Trust, Confidence & Accountability

I am overwhelmed with how amazing our StarQuest campers are! Their sense of teamwork and loving-kindness towards themselves and one another has really shown through this week. One the many self-affirming teachable moments we infuse into our StarQuest camp is a daily group affirmation which is randomly chosen by one camper, but shared with the entire camp. We start our day off with this tradition along with our award of the day to build the confidence of our inner dialogue and to help us see the light in ourselves and others. This coupled with our overall camp culture is creating our StarQuest magic! The trust they are building in themselves and each other has boosted everyone’s confidence to try new things, make new friends, take creative risks and has given them the freedom to have fun!

One of our camp motto’s this summer is “You Are Capable of Amazing Things!” This is something we instill in our stars while showing them that their “sparkle” shines inside and outside. We try and give them the space desired to figure things out on their own, while gaining assurance within their choices through positive feedback from all our camp counselors and specialists. We also keep each other accountable to our words and actions because we are learning how powerful we really are! Through all of this… we are strengthening our ability to work as an ensemble through reinforcing our trust and confidence in ourselves and each other.

Here’s the Inside Scoop

The second week of camp is a complete “growth” week! As our campers get acquainted with their “High School Musical” roles, they are getting into the groove and expanding their skill sets within the morning classes.

Our special activities of the week emphasized the beauty of working together: Acting workshop with Broadway Star Jeremy Landon Hays, Hip-Hop workshop, improv games, singing group songs, talent show, rock fest, daily meditation moments, and our fabulous Friday tradition – appreciation circle.

Voice

  • We put the finishing touches on “Sweet Child O Mine” from Guns and Roses, so we could Rock our Music Video.
  • We started learning “A Million Dreams” from the Greatest Showman to perform next week. We assigned small groups to sing various sections.
  • We are becoming Broadway Stars as we memorize and rehearse our High School Musical JR show music!

Acting

  • We worked on breathing and projection. Two important components of acting.
  • We worked on finding our correct posture.
  • We played improv scenes and had pick your favorite acting game day!

Dance

  • We learned a surprise dance to “Star Shine” an original song created for StarQuest written by Nathan Tabor a J Staff Member.
  • We learned a hip hop dance to “Shut It Down” by Drake and a lyrical dance to the song “Liability” by Lorde. Exposing our campers to various forms of dance has been not only fun but a great learning experience.
  • We talked how the steps in a dance don’t matter as much as our intention and connection with the music. We as a performer create a story that is inspired by the lyrics and/or music of a song and then our job is to embody the story with our movements.

Rehearsals

We are moving and grooving in rehearsal. We are making so much progress this week. We’ve blocked almost a third of the show, learned different vocal harmonies in the show’s big numbers with Ms. Kristin, and memorized choreography with Ms. Skylar! We’ve also added dialogue within the script so every cast member has a special moment in the show. The magic in the show is already evident. Well done!

Workshop of the Week: Acting with Broadway Star Jeremy Landon Hays

This was a huge hit! Our campers had so much fun. Each group read the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll to spark our creative interpretation of a story based on the poem. The freedom of creativity was limitless as each camper created and acted out their character embodying a range of voice and physicality to work together to perform their “story”. What a great way to learn the in’s and outs of character development, improv, teamwork, and so much more!!! This workshop was a real treat, to have the opportunity for our campers to learn from someone as talented and experienced as Jeremy Landon Hays. We learned so much!

Costume Fittings are on Monday Morning!

This is our only time for fittings. Please do not be absent and please remember to bring the costume items I sent out earlier in the week. Please check your inbox for an email with the subject line: StarQuest Costume Time – High School Music.

Conversation Starter

Ask your camper how their hip-hop workshop went? Ask about the “special bracelets” given out during our morning pow-wow and what they represent. Ask about our affirmation cards? Ask about lunches spent watching and learning about the Tony’s. Ask them about trying new things in dance, and how it made them feel. Ask them how dress-up-as-your-favorite-character day was. Ask them about their vision board? And, you can’t forget to ask them if they enjoyed this week’s talent show or our special rock fest song singing “Sweet Child O Mine’ by Guns and Roses.

Big Announcements, Dates & More

High School Musical JR. | Wednesday, June 29 at 6 pm – Zale Auditorium

Every child will be given 2 complimentary tickets for their family and friends. We want the house to be packed for our campers. Tickets are on sale now! Tell your friends to come and support Camp StarQuest! Your complimentary tickets will be waiting for you at Will Call on the day of the performance. Click here to purchase tickets!

** Please remember how critical it is for your children to be here for all rehearsals. Since our time is limited to get this show up on its feet, strive for being present for all of it. At every rehearsal campers will be learning new numbers.

Tech Week

Tech rehearsals begin next Thursday. Below is the schedule.

Tech Schedule

  • Thursday, June 24 (afternoon mics, lights, projections)
  • Friday, June 25 (afternoon)
  • Monday, June 27 (all day)
  • Tuesday, June 28 (all day)
  • Wednesday, June 29th (all day) – final performance at 6:00 pm

As mentioned previously, these are mandatory rehearsals for the entire cast, and will take place during camp hours with the exception of Wednesday, June 29, performance day. On Wednesday, June 29, campers will NOT be picked up at the end of the day. They will stay at the JCC until after the performance and go home with you after the show which will end at around 8 pm. We will provide them dinner that evening too.

Your children are shining brightly each and every day! Camp “magic” is happening. Can’t wait for the adventure of Week 3!

This is How We Do It at Camp StarQuest

To see more pictures of our campers and continue to get updates please download the J camp app from the app store, become a friend of our JPAS Facebook page and follow us on Instagram.

Can’t wait to see what happens next week at StarQuest!

Shine Bright,

Alise Robinson
Director Camp StarQuest