As moms, we all know how difficult it must be to experience the premature birth of a baby. The anxiety is overwhelming as tiny babies struggle to breathe and thrive. Premature babies are most often born due to idiopathic labor – or ‘labor with no known cause’.
Stefanie and Karl Smith, who founded The Jack & Abby Neonatal Foundation, know all too well how things can go terribly wrong – they lost their beautiful twins due to premature birth.
The local March of Dimes is preparing for a fundraiser which will be a fun night of high heels and laughter, as they raise money to celebrate healthier babies — and help find ways to prevent premature birth. As parents, being a part of this important fundraiser is a privilege.
We can all help by donating to this worthy cause.
Crystal High Heel Award
The event in Richmond is scheduled for October 2, 2014. Ladies are competing as high heel models for the 2014 March of Dimes Crystal High Heel Award.
On October 2nd the women will walk the runway in one of two looks:
- “Little Black Dress”
- “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
At the end of the night, the model who has raised the most money for the March of Dimes mission of stronger, healthier babies will be named the Crystal High Heel winner. This is a great way to help raise money for healthier babies and support an important cause.
Walk High Kate!
Richmond’s own Kate Hall, founder and previous owner of Richmondmom.com, is a model in this event. We are so excited to support her in this endeavor. Who better to show us all how to walk in high heels? Even though we know Kate is steady on her feet, we have to wonder if she might stumble and fall! But we’re sure she’ll be practicing in those heels plenty before the big event.
When asked why she was participating, Kate responded,
“I have several friends who have had preemies and benefited from the March of Dimes, so I’ve seen the help they provide first-hand. In fact, I met a few of these friends through a March of Dimes walk we had early-on in Richmondmom.com’s growth! Some of those families have lost their babies–which to most of us is unimaginable–and this is in memory of all of those sweet ones gone too soon, and to help save as many lives as possible.”
If you’d like to donate to this worthy cause for healthier babies, click here to support Kate Hall or any model of your choice. Mark your calendars for October 2 for a fun night and help babies too.
]]>At The Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn.
Go, Dog. Go!
July 11 – August 3, 2014
The Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn
Based on the book by P.D. Eastman
Book by Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory
Music and lyrics by Michael Koemer
From cars and boats to Ferris wheels and roller skates, Go, Dog. Go! takes viewers of all ages for the ride of a lifetime! This imaginative and playful adaptation of P.D. Eastman’s classic book about canine adventures is a riotous extravaganza for the whole family! Young readers will delight at seeing a familiar story come alive onstage, while parents, grandparents, and siblings are sure to love the production’s slapstick humor, dazzling musical numbers, and nods to Broadway, Vaudeville, and circus performance! Don’t miss out on the dog party!
Length: 75 minutes (with a 10 minute intermission)
Suggested for ages 3 to 8.
Click here to enter to win the family 4 pack to see Go Dog. Go! Opening Weekend!
Must be a Virginia Resident to win.
Only one entry per person.
Tickets are valid July 11- 13, 2014.Can’t make opening weekend? Buy tickets here.
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Upcoming May Events & Specials:
Tiny Prints: Mommy’s Sweeties Keepsake Plate
Come in anytime in May for a special rate on our “Mommy’s Sweeties” keepsake plate designs! Our friendly staff will help you get the perfect hand or foot print from your infant or toddler on a large coupe dinner plate, and turn it into a cupcake or ice cream cone! The best part is that we do all the design work for you! All-inclusive cost is only $30. Interested in another design? Check out our new Tiny Prints Catalog and choose from tons of great designs our staff can help you create!
Kids Fun Night!
Join us on May 2nd from 6-8pm to get ready for Mother’s Day as we create a family plaque from wet clay, paint a ceramic jewelry dish, AND enjoy a pizza dinner! The cost is only $25 per child and is recommended for ages 6 and up. Space is limited, so call and sign up your kids today!
