A Performing Arts Summer Camp With a Purpose

For parents who are still looking for a summer camp for their kids, "The Moral of the Story" may be the answer for you.

Lois Chisolm, the founder and president of The Melanie Thorton Youth Arts Foundation Inc. in Lilburn, calls it a "performing arts summer camp program with a purpose" because it goes above and beyond simply getting kids into theatre. There's an underlying moral message that kids take away from it with the stories they tell. 

Chisolm, who runs theatre programs at the Lilburn Cultural Arts Center, said she felt compelled to help the young community after seeing multiple media reports of youth substance abuse and teens committing suicide because of bullying early last year.

"How can do what we do and help them learn [life lessons] at the same?" she said. "How can we do it in such a way where the kids aren't like, 'Oh god, they're lecturing me again'?"

The idea clicked while reading literary classics: She realized they are filled with morals that could be applied to the issues teens struggle with today.

So she came up with the idea to let kids read a classic, pick a moral in the story that speaks to them, and then recreate a new story based on that moral that they will perform at the end of the program.

"This is a way that they learn about it," she said. "They focus on the theatre piece. They're not even conscious of the learning part. "

The foundation did a dry-run of the camp last summer at Lilburn's art center simply as a performing arts program. Chisolm realized it worked, so she repackaged the camp this year and gave it a name: "The Moral of the Story."

This June, Meadowcreek High School will be hosting the four-week camp since it has a full theatre for the kids to use. The program is open to children ages 8 to 15, and high school juniors and seniors are welcome to participate as camp leaders at no charge. The program also is open to campers with special needs, including deaf and hard of hearing.

For their literary classic, the campers will be reading Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," which Chisolm views as a classic bullying story.

In addition to the "purpose" aspect of the camp, a full-scale performance, drama training and drama games are the primary components of the program. Camp classes and rehearsals provide training in acting, dancing, improvisation, stage makeup, singing, set design and construction, and of course, musical theatre. Learn more about this year's program here.

"The Moral of the Story" runs from June 3 through June 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Meadowcreek High, located at 4455 Steve Reynolds Blvd. in Norcross. Prices range from $700 and up for non-members, but Patch readers can receive a 50 percent discount. Just register online here by May 20 and type in "The Patch" in the message box.

For more information, visit The Melanie Thornton Youth Arts Foundation Inc. summer camps website at www.foundationforyoutharts.org/camps/summercampdetails.html, email the foundation at info@foundationforyoutharts.org or call 404-865-1292.

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