The Elora Festival is best known for its Concerts, the Gambrel Barn, and the Grammy-nominated Elora Festival Singers.
But for many young people The Elora Festival stands out for its Summer Kids Camp.
Since 2004, a week during the festival has been dedicated to the camp. Participants from across Canada join under the direction of Emily Petrenko for a musical that is performed on the final day of the camp. Petrenko, a teacher and choir director, loves teaching young people who want to learn about music and drama.
“There’s so little music education in schools these days,” she said. “The Festival Kids Camp offers campers a chance to build self-esteem, develop a love for music and drama, and to meet new friends.”
Some campers, like Kaitlyn Coffey, have been participating since its first year. “I loved the experience so much that this will be my fourth year working as a camp counsellor. As a little girl, it was my favourite part of the summer and still is.”
Grace Holyoke, a camper for five years, “loves having the experience of putting on a performance.”
Artistic director of The Elora Festival Noel Edison, hails the camp “as one of the many ways that we try to give back to the community. Providing direction to young people through music will only help to strengthen our society.”
This year, the Kids Camp will perform Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Kids. A group of 30 campers and 11 staff and volunteers will take part
Campers come from as far as British Columbia and Nova Scotia as well Centre Wellington.
Petrenko anticipates a new age bracket will be added in the near future. Currently, campers must be between the ages of 8 to 13 to participate. She has noticed many teens return to the camp to volunteer or be counsellors.
The camp runs from July 11 to 15 from 9am to 4pm at Elora Public School. Sleeping Beauty Kids is scheduled for July 15 at 4pm at Elora Public School. Tickets are available at the box office 519-846-0331 for $5 for children, and $10 for adults.
Registration is now closed; details for 2012 enrollment and auditions will be posted at www.elorafestival.com next spring.