Mother’s Day Special – Mom’s get 20% off any walk-in project on Mother’s Day, May 12th!
Set Special – Buy any three of the same item and get the 4th for FREE on May 21st!
Mug Monday – On May 26th all mugs are 20% off, while supplies last!
Preschool Pottery: “To the Moon & Back” and “My Family Tree”
Parents, come in with your preschool aged kids for a shared painting experience geared toward kids 5 and under! On Saturday, May 3rd from 10:30-11:30am we’ll have a class is inspired by the phrase “I love you to the moon and back” and on Monday, May 5th from 10:30-11:30am we’ll make a one-of-a-kind family tree! These projects will make great Mother’s Day gifts! The all-inclusive cost is just $35 per project + tax.
Tea With Me: An All Fired Up Tea Party
On Saturday, May 10th, from 10am-Noon come and have a ‘paint date’ with your child! We will be serving punch and cookies, and painting a complete doll-sized tea set that includes a teapot, creamer, sugar, two mugs with saucers, and a tray. All-inclusive cost is only $40 per tea set + tax.
Technique Workshop: Peacock Silk-Screen Vase
The second Thursdays of the month we host a Technique Workshop for adults! Come in Thursday, May 8th, from 6-8pm, for our Technique Workshop on how to create a stunning Peacock Feather Vase that is easier to create than you could ever imagine! Cost is only $35 + tax, and pre-registration is required to attend, so invite your friends and reserve your spot today!
Ladies Night Out
Ladies… Imagine a relaxing night creating your own work of art while gabbing with your best girl friends! Come join us on Thursday, May 29th from 6pm-9pm for our Ladies Night Out! We are closing down the studio to the public to give you a relaxing night off! You’ll also receive 10% off your piece, and snacks are provided. Please call and register your group.
All Fired Up is offering lots of new camps this summer, including Teen Edition camps. And of course, they have different themes for each week to make it fun, interesting, and different for a fun-filled summer.
All Fired Up 2014 Art Camp
An art-intensive summer camp offering specialized instruction and a variety of projects in several art media. Each week has a unique theme each week where campers explore a variety of media including clay, ceramics, glass fusing, drawing, wheel-throwing, tie-dye, painting, and more!
Art Camps run from June 16 – August 22 for ages 6 – 14. at all three studio locations: Carytown, Midlothian, and Short Pump. Each half-day camp session begins at 9am and runs until 1pm. Kids will create 12-14 art projects over the course of the week! Cost is only $200, plus tax.
Three camp sessions (Sessions 2, 5, & 8) will have an “All Day” option that will run in conjunction with Young Rembrandts and will last until 4pm each day. Should you choose for your child to participate in the “All Day” option, the cost will be just $335 plus tax for the entire week.
INTRODUCING: Teen Edition Camps! All Fired Up now offers camp sessions specifically designed with teens in mind! Ages 12-16 are welcome to join us as we explore in-depth projects with more challenging techniques. Teen Edition camps will take place from 1-4pm during selected weeks (Sessions 1, 6, & 10). $200 + tax
Summer Art Camp Themes for 2013!
Music Lovers (June 16-20)
Do you dance to One Direction or swoon to Taylor Swift? Then let’s “band” together for the most rockin’ summer camp of all time! Join us as we create instruments, music notes, and a tribute to your favorite musical artist.
Pet Pals (June 23-27)
Create all of your favorite cuddly or creepy creatures at this amazing pet parade! All week long we’ll create new clay companions and paint pottery for the pets you already know and love.
Rainforest in Rio (June 30-July 4)
Come explore a diverse jungle of plants, animals, and amazing habitats. Beautiful birds, bold tigers, leaping lizards, and slithering snakes with accompany us on our art-tastic journey as we recreate this magical world.
Under the Big Top (July 7-11)
Come one, come all! Grab your cotton candy and popcorn, and get ready for an entire circus full of magic tricks, silly clowns, enormous elephants, talented horseback riders, and much more.
Art Time Travelers (July 14-18)
Travel back in time as we use our imaginations to learn from all the most amazing artists around the world! Splatter paint like Jackson Pollock, be impressed by Claude Monet, and create crazy cool art like Vincent Van Gogh. Ready. Set. Geronimo!
Unique & Useful (July 21-25)
Plates, pencil cups, bowls, picture frames, and so much more! Make your whole world a more beautiful place by creating original works of art that you can actually use every day.
Great Outdoors (July 28-August 1)
Bring the outside in at this week of camp, celebrating all the natural wonders around us! We’ll go wild as we explore for curious creatures the forest floor, study a bug’s life, and celebrate with a garden party!
Sweet Soda Shoppe (August 4-8)
Travel back to a simpler time of poodle skirts, juke boxes, and the first hotrods. Satisfy your sweet tooth as we create ice cream bowls, candy dishes and wet clay projects that look good enough to eat!
Deep Sea Divers (August 11-15)
Dive into an underwater world where you’ll recreate sea creatures beyond compare! Join us in our yellow submarine as we travel down 40,000 leagues to discover the depths of the ocean and search for the hidden city of Atlantis!
Terrific Techniques (August 18-22)
Learn all the tools of the trade – techniques, tips, and tricks that will make you an art master in no time! We’ll teach you all our trade secrets, from bubble painting to carbon copying to splatter designs, that will allow your creativity soar to brand new heights!
Rates for Camp:
$200 + tax for Art Camp or Teen Edition Camps
$350 + tax for All Day Camps
Discounts:
- Early Bird Registration: Early Bird Registration is now through March 31st, so sign up today and get 10% off the entire week of camp!
- Sibling Discount: Do you have more than one child that would like to attend art camp? Get our Sibling Discount when you register two or more children from the same family – after the first registration, each sibling thereafter gets 10% off for that same week of art camp!
- Please note, these discounts cannot be combined.
To register, visit the website, call one of the three convenient studios, or drop by to enroll!
Carytown Studio: 355-3412
Midlothian Studio: 744-5506
Short Pump Studio: 360-3111
Kim Newlen: January 30, 1957 – February 8, 2014
I sat quietly sipping a cup of tea and looking out the window at the soft white snow gently falling to the earth. A light blanket of snow was forming across the grass and everything was silent and peaceful for that moment. It was absolutely beautiful and calming. As I watched the snow fall, a tear trickled down my cheek and without warning, a burst of tears soon flowed.
Kim is Miss Tea Party
My dear friend, Kim Newlen, died on Saturday, February 8th after a courageous and inspiring battle against metastatic, metaplastic breast cancer. Kim had one of the rarest forms of breast cancer with no known cure. She was laid to rest and a Celebration of her Life was held on February 11th. I knew the day was coming, but it took my breath away when I heard the news. Weeks of intense caregiving alongside other caring women had not prepared me for the flood of emotions that ran through my mind and body.
The days of caring for Kim had come to an end, and the finality of it all was overwhelming. And now, watching the snow fall to the ground gave me time to pause and remember Kim’s life.
A one-time breast cancer survivor, Kim learned that her cancer had returned with a vengeance on July 11, 2013. The news was startling but it did not shake her faith or her hope. She continued to do all of the things she loved in life – writing, teaching, praying, working, helping others, being a mom and a wife, taking care of other women, and even dancing in the rain. Aggressive cancer treatments through clinical trials at MD Anderson in Texas couldn’t even dampen her spirits. She smiled and spoke with every person she met at MD Anderson whether they were in the waiting room, in the lab, on the elevator, or even in the bathroom. Her smile and laughter were contagious and her zest for life was inspiring to other patients who found hope in her words.
Kim enjoying the rain before chemo!
Kim at Lifeway Christian Bookstore in Richmond.
Kim underwent rigorous medical testing, chemo, and radiation for weeks at a time – only to once return to Richmond and attend a book signing two days later to promote her book, “The One Year Sweet & Simple Moments with God Devotional”. Her book was released the day she learned her cancer had returned.
She enthusiastically attended a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Houston, TX while in the process of getting extremely difficult chemo treatments – thanks to help and support from the Salvation Army and incredible volunteers who made it all possible. She held a holiday book signing at Lifeway Christian Bookstore in Richmond in December. She enjoyed a festive time of signing books and socializing with women at Brighton Collectibles in Stony Point. She visited with Shelly Perkins and Bill Bevins on the Lite98 Wake-up Show and she interviewed live with national radio personality Chris Fabry to discuss her new book. Kim relished the time she spent with wonderful women at Pink & Pearls where her books were sold as a fundraiser, among many other events she attended all while battling her cancer.
Kim and her daughter Kali: December 2013
Kim was a warrior and she was brave. But as I think of Kim, I also think of what a soft, caring, loving, and fun mother she was to her daughter. She was a devoted mom who also loved all children and who spent many years as a third grade teacher where she referred to her students as “third greaters”. She often hosted tea parties for little girls to celebrate birthdays or special occasions and would let them blow out real candles lighted and perched on top of her birthday hat! Kim never met a person without offering him or her one of her sweet “smiley faith” butter mints and one of her incredible smiles. She took every opportunity to tell people about her faith and what God had done in her life – and what He would do in their lives as well.
Kim always wore pink since it was her favorite color – and she had pink purses, and pink hats, and pink watches to match for every occasion. She organized and held the World’s Largest Tea Party at the University of Richmond and broke the Guinness Book of World Records. She was the founder of Sweet Monday which now has groups meeting around the world. Kim spoke to women’s groups around the country, inspiring and encouraging women to live a “sweet, simple, and salty” life by taking time to enjoy every second of every day. She created and marketed a special garment for women undergoing breast cancer treatment to help them “look better than they feel”. Her vivacious personality and love of life was fueled by her love for God and His Word – and also by the hundreds of women who loved her and called her ‘friend’.
Kim, Kali, and Mark: July 2013
We said good-by for now to a beautiful friend on February 11th and our hearts are broken that we will not see her again on this earth. But through our sorrow and our tears, we know that Sweet Kim Newlen is exactly where she wants to be right now. She has left her pain and suffering behind for a new life beyond our world. A place where there is no cancer and no pain, but lots of pink parties and joy!
And she has left a legacy of love, hope, and caring that will live on.
To learn more about Kim, click here.
Sweet note from Kali:
My mom had the biggest heart. She taught us to celebrate everything, to live without regrets, to forgive quickly and to love deeply. Our lives are sweeter because of how she’s inspired us, encouraged us and brought us closer to our Savior. With her sweet Southern charm, her radiant smile and joyful spirit, she perfectly embodies the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 Woman. Not only is she a Richmond “Hometown Hero,” but she’s our hero and always will be. As my mom would say, BSSYP – “Be Sweet and Say Your Prayers.”
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Source: http://www.c-mor.org/events/twilight-carniball
Let’s go to the South Pacific and get out of this crazy weather pattern!
It’s the annual Twilight Carniball 2014: Destination South Pacific! This year’s event takes place Saturday, March 1, 2014 and there will be lots of food, fun, and entertainment:
- Cocktails and Heavy Hors D’oeuvres by Mosaic
- Unique Events
- Live Music by Motown Band, Klaxton Brown
- Silent and Live Auctions
- Complimentary Valet Parking by Park 4 U Valet
What’s more fun than attending one of RVA’s biggest grown-up gala events and benefit the Children’s Museum of Richmond too!
Twilight Carniball guests will enjoy Polynesian cuisine and décor by Mosaic Unique Events, fabulous entertainment, stellar live and silent auction packages and much more. Mark your calendar now and plan a date night for a grown-up event.
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Everyone loves the Instrument Petting Zoo at the Richmond Symphony Lollipop Series. Your kids will enjoy a fun time playing the instruments and learning more about them at this pre-concert celebration of music.
