Students in the Sitka Fine Arts Elementary Camp line up on the SJ Campus lawn before classes in 2021. There are still openings for this year's camp. (Sentinel file photo)
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
After operating at a little over half-capacity last summer, Sitka Fine Arts Camp is expecting more campers this year, although still fewer than full capacity.
“Our enrollment is really solid now,” executive director Roger Schmidt commented.
Elementary camp opens the season June 6-10, with 152 currently enrolled; middle school June 12-25 with 191 signed up; and high school June 26-July 10 with 249 kids. Thirty-four have signed up for musical theater camp, July 11-31.
The more than 600 currently enrolled is a bit below capacity, Schmidt said, but a good figure given the challenges from the pandemic, including the cancellation of camp two years ago.
He said the trends in enrollment since COVID hit are interesting but not particularly surprising. High school camps filled up quickly, with a wait list for dorm space for high school camp; middle school and elementary camps have been coming in at a slower pace.
Sign-up is still open and registrations are coming in, officials said. In the past week, 14 registered for elementary camp, seven for middle school camp, one for high school camp and one for musical theater camp.
The pandemic forced the camp to close in 2020, and when it reopened in 2021 it reopened with fewer students as one of the COVID precautions.
“Last year a lot of kids hadn’t been back to ‘in-person’ and camp was the first time for them to be in an in-person setting,” he said. “It was still a pretty new thing so our goal was to make sure we were able to provide the type of emotional support they needed – we knew we would be dealing with a lot of emotions and feelings and discomfort and excitement getting back together again.”
The main goal, he said, was to have a camp again and “be as kind to people as we could possibly be.”
Schmidt hopes that continues as the camp moves into the summer with new goals.
“This year we’re moving our focus inward,” he said.
The arts have taken a hit during the pandemic through the lack of continuity and disruptions.
“The pandemic has made us really, really focus on ourselves in many ways,” he said. “When you’re focusing on your own feelings you’re not thinking about other people’s feelings unless it’s how their feelings affect you.”
He said the focus this year will be encouraging kids to create final products that they can be proud of and involve working with other people.
“We want to see the kids supported to do their best work, and we’re here to remind people of the role of the arts as a community rebuilding tool; moving toward creating something that’s greater than themselves,” he said.
SFAC will continue focusing on the process, but also that “the product is the process,” he said. “They need the opportunity to do their best work with other people. Last year, it was ‘we’re happy you’re here.’ This year we’re going to ask you to be aspirational.”
Schmidt likes to think about what he sees when campers are truly proud of something they do, when they perform and take a bow, and are appreciated. “When kids take a bow they come up taller,” he said, borrowing a quote.
Whether it’s a play, a musical performance or a piece in an art exhibit, Schmidt said, “We want to see that.”
Because SFAC leaders know the kids are still affected by the pandemic, more support staff has been added in terms of counselors and teaching assistants for more individualized instruction and support in the classroom.
“We want to provide support and set them up for success,” Schmidt said.
There are fewer precautions for COVID this year, but a vaccination is required. Registration is at fineartscamp.org under the Camps tab.
