deposit. When comparing prices today, ask:

• Is there an early-registration discount or a sibling discount?
• Is the deposit refundable if your plans change?
• Are there extra charges for tickets to the final show, T-shirts or scripts?
• Are scholarships or payment plans available?

7. Visit the venue if you can

A camp held in a real theatre gives children a taste of the stage, the wings and the dressing rooms. Many community theatres also use church halls, schools or community centres, as Apple Hill sometimes did for its classes. Either can work well. What matters is that the space is safe, comfortable in summer heat and suitable for movement and singing.

Questions to ask before you book

• What age range is this session for, and how many children will attend?
• Who are the instructors, and what is the staff-to-child ratio?
• What does a typical day look like?
• Will there be a performance, and where?
• What should my child bring or prepare?
• What is the policy on missed days, illness or refunds?
• Is there a next step, such as advanced classes, auditions or apprenticeships?

Beyond camp

If your child loves camp, there are natural next steps. Children's theatre auditions, like those held for Apple Hill's Johnny Appleseed Children's Theatre, often cast young actors. Teenagers who prefer backstage work may enjoy an apprenticeship; our guide to theatre apprenticeships for teens explains what to expect. When audition season comes round, our audition tips will help them prepare.

Conclusion

The best summer theatre camp is one that fits your child's age, temperament and interests, is run by experienced, caring staff and leaves them excited to come back. Use the questions above, compare a few options and trust your child's enthusiasm. To see how one community theatre shaped its camps over the years, browse Apple Hill's theatre classes and camps archive.