It’s back to school for community youth! It’s been a busy summer at the Arts of the Pamlico. This summer, the historic Turnage Theatre hosted a series of art and active camps for youth ages 6–16 years old in partnership with the City of Washington Parks & Recreation Department. This summer, the theatre also served as a USDA Feeding Site, offering youth free breakfast and lunches from mid-June through mid-August.

AOP’s summer art camps this year offered low-cost opportunities for dozens of kids to try their hand at making a movie, creating art, using mixed media, making pottery and more. Three theatre camps led by Rachel Isaac, Crystal Holman and Dylan Ritch ensured area youth are growing a host of lifelong skills including presentation and self-expression, problem solving and perseverance. The experiences children took away from their participation in performing the “Wizard of Oz” and “Little Mermaid Jr.” on stage added to the toolkits of many first-time actors, with tools in how to be a team member and being patient, the importance of empathy and compassion for others and more.

AOP is already making plans for half-day Spring Art Break Camp during Beaufort County Schools’ spring break in April 2019 for up to 10 youth, ages 6–16 years. A slate of summer camps for 2019 is already forming and will include a Children’s Theatre and two Broadway Kids Theatre Camps, performing “A High School Musical” and “Beauty & the Beast.” A new ECU Opera for Kids Camp is coming in July. Jennifer Woolard will offer a Movie Making Camp at the end of July and Liz Reed will repeat the popular Pottery Camps next summer too. Registration will open in January 2019, so watch for details.

The end of summer means more art fun this fall! Mark your calendars to attend free activities supported by the City of Washington and Beaufort County Administration in September.

• Paint a mural! AOP and the City of Washington’s Human Relations Council is partnering on a host of Hispanic Heritage Month activities, including outdoor mural painting at the Moore Aquatic Center on Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Be part of AOP’s Bubblegum Theatre for Youth. Sign up for pre-registration with the directors on Sept. 15, at 2 p.m. at http://signup.com/go/OfAEHvd.
• Make art, create a play with ECU intern Tyler Whitley, listen to music, play Pirate Putt Putt Golf and dance with your shoes off outside at the free Hands On Arts Festival on Sept. 29 at Festival Park in downtown Washington.

As the weather cools and nature begins a period of rest, art for kids keeps on going. Playwriting for youth and Pirate Putt Putt Golf opportunities will continue through the fall at several AOP events including the Oct. 20 Smoke on the Water and AOP’s Blues & Jazz Festival.

Watch for details on the Oct. 26 Kids Halloween Spooktacular on stage, AOP’s annual Children’s Holiday Shop on Dec. 1 and the beloved “Polar Express” on Dec. 8 with a snow machine provided by The Rich Company.

To learn more about events at your arts council and historic theatre, visit www.artsofthepamlico.org.

Written by Debra Torrence, Arts of the Pamlico’s executive director, and Crystal Holman, AOP’s weekend coordinator.