Summer CAMP 2020 Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register my child for camp?
After consulting the Master Schedule, families should complete the secure online registration form and submit. You'll receive an automatic response from the registration system, and we'll also send a receipt and personalized confirmation after we have processed your payment & registration!
Will I receive confirmation of my child's spot in camp?
Yes. Families who register online will receive an immediate email confirmation. Our registration team will also send all families a personalized confirmation, with a receipt, once we have processed your registration and payment. Add "info@ForefrontArts.com" and "Register@ForefrontArts.com" to your email address book to ensure you receive your confirmation email and info about camp!
Do you accept special needs campers?
We will make every possible effort to provide reasonable accommodations for the safety and enjoyment of ALL children. Parents of children with Behavioral Challenges (including ADHD, Autism Spectrum, and Sensory Sensitivities) should contact us to discuss reasonable accommodations before registering for a camp. Our Production Camps require a certain amount of focus & self control and may not be a good fit for every child. If we feel we cannot serve your child well we will refer you to another drama program with more experience serving other student populations, such as www.ShenanigansImprov.com.
Does my child need to have prior drama experience?
Not at all! We welcome kids with all levels of training and performance experience into our Production Camps. Every summer we're blown away by kids brand-new to theatre who have incredible natural talent and jump right into the rehearsal process like old pros.
Historically campers with some previous training or performance experience may perform better at the show auditions and therefore may be cast in larger roles. Campers who are brand new to theatre often request a smaller speaking role or an ensemble role so they can develop their skills in a group setting. However, it all depends on your audition so come to the first day of camp prepared with a great song and attitude, and work hard at whatever part you receive!
Our Advanced Camps and Teen Summer Stock camps *are* reserved for students with previous experience as they contain upper level instruction & performance material. For 2020, we will have general admittance auditions for our Summer Stock production, and then approximately 2 weeks before each location starts rehearsals we will do casting auditions from everyone who has been admitted into the teen summer program.
Is every child guaranteed a speaking part or singing solo?
No. We tweak our camp show scripts each week to fit the general camp size of your child's camp week, but we cannot guarantee a speaking role or solo for every child since those are based on the Monday morning casting auditions.
Our camp shows are similar to other Broadway shows with a handful of main characters, a roster of supporting characters, and a large ensemble, so there are plenty of roles for everyone to participate in the big show! Just like a football camp can't guarantee every child will be the quarterback, we can't guarantee every child will have a main speaking role. However, we choose our summer shows carefully to make sure we can offer a variety of roles for campers at various experience levels, and a large ensemble so everyone can take part in numerous scenes and musical numbers!
If playing a large role is especially important to your family, we also recommend that campers really interested in theatre continue their training in acting, voice, and dance throughout the school year in our classes and full-scale productions to prepare them for larger roles in our camp shows next year.
Sometimes new kids ask for non-speaking or group roles as they get more comfortable onstage and that's totally fine with us too!
Is there a performance at the end of the camp session?
Yes! All of our campers perform in the Camp Showcase at the end of each camp week. Performance Campers audition for speaking roles, solos, and group parts. Creative Dramatics campers do not audition for individual roles, but will perform several numbers with their class as a whole. Each camper receives 2 comp tickets included in their camp tuition and additional are $3 in advance and $5 at the door. Proceeds from the camp show ticket sales benefit our scholarship fund and camp non-profit fundraiser -- this year we are partnering with Family Promise to help end homelessness one family at a time!
Do both boys and girls attend your camps?
Yes. We have a good mix of boys and girls most camp weeks! Our camp themes this summer feature a number of roles chosen just for boys:
- "Into the Unknown" ~~ Olaf, Kristoff, Sven
- "Hard Knock Life" ~~ Daddy Warbucks, Rooster, President Roosevelt, boy orphans
- "Descendents" ~~ Jay, Carlos, Jafar, Gaston, Gil, Ben, Doug, Chad, etc.
- "Jedi" ~~ stormtroopers, Jedi knights, and various extra terrestