Child 1 Age 7 - 12 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Musical Theatre, Theatre Arts
Child 2 Age 7 - 9 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Performing Arts (multi), Musical Theatre, Theatre Arts
(5) Overall experience
Since our kids were old enough to attend camp, we’ve tried a wide range and ARTSies is still our number one ranked. Our kids are always excited to attend, they come back each day with stories of the wonderful games and activities played and we see tremendous growth in our kids each year. The show towards the end of the two-week session is the icing on the cake. It’s always jaw-dropping what the kids with the help of the wonderful directors Libby and Joey and their wonderful camp counsellors are able to produce. They also bring in guest teachers during one of those days to change it up and it’s always interesting to hear what they learned and did. All the kids are wonderful and they easily make new friends each year.
(5) Reason for choosing the camp
I first heard of Libby and Joey through other Markham moms (when they were with the city of Markham). This was THE summer camp to sign up for and all parents would be there at 6:59 am waiting to hopefully secure that spot that would fill up in minutes. Originally I was hoping to just give my daughter some on-stage experience (she is introverted and this would be outside her comfort zone). That show I saw a complete transformation and still makes me emotional thinking back. I couldn’t believe how much she grew in just two short weeks. She was so confident on stage, it was surreal. Beyond that, I love that each camp day is never the same, seems the children are engaged every minute and there is so much taught outside of just the theatre/acting. They are grouped based on age so they grow with the camps and as they transition through each group (minis, juniors, inters and then seniors) they learn new skills and experience different things - almost as if it’s a new camp every two years. I would say this is what sets them apart from other camps.
(5) Program quality and activities
The itinerary matched our children’s interest and kids remained highly engaged throughout, exceeding our expectations. The kids enjoyed all the theatre games and activities that would be happening when they weren’t running their scenes in addition to of course being on stage. Each day was something new and best was the night of the show. They would feed our kids and have a movie night until the show was to begin. A great way to relax and have more fun ahead of the show. ARTSies ensured quality and effectiveness by using their many years of experience. They do reach out to parents for feedback after each session but I feel like they probably just get the highest praise from parents.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
Yes, our kids made amazing friends and I also met many new mom friends as a result. There was no bullying and honestly would be the last place I would expect any bullying to take place. It’s truly such a welcoming environment for all. One day my elder daughter had an incident with her best friend (friends since kindergarten) and Libby made sure to contact us to share what had happened. We appreciated that as I’m not sure either of our girls would have shared with us and we were able to use it as a teaching moment as a result.
(5) Skills and growth
Kids got so comfortable on stage even though my elder one is normally very quiet and a wonderful introvert. This translated to really great presentation skills at school and really an ability to get in front of anyone and everyone. In addition, they learned teamwork and cooperation, learned the importance of inclusiveness and acceptance of everyone. Believe that overall they are all pushed a bit out of their comfort zone esp with some of the roles and games they play (esp on day one when there are so many new faces) however it is never forced and kids are able to step back if they’re not quite ready. Again, Libby and Joey do a wonderful job of quickly figuring out what type of challenge each child is ready for.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
100% love the staff and camp counsellors, many of whom were former camp students and now pursuing teaching/theatre/arts etc. Libby and Joey are very informative without it being overwhelming and it’s so nice to have an expectation of what’s to come esp for the new students/parents. They send out the songs so kids can practice at home if they wish (and you’ll quickly get hooked to the catchy songs as well) and send out info every few days via engaging videos. The campers love the camp counsellors who are so much fun and they are reliable which is impressive as some it’s their first or second summer job. They remain engaged with the kids even through the aftercare for those who need the later pickup. Any conflicts between friends are worked through immediately as we have seen so that kids can get back to focusing on having fun and getting ready for the show.
(5) Advice and tips
Whether you think you have a theatre kid or not, there are so many things your child will benefit from, from joining this camp. It’s truly the most inclusive and fun environment and anyone who has a chance to experience this, whether you’re the child or the child’s parent, is truly in for a treat. Libby and Joey are truly one of a kind - they are the most wonderful teachers and are such a great addition to the arts community and community as a whole.
We recently wrapped up our second show with Artsies. Being part of the Artsies family has been fantastic for my kids. Both of them started out very shy, and seeing their growth - getting up on stage s...
My daughter has done five shows with ARTSies and my son just recently joined, as well. I am not one to write reviews, but it just goes to show how incredible Libby, Joey, and the ARTSies family are. T...
After attending a summer performance of Peter Pan, my daughter was instantly drawn to the opportunity to explore performance and creative arts further and after reading some reviews we signed her up.
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