Advanced Camp is Underway
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Camp Communications Associate Hilary Packard The second week of our advanced camp is well underway! The energy is high as we start rehearsals for all three shows that will happen at the end of the session! Our individuals program has been working hard on their acts as well as their character work with games like So You Think You Can Aerial Dance. Ensemble has entered rehearsal week with renewed passion as the theme was announced just a few days ago, I will leave the theme a surprise for now, and minds are buzzing with story…
Now I KNOW I want to do Circus
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Camp Communications Associate Sojourn Gudorf Johnston “I thought I wanted to do circus, but now I KNOW I want to do circus.” Another inspiring Camp Smirkus session has concluded! Session 3 campers shared their talents, creativity, and excitement with us for two weeks, and with their parents in their final showcase. The campers used this opportunity to showcase what they worked on during Session 3. They voiced their ideas and collaborated on selecting what they wanted to present to their adults. The past week was packed full of fun activities such as Family Feud night,…
Props, Pies, Rubber Chickens? Oh My!
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Camp Communications Associate Sojourn Gudorf Johnston This week’s blog highlight is Clowning! Clowning is a magical gift that magnifies a version of a character by emphasizing relatable mistakes and allows you to find the humor in these everyday activities. It encourages us to laugh at ourselves. There is actually ‘Clown Logic’. This technique explores the silly nature of how a clown thinks through a situation, usually in a very unpractical way. In the clowning tent at Smirkus Camp, campers learn how to develop their character and express their creativity though a variety of games, exercises,…
And today…We Do Circus!
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Camp Communications Associate Sojourn Gudorf Johnston Session 2 concluded the very busy week with a successful and highly entertaining show! In only 3 days, the coaches and campers undertook the project of creating a show. This meant all hands-on deck; which involved learning all aspects of a circus performance, from rigging, to prop handling, to performing. Each act demonstrated and highlighted the campers’ talents, while also showing off their newly acquired skills. From the exciting pre-show unicycle act, to the hilarious opening clowning act, through the energetic and upbeat closing act, every moment was a…
Flip, Fly and Focus on Acro!
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Camp Communications Associate Sojourn Gudorf Johnston Our second session of the summer was a 2-week All Levels Circus Camp. Campers participated and shared in Smirkus Camp fun this week and are looking forward to one more week in the session. During the second week, the campers and coaches will begin working on their end of session show. Speaking of shows… the campers had the delight of watching the dress rehearsal of 2022 Big Top Tour: On The Road Again. It was brilliant and inspiring to observe the outcome of training and hard work. It also created…
Session One Smirkus Camp is Wrap!
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Camp Communications Associate Sojourn Gudorf Johnston 6 days, 77 campers, and countless smiles later, Session One is complete! Each morning began with a group warm-up, then off to morning rotations of: Acro, Clowning, Aerial, and Juggling. After lunch, campers participated in activities/game time, and Trick of the Day (performed by one of the coaches), and choice rotations. Choice rotations changed daily, and included: hula-hooping, water spitting, Chinese pole, trapeze, aerial meditation, clown stunts, tumbling, and more. The campers expressed their personalities through dinner dress-ups, with themes including Hats!, It Came From Under the Bed, When…
What Does Circus Smirkus Mean to You?
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Camp Communications Associate Sojourn Gudorf Johnston “Smirkus is the mud and the magic!” “It’s a safe environment to be challenged.” “It’s teamwork.” “Smirkus is magical, joyful, exciting, whimsy, creative, colorful…” “Tradition, generations, timeless” What does Circus Smirkus mean to you? These are some of the ways that Smirkus staff members describe their camp experiences. As the camp staff have been preparing for the camp sessions and fun to begin, they gathered and discussed what Smirkus means to them. Smirkus is an accepting and welcoming environment for everyone and provides an experience to learn the circus…
No Better Way to Spend Summer
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Smirkus Camp Head Coach Doug Stewart And just like that another Smirkus summer has come and gone. It feels like just yesterday I was sitting in my living room in Massachusetts assigning pen pals and counselor groups. As I am writing this, I’m looking at the tents, half-way through tear down. It’s hard to believe that just a few days ago was our final show. In some ways, it feels like it was this morning, and in other ways it feels like it was weeks ago. Time always feels strange when leaving Smirkus. At…
Laughter Yoga
Our Lead Clown Coach Chase Culp is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader. Created by The Laughter Guru Dr. Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from India, Laughter Yoga helps people bring more laughter and joy into their lives through the daily practice of Laughter exercises. Check out some snippets from a recent Laughter Yoga class at Smirkus Camp!
History of the Tents at Smirkus Camp
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Smirkus Camp Communications Intern Spencer Hovel You may have heard of the awesome power of “Smirkus magic.” Whether or not you are familiar with Smirkus magic, I am here today to explain that a large part of that magic is often attributed to the magnificent and colorful big top tents here at camp. The four tents at camp this year are named Mama Mia, Natalie, Millie, and Ruby. They each house a specific discipline of circus here at camp: Aerial Arts, Acrobatics, Juggling, and Clowning/Performance respectively. Each tent has their own unique history as well…