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…
Smirkling Overnight: Firsts, Friendship, and Flying
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Elly Craig Last Saturday we welcomed our Smirkling Overnight campers. The energy at drop off was a mix of excitement, nervousness, and wide-eyed curiosity as many campers were spending their first night away from home. Backpacks tumbled out of trunks, hugs were given, and parents waved goodbye with encouraging smiles that tried to hide their own nerves. That initial leap into the unknown quickly transformed into confidence and connection. Campers made fast friends, supported each other with compassion, asked for help when needed, and dove into every activity with bravery…
Smirkling Camp: The Magic Begins
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Elly Craig There’s something about the first day back at Smirkus Camp—the way the gravel crunches underfoot, the distant sound of laughter coming from the Big Tops, and the electric buzz in the air that only means one thing: summer at Circus Smirkus has begun. This past weekend, our youngest campers arrived for Smirkling Camp, bundled up in fleece, rain jackets, and wide-eyed anticipation. The skies were gray and the drizzle steady, but no one seemed to mind. As one camper put it, grinning from ear to ear, “It’s fresh…
The Final Week at Advanced Camp
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Will Ciardelli Things have been busy at Smirkus Camp over the last couple weeks! Advanced Camp session has entered its final week and as we move towards our showcase this coming Friday, we are now running acts in their entirety, and finalizing the creative elements of our upcoming show. This includes costumes, the order of the show and even puppets! The staff and campers built and painted puppets that are essential elements in the show they created. There is a large dragon which is manned by 8 people and there are two birds that…
Going Out on the Road with Road Show
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Will Ciardelli We’re now just over a week into Advanced Camp which includes our Advanced Ensemble, Individual Acts, and Road Show sessions. Ensemble and Individual Acts just wrapped up their first week of class rotations, which gives the campers an idea of what they may want to incorporate into their camp-end showcases. They have now moved into show prep and act rehearsals. The Road Show campers are now in performance mode with shows being performed around Northern Vermont. Road Show campers performed their dress rehearsal for the other campers and staff on Friday which went…
Get to Know Some of Our Counselors
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Will Ciardelli Last week we introduced some of the amazing coaches that we have here at Smirkus Camp, but there are many other people who make our days magical. Our counseling staff are the ones who wake the campers in the morning, put them to bed at night, remind them to wear closed-toed shoes and their aerial pants. But the counselors also spend much of their days following around the campers, watching them move through their rotations and assisting them in any way they can. Unlike most of our coaching staff, our…
Meet A Few Camp Coaches!
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Will Ciardelli This summer at Smirkus Camp, we have an amazing coaching staff filled with experienced circus artists from around the world. Our Head Coach, Tyler Jacobson, regularly tours around the country with Cirque Dreams Holidaze and can also be seen alongside our Activities Coordinator, Mariah Fraker, performing with Cirque Us. Tyler is a true multidisciplinary master, performing contortion, hand balancing, aerial hoop, hula hoops, aerial silks, and diabolo, while also teaching the campers all of those same skills! As Head Coach, Tyler oversees the progress of the camp…
A Smirkus Welcome to Intermediate and Road Show!
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Will Ciardelli We are now in the fifth week at Smirkus Camp, just beginning the Intermediate Camp two week session, and the start of the five week Road Show session. We wrapped up last week with our All Levels two week camp’s showcase on Friday which went far above any of our expectations for an All Levels program. The kids executed amazing performances filled with beautiful aerial acts, impressive juggling routines and some hilarious clown gags. It was a full week of intensive rehearsals to prepare, and it’s easy to say that it all paid off….
At Smirkus, Dress Up is Every Day
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Will Ciardelli Aside from all the circus classes and rehearsals the kids have been attending and doing here at camp, they have been having an absolute blast participating in some of our other fun activities and traditions at camp. Some of these include well known games and sports like soccer and dodgeball, but others are more camp specific with activities like Gold Rush, Staff Hunt, and Dutch Auction! Last evening we held the Smirkus Camp version of Halloween, where staff members hid throughout the camper dorms as the campers…
Get to Know Our All Levels 2 Week Camp!
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Will Ciardelli What a start we’ve had to our All Levels 2 week session! Despite the dreary weather, the campers and staff have been bright in spirit, and high have high hopes of the days to come. Our Head Counselor Alevia and our Assistant Camp Director Ezra took charge in leading the drop-off day ice breakers. They successfully entertained everyone as the kids got to know each other through games like rock-paper-scissors evolution, and passionately discussing hot topics such as chocolate vs. vanilla and the baked beans vs. the refried…