Author Archives: Circus Smirkus
Interviews with the Camp Counselors
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Elly Craig At Smirkus Camp, counselors do so much more than lead games and supervise the dorms—they help shape a creative, goofy, and growth-filled environment where kids can truly thrive. We sat down with two of our summer counselors, Alevia and Judy, to hear about their favorite moments, funniest surprises, and what makes being part of the Smirkus staff so meaningful. From competitive no-foot-gazing games to rainless rain adventures, their stories offer a joyful peek into the heart of camp life. Alevia – Head Counselor: Q: What is the highlight…
GAME ON! Circus Smirkus Gets Ready to Have Some Fun in Middlebury
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published by the Addison Independent on July 3, 2025 and written by Elsie Lynn Pirini
Out-of-This-World Fun at Smirkus Camp!
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Elly Craig We are fully in the middle of the action now! Let’s take a moment to recap the past few weeks. We kicked off with All Levels 1, welcoming a mix of returning campers and newcomers, some campers who had never been to an overnight camp, and boundless amounts of nerves and excitement. The week was full of firsts—for many, it was their first time walking on a tight wire! Jade Kindar-Martin, world-renowned tightwire walker and all-around circus legend, joined us to teach special wire workshops. His visit was…
The 2025 Big Top Tour: GAME ON! is on the road!
WATCH THIS VIDEO!The 2025 Big Top Tour troupers are on the road! Watch our youth performers in this trailer of the Big Top Tour: GAME ON! Get your tickets at smirkus.org/about-big-top-tour/
15 Sights You Might Discover at Smirkus Camp
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Elly Craig More kids upside down than right side up—handstands, cartwheels, flips, oh my! Banjo the camp dog trotting loyally behind Collin, co-head coach and fearless fixer of all things, as they tackle mysterious projects together. The entire camp dressed to impress for our dinner dress up theme “Fancy On a Boat” —think tiaras, feather boas, and more glitter than a disco ball. Arden (admin assistant) and Charlotte (3 year old honorary staff member) playing very boisterous games involving markers, tutus worn on heads, and having “lots of work to do.” A parade…
The Big Top Tour Opens THIS WEEKEND!
WATCH THIS VIDEO!The 2025 Big Top Tour troupers are about to launch the show! Watch our youth performers as they get ready for their summer tour: GAME ON! Get your tickets at smirkus.org/about-big-top-tour/
Behind the Curtain: Inside the Smirkus Prop Shop
WATCH THIS VIDEO!Meet our lead props maker, TJ Michael and production assistant Kate Grimble, as they share just a little about what it’s like to get props show ready behind the scenes. Get your tickets at smirkus.org/about-big-top-tour/
My First Summer at Smirkus
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Elly Craig This is my very first year at Circus Smirkus, and while I’m here as the photographer and marketing assistant person, I still feel a bit like a camper—excited and full of anticipation to finally arrive at a camp that I dreamed about for much of my life. I first heard about Smirkus as a kid growing up in rural Wisconsin, and imagined a place where circus-loving kids could be wild, weird, and completely themselves. This summer, I finally get to experience it from behind the scenes—and it’s even more…
A Sneak Peek at the 2025 Big Top Tour: GAME ON!
WATCH THIS VIDEO!The 2025 Big Top Tour troupers are getting ready for the show! Watch the kids train and listen to music from the new soundtrack of GAME ON! by trouper alum Aaron Schondorf, our composer. Get your tickets at smirkus.org/about-big-top-tour/
The 2025 Big Top Tour! Off the Charts FUN!
WATCH THIS VIDEO!The 2025 Big Top Tour: GAME ON! will be on tour this summer from June 28-August 17 across states in New England. The troupers have arrived and in creation, preparing for an incredible show filled with aerials, contortion, acrobatics, juggling and much more! Get your tickets at smirkus.org/about-big-top-tour/