Core Pragmatic concepts (Social Skills Lessons) are taught throughout the day and are related to the drama activities as much a possible.  The children will also participate in a variety of other activities including arts and crafts, group activities, and outings.  Our older teens participate in the Teen Troupe in which they learn skills through "teaching," producing, and modeling.

In addition to our program curriculum goals, our staff members meet everyday after the program to develop and review individual goals for each camper.  These goals are discussed with parents/guardians during the third week of our program, and a final progress note is written after the program describing the students goals, progress, and recommendations.  We also provide two parent workshops during the summer.  Parents are always free to ask for feedback anytime over the summer. 

The weekly breakdown of the pragmatic language topics can be viewed here.

Drama is a powerful tool for teaching social skills, body language, and the mechanics of social interactions.  As such, the children also receive direct instruction in Drama Techniques over the course of the summer.  Much of the techniques taught are tied into nonverbal language skills such as body language (e.g., use of space when interacting) and use of voice (e.g., relaying emotion with aspects other than volume and rate).  These skills are taught through real acting techniques and acting games.  For example, the students will be doing a piece on Pantomime (Body Only) and either Marionette Work or Voice Over (depending on age of camper).  The children also receive instruction in improvisation for the purpose of reading cues from other actors and determining an appropriate manner to continue the dialogue in a safe manner, non-personal manner (i.e., it is easier to receive direction as an "actor"). 

Also, in Filming Class the children will be working on their portion of a movie that will be video-taped.  This class works on several different skills.  For example, during a rehearsal, our actors work on their lines and how to relay information using body language and the various aspects of voice (e.g., using elements other than volume to relay emotions such as anger, excitement, etc.).  They also learn how to be part of a scene where an individual does not have lines, and how to contribute to this scene as a supporting actor though body language... without taking the scene away from those with lines.  Every effort is made to give all of our actors the same number of lines.  With the exception of a few key characters, all actors have a similar number of lines.

Also, while most of the movie is scripted, there are many scenes that are blank and require improvisation.  During these scenes our actors, with support, have to work together, negotiate for lines, and include in their scene several important elements to be included in the dialogue.  Such elements include information that is important for the audience to follow along (theory of mind and perspective taking), such as context, important clues, and setting the stage for the next scene. 

At the end of the program, we will have a showing of the movie, "The Premiere" for the actors/actresses and their families with a "Cast Party" afterwards for all!

This year's movie, Winner Takes All, will be a comedy around the effects of a large scale "Scavenger Hunt."  Last year, we filmed a 50 minute comedic 80's spoof based on the game of Clue.  The year before, we filmed a 70's Harry Potter prequel, called The Hogwarts Bunch.  The movie setting was Hogwarts in the 70's and Harry's parents, James and Lily were students at Hogwarts, and they were on the trail of Professor Riddle (aka Lord Voldermort) in search of a Horcrux.  The mystery of "Where is the Horcrux?" was not solved until the final scene was released during the last week of camp, giving all of our actors an opportunity to solve the mystery to win the Sleuth prize.