On March 15, 2014, kids will not only be entertained by the musical instruments, but they will enjoy the remarkable Farkle McBride who is a musical prodigy. He can play just about any instrument but he’s not very happy with the sound of any of them. That’s until he learns more about the orchestra conductor’s job!
The Remarkable Farkle McBride is one of the funniest and most upbeat concert events you will find for kids. The concert is just short enough to keep kids interested and entertained. It’s perfect for toddlers or older children. The interactive event makes it exciting for all ages and kids will love talking with the volunteers from the youth orchestra too.
Why is Symphony Music Important?
Not only is the Union First Market Bank Lollipop concert series fun, it is an integral part of a child’s education and ongoing development.
Photo Source: http://www.richmondsymphony.com
According to Bonnie Simon, former executive director of the Washington Chamber Symphony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC:
“Many children’s listening experiences are limited to a singer and a guitar, perhaps a chamber ensemble that comes to their school, or the electronic doodling that comes with a book and tape. Symphonic music is grand, bigger than life.”
And Kathy Butera, Lecturer/Supervisor of the Arts, Entertainment and Media Management Department at Columbia College Chicago explains:
“Recent studies show that students who study the arts achieve higher grades in high school and are more successful on standardized tests such as the SAT.” She goes on to say: “Early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. There is also a causal link between music and spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things). Music students learn to think creatively and to solve problems in imaginative ways.”
The Lollipop Series is the perfect place to introduce kids to symphony music and provide them the opportunity to see a variety of instruments up close and personal. The Instrument Petting Zoo inspires and encourages children to want to learn more about music.
Purchase Tickets
Union First Bank Lollipops concert series are a Richmond tradition and this event is sure to engage kids in the incredible world of music. Click here to purchase tickets.
]]>All Fired Up is offering lots of new camps this summer, including Teen Edition camps. And of course, they have different themes for each week to make it fun, interesting, and different for a fun-filled summer.
All Fired Up 2014 Art Camp
An art-intensive summer camp offering specialized instruction and a variety of projects in several art media. Each week has a unique theme each week where campers explore a variety of media including clay, ceramics, glass fusing, drawing, wheel-throwing, tie-dye, painting, and more!
Art Camps run from June 16 – August 22 for ages 6 – 14. at all three studio locations: Carytown, Midlothian, and Short Pump. Each half-day camp session begins at 9am and runs until 1pm. Kids will create 12-14 art projects over the course of the week! Cost is only $200, plus tax.
Three camp sessions (Sessions 2, 5, & 8) will have an “All Day” option that will run in conjunction with Young Rembrandts and will last until 4pm each day. Should you choose for your child to participate in the “All Day” option, the cost will be just $335 plus tax for the entire week.
INTRODUCING: Teen Edition Camps! All Fired Up now offers camp sessions specifically designed with teens in mind! Ages 12-16 are welcome to join us as we explore in-depth projects with more challenging techniques. Teen Edition camps will take place from 1-4pm during selected weeks (Sessions 1, 6, & 10). $200 + tax
Summer Art Camp Themes for 2013!
Music Lovers (June 16-20)
Do you dance to One Direction or swoon to Taylor Swift? Then let’s “band” together for the most rockin’ summer camp of all time! Join us as we create instruments, music notes, and a tribute to your favorite musical artist.
Pet Pals (June 23-27)
Create all of your favorite cuddly or creepy creatures at this amazing pet parade! All week long we’ll create new clay companions and paint pottery for the pets you already know and love.
Rainforest in Rio (June 30-July 4)
Come explore a diverse jungle of plants, animals, and amazing habitats. Beautiful birds, bold tigers, leaping lizards, and slithering snakes with accompany us on our art-tastic journey as we recreate this magical world.
