Noozhawk’s ParentNooz Camp Guide is officially here and we made sure to make things easy when planning your child’s summer!
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about Summer Camps for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local programs for this year’s Summer Camp Guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Randy Kohn, Owner at Santa Barbara Trapeze Co. to learn more about the summer sessions they are offering this year.
Santa Barbara Trapeze Co.
Question: What is the name of your camp or program?
Answer: Kids Trapeze Camp.
Q: What is the focus of your camp or program?
A: Trapeze Camp: Ages 6-13 | 9 am – 1 pm
This half-day camp is packed full of trapeze and circus activities that culminate in a live showcase for friends and relatives. Daily activities include: Flying Trapeze, Aerial Silks, Aerial Rope, Juggling, Tumbling, Trampoline, and more.
The focus is teamwork and learning skills in a safe, encouraging environment. Everyone will have moments to shine and win. Kids who do circus arts learn focus, discipline, and how to support each other while having the most fun possible.
Q: How many years has the camp been running? Do you have any professional accreditations or certifications?
A: This will be our second season of camp at Plaza Vera Cruz. The senior staff members of Santa Barbara Trapeze have run summer camp programs around the world using the flying trapeze as the centerpiece. All have worked professionally in the field as well.
There are no specific certifications that apply to circus skills. Our team is First Aid/CPR certified and are fully vaccinated.
Q: What goals do you have for kids participating in your camp or program?
A: The kids will learn genuine circus skills during their time at camp. They will be climbing a ladder (in an ascender), learning to swing through the air holding on to a trapeze bar (in a double-belay harness), and learn to land in a controlled way in a big safety net.
As they progress during their stay, they will learn a few tricks on the trapeze (knee-hang, split, whip) which will enable them to let go of the bar and get “caught” by a professional catcher!
This is immensely exciting and gives everyone a great sense of accomplishment. Trapeze is the main event, but as they will need breaks from flying, we will have them learn some ground skills that relate to trapeze and also try some aerial apparatus to learn to move in different ways, adding to their athletic abilities.
They will be learning new skills, most of which are not possible to learn anywhere else, and they often create bonds that last far beyond summer camp. Those 4 hours will definitely wear them out!
Q: Describe a typical day for a child attending your camp or program.
A: A typical day will have a group physical warm up and some getting-to-know-each-other exercises to start. We will break everyone up into groups, generally by ages, and then everyone gets a flying lesson on the ground, based on what they will be learning that day.
We have several complete flying trapeze rigs so everyone will get a lot of turns, though part of the program is to watch and learn and give a round of applause for each kid for what they have attempted. There is a short break for a snack and then a longer break for lunch which everyone will bring along.
There will be other circus activities done in a similar controlled way, small groups working together to learn a skill, then showing that skill to each other. The order of the day can change but the basic pattern is intro, warm-up, snack, lesson #1, lunch, lesson #2, wrap up and find socks and backpacks!
Q: What is the staff to child ratio? Do you require training or background checks for your employees?
A: The camper to counselor ratio ranges between 3:1 and 7:1 depending on the type of activity. All counselors are experienced trapeze performers and instructors. They are background checked and fingerprinted.
The core staff is comprised of people who have worked together for several decades. The trust they have developed is necessary to work in this very detail-oriented job. They all have a background in risk-management and in safety concerns of flying trapeze.
Q: What is the best part, in your opinion, about your camp or program?
A: The best part of Trapeze Camp is the sharing of a sport/art form that brings everyone such joy. There is nothing quite like the look on the face of a kid who has just flown on the trapeze for the first time. It’s exhilarating and great fun. For our team, it’s like giving a gift every day.
Q: In what ways is your camp or program educational?
A: Trapeze Camp is educational in that there are specific skills and a progression of how they are taught and you can track progress fairly easily. The ancillary skills that kids learn are how to work within groups, how to talk to adults about what you need to succeed in a particular movement, and learning to support other kids who may not be learning at the same speed.
Flying is a gentle sport. There is no chance for bullying or physical fighting. It’s a great environment to soar.
Q: What is the age and price range of your camp? Do you offer any scholarships?
A: Age range is 6-13. There is one scholarship offered per every ten students.
Price:
1 week session: $450 per week
4 week session: $400 per week
Non SB City Residents: $495
Click here to learn more about what Santa Barbara Trapeze Co. has to offer!