Noozhawk’s ParentNooz Camp Guide is officially here and designed to simplify your summer planning for your child!
To empower parents with the necessary resources to make informed decisions regarding summer camps in Santa Barbara, we’ve engaged in insightful interviews with representatives from various local programs for this year’s comprehensive Summer Camp Guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Matthew Tavianini, Managing Director at Boxtales Theatre Company to learn more about the summer programs they are offering this year.
Boxtales Theatre Company
Question: What is the name of your camp or program, and what is its primary focus?
Answer: Training in Acting, Storytelling, Acro-Yoga, Mime, Music, and collaboration. This camp stimulates minds, encourages teamwork, builds character, and develops self-esteem.
This year’s YOUTH campers will create an original stage production of PINOCCHIO.
This year’s TEEN campers will create an original stage production of THE RAMAYANA.
Q: How long have you been running the program? Do you have any professional accreditations or certifications?
A: Boxtales has been around since 1994. The company has been running its theatre camp program since 2010. Our staff is comprised of professional actors and musicians from the local community with degrees in theater and music.
Q: What specific goals or objectives will participants be working towards during their time at the camp?
A: Boxtales 3-week Summer Camps are an opportunity to go deeper into our unique method. We work for 6 hours a day Monday through Thursday and 3 hours on Friday, and while having a ton of fun, the work tends to be focused and disciplined. The camp includes training in Acting, Storytelling, Acro-Yoga, Mime, Music, and Collaboration. In addition, the camp staff teaches theatre skills found in various multicultural performance traditions.
We collaborate with the campers to create a completely original play, based on a myth or folktale. This happens at the Marjorie Luke Theatre, in Santa Barbara, one of the only camps in Santa Barbara that offers kids a rare opportunity and a powerful experience, working in the professional environment of this beautiful theatre.
Q: Can you describe the educational components integrated into your program?
A: To create an environment where students can learn discipline, take risks, master new skills, and overcome their fears. To create an environment where kids develop self-esteem, confidence, and optimism. To create a supportive, collaborative environment children learn compassion, tolerance, and how to work creatively with others to solve problems.
Q: What is the daily schedule like, including activities, meals, and rest periods?
A: A typical day would consist of:
- Arrival and Check-in
- Warm Up
- First Lesson/Skill Building/Play Creation
- Break
- Second Lesson/Skill Building/Play Creation
- Lunch
- Story Time
- Third Lesson/Play Staging/Play Rehearsal
- Break
- Fourth Lesson/Play Staging/Play Rehearsal
Q: What is the typical age range of campers who attend your programs?
A: Ages 9-13 for our YOUTH camp.
Ages 14-19 for our TEEN camp.
Q: Do you offer full day and 1/2 day options?
A: We do not offer 1/2 day options.
Q: What are your policies regarding staff background checks, training, and the child-to-staff ratio? How do you ensure the safety and well-being of campers?
A: All of our staff, have been vetted with background checks and fingerprinting by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s County Office.
We believe in limiting the size of our camps so that we can keep the staff-to-student ratio very low. We don’t use student camp counselors as we prefer to have all adults working with the campers. Also, the staff at the Marjorie Luke are all adults and trained to deal with any emergencies at the theatre.
The campers are always working in the theatre and under the supervision of at least one but typically 3 adults at any given time. At lunch, the campers eat lunch together with the staff outdoors in the quad area behind the Marjorie Luke Theatre. Campers are not allowed to leave any of these areas during camp hours.
Q: What is the cost of attending your camp, and do you offer any financial assistance or scholarships?
A: The cost for attending our camp is $850 for 3 weeks. We have a limited number of scholarships available.
Q: Is there anything you would like to share about your program that was not already mentioned above?
A: Our storytelling training helps us shape the story in the most compelling way for our audience. We work on the arc of the narrative, identify and hone the core or “essence” of the message, and how to make it clear and vivid. Clarifying why your audience should care, and share your excitement, make it matter, make it fascinating, make it meaningful, and make it fun. We believe that to be successful at anything in life, storytelling is essential!
Generally, we see that young people learn a great deal about themselves through these programs. The fun, artistic atmosphere allows us to challenge them more than they are used to, and in that challenge they find how far their resolve goes, how they perform under pressure, that they have previously undiscovered leadership skills, as well as a host of other character-defining qualities.
Click here to learn more about Boxtales Theatre Company!