Under the Big Top (July 7-11)
Come one, come all! Grab your cotton candy and popcorn, and get ready for an entire circus full of magic tricks, silly clowns, enormous elephants, talented horseback riders, and much more.
Art Time Travelers (July 14-18)
Travel back in time as we use our imaginations to learn from all the most amazing artists around the world! Splatter paint like Jackson Pollock, be impressed by Claude Monet, and create crazy cool art like Vincent Van Gogh. Ready. Set. Geronimo!
Unique & Useful (July 21-25)
Plates, pencil cups, bowls, picture frames, and so much more! Make your whole world a more beautiful place by creating original works of art that you can actually use every day.
Great Outdoors (July 28-August 1)
Bring the outside in at this week of camp, celebrating all the natural wonders around us! We’ll go wild as we explore for curious creatures the forest floor, study a bug’s life, and celebrate with a garden party!
Sweet Soda Shoppe (August 4-8)
Travel back to a simpler time of poodle skirts, juke boxes, and the first hotrods. Satisfy your sweet tooth as we create ice cream bowls, candy dishes and wet clay projects that look good enough to eat!
Deep Sea Divers (August 11-15)
Dive into an underwater world where you’ll recreate sea creatures beyond compare! Join us in our yellow submarine as we travel down 40,000 leagues to discover the depths of the ocean and search for the hidden city of Atlantis!
Terrific Techniques (August 18-22)
Learn all the tools of the trade – techniques, tips, and tricks that will make you an art master in no time! We’ll teach you all our trade secrets, from bubble painting to carbon copying to splatter designs, that will allow your creativity soar to brand new heights!
Rates for Camp:
$200 + tax for Art Camp or Teen Edition Camps
$350 + tax for All Day Camps
Discounts:
- Early Bird Registration: Early Bird Registration is now through March 31st, so sign up today and get 10% off the entire week of camp!
- Sibling Discount: Do you have more than one child that would like to attend art camp? Get our Sibling Discount when you register two or more children from the same family – after the first registration, each sibling thereafter gets 10% off for that same week of art camp!
- Please note, these discounts cannot be combined.
To register, visit the website, call one of the three convenient studios, or drop by to enroll!
Carytown Studio: 355-3412
Midlothian Studio: 744-5506
Short Pump Studio: 360-3111
Education and Innovation Center for Children (EICC) specializes in developing your child’s creative writing and critical thinking skills. Our focus is on enrichment through the use of fun and challenging learning experiences. Staff includes writers, Henrico and Chesterfield teachers, and faculty and students of the VCU writing program. The EICC offers creative writing programs that aim to support children’s developing writing skills and teach them the writing skills they will need to be successful in not only school, and business, but life all together.
The class offerings at the EICC place great value on a small teacher to student ratio (1:5) and engage students through real world application of their written word. The EICC has seen the benefit of laying the ground work early to produce brilliant writers.
Writing is a a subject that many people are beginning to pay more attention too, and rightfully so. In 2005 the SAT added a writing portion to its highly regarded college readiness exam. Since then it has only become more evident that our students’ writing skills are not up to par with real word demands. The EICC strives to make writing a more engaging and interactive process. The highly qualified teachers boast years of experience teaching writing and several hold post graduate professional degrees in education.
Creative writing camps (To get more details on each of our writing camps, please visit our website www.eiccworld.com.) .CALL US FOR PRICING DETAILS.
| Name of the writing workshop | Description | Week | Timing |
| Narrative Writing Workshop | In narrative writing, you are writing a story. Narrative writing uses story elements—a beginning, plot, characters, setting, and an ending—to come together to complete a story and make a point. Narrative stories are usually chronological (told in the order that things happen), are often told in first person (“I went to the park”), and may use dialogue, description and other elements to “flesh out” the story | June 23rd to June 27th 2014 | 9 am to 2 pm |
| Descriptive Writing Workshop | Descriptive writing is used to create a vivid picture of an idea, place or person. It is much like painting with words. To write effective descriptions, you need a clear picture in your mind of who or what it is that you are setting out to describe. Doing this allows you to focus on precise details, which make the descriptions come alive in the reader’s mind. | July 14th to July 18th 2014 | 9 am to 2 pm |
| Figurative Language Workshop | Figurative Language is the use of words that go beyond their ordinary meaning. Writers use figurative expressions for comparison, when they want to get across an extreme or out-of-the ordinary idea. As a reader, you have to use your imagination to figure out the author’s meaning. For example, if someone tells you that it is raining cats and dogs, you know that there are not actually cats and dogs falling from the sky. You know it really means that it is raining very hard. In this workshop, we will explore the use of the following figurative techniques: | July 28th to 1st August 2014 | 9 am to 2 pm |
| Critical Writing Workshop | 9-1-1, It’s an emergency! We have some critical writing skills that need our attention! Bring your child to be a part of this important writing workshop where students will focus on learning the important organizational skills for informational writing. Students will learn how to write a strong lead sentence, how to correctly organize a 5-paragraph essay, how to write concisely and effectively to express the main ideas, and how to write a strong conclusion. | August 11th to August 15th 2014 | 9 am to 2 pm |
| Creative Writing Workshop | Creative Writing Lab: Forensic Crime Lab WeekDoes your child like to solve mysteries? Does examining fingerprints, investigating evidence, interrogating suspects and cracking the case sound intriguing? We will act as police detectives for the week as we examine grammar, capitalization, punctuation, transition words, descriptive vocabulary, word choice and sentence variation in writing. Students will also get the chance to write their own mystery using the skills that they learn. | August 18th 2014 to August 24th 2014 | 9 am to 2 pm |
NOTE: We have early drop off for FREE from 8 am onwards.
Extended care available from 2 pm to 5.30 pm. (During that time kids will do various activities like fun art activites, play board games, do puzzles, jewellery making, watching movies and more…………..
For more information on EICC: (804)-747-3422(EICC), [email protected]
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The School of Performing Arts in the Richmond community – SPARC – has provided incredible performing arts experience to students in the Richmond area for over 30 years. SPARC has full-day and half-day camps for students ages 4 to 18. Our summer camps are filled with singing, acting, dancing, friends and fun! With camps from June to August, every student can find a camp to make them shine.
Cheryl Lage of RichmondMom.com wrote in her article, ‘Fanning the SPARC':
“As a part-time (9-3:30 daily) working-in-an-office mama, the timing seemed ideal . . .confidence levels rose. Comfort acting, singing and dancing translates well to increased ease in presenting oral reports, speaking at assemblies, conveying the morning announcements. Thank you, SPARC. We’ll be back…probably this summer!”
Voted Style Weekly’s Family Favorites Winner for 2013
Camps for Ages 4 to 9
SPARCLERS Jr. (ages 4-5) and SPARCLERS (ages 6-8)
Three 2-week sessions to choose from!
Each session of camp will bring to life a different beloved children’s tale so campers can participate in multiple sessions and get a unique experience each time! Throughout the session, campers will learn the building blocks of performance – singing, acting and dancing – as they work together to create a final show.
SPARCLERS camp runs from 9a to 3pm and the younger camp, SPARCLERS Jr. runs from 9a to 1p. After-care for SPARCLERS Jr. is available from 1:00 to 3
:00pm. Students must bring their lunch to camp every day. Come explore a camp filled with imagination, friends and fun!
Session One: June 16 – 27 | Epiphany Lutheran Church
Theme of performance material: The Land of Oz
Session Two: July 7- 18 | Congregation Or Ami
Theme of performance material: Busytown by Richard Scarry
Session Three: July 21 – August 1 | Congregation Or Ami
Theme of performance material: The Adventures of Peter and Wendy
August Adventure Jr.
In partnership, SPARC and Cadence Theatre Company present Disney’s Jungle Book Kids, where the jungle is jumpin’ with jazz! Campers will enjoy rotations of singing, dancing, arts and crafts, and acting as they collaborate to stage this beloved musical!
Students must bring their lunch each day. Students aged 4-7 will attend from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., with optional after-care available from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Students aged 7-9 will attend from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
August 11 – 22 | Location One: St. Mary’s, Location Two: St. Cat’s
Ages 9 to 14
BRAVO JR.! (Rising 4th-5th Grades, Ages 9-10)
This engaging summer camp offers a daily rotation of creative performing arts training taught by some of Richmond’s leading professional artists!
June 16 – July 11 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | Tuckahoe Presbyterian
BRAVO! (Rising 6th-8th Grades, Ages 11-14)
BRAVO! is our most popular summer camp! Each day is filled with engaging performance arts activities such as; acting workshops, musical theatre training, audition skill building, creative movement and artistic collaborations. Students work with professional guest artists to learn about visual arts, stage combat, stage make-up and much more!
June 16 – July 11 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | Collegiate School
August Adventure (Ages 10-13)
The smash hit musical comes to life on our stage in Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL JR.! SPARC, in partnership with Cadence Theatre Company, will work with campers on all aspects of performance; acting, singing, dancing, props design, set design, costume design and more as they work together to stage the popular show. St.
August 11 – 22 | Location One: St. Mary’s, Location Two: St. Cat’s
SummerStarz Touring Ensemble (By Audition) (Rising 4th-9th Grades, Ages 9-14)
Each summer, SPARC’s SummerStarz performing ensemble brings a free, family-friendly performance to over 1,000 people in the community. In 2014, SummerStarz will perform the American jukebox musical All Shook Up, featuring the music of Elvis Presley. Directed by Joy Garrett and Jason Marks, Summerstarz rehearses for five weeks and then tours the Metro Richmond area for several performances, from July 21-25, 2014.
June 16 – July 25 | 8:30 am – 12:00 pm | SPARC Center + Tour
Ages 13 to 18
ADVANCED BRAVO! (Rising 9th – 12th, Ages 14-18)
Designed for the upper level teen who wants to dive into the world of acting, comedy and script writing. Elements of comedy improv, acting and scene work will be the focus, but students will enjoy additional workshops on music, dance, visual arts, combat, and many other exciting theatrical techniques.
June 16 – July 11 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | Collegiate School
SUMMER STUDIO (Rising 8th – 12th, Ages 14-18)
Students will focus on monologue selections, character development and audition management practices (deportment, headshots, resumes, etc.) under the guidance of experienced professionals. At the end of the workshop, on August 22nd, students will receive the rare opportunity to showcase their audition pieces for professional directors and performing artists from the Richmond community.
August 11 – 22 | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm | SPARC Center
SUMMER STOCK (Rising 9th – H.S. Graduates, Ages 14-18)
Each summer, SPARC has produced a main stage musical featuring some of Richmond’s finest teenage talentMacbeth will be directed by Richmond favorite James Ricks, and the performance will be July 17-21 at SPARC’s Sara Belle November Educational Theater. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will be directed by Debra Clinton, with musical direction by Blanton Bradley, and the performance will be July 24-August 3, also at SPARC’s Sara Belle November Educational Theater.
June 16 – August 3 | 1:00 – 5:00 pm | SPARC Center
SUMMER STOCK TECHNICAL INTERNSHIPS (Rising 7th – H.S. Graduates, Ages 12-18)
Students will get hands on instruction from theater professionals in all basic areas of technical theater: set design and construction, costumes, lighting, sound, and stage management. Interested students are also offered the opportunity to gain practical experience working tech for some of SPARC’s summer productions after this four-week program ends.
June 16 – July 11 | 12:00 – 4:00 pm | SPARC Center
SUMMER REGISTRATION: Begins on January 31st for most camps and February 3rd for August Adventure
Please call or www.sparconline.org to register for classes. For enrollment information call (804) 353-3393 ex 221 or email [email protected].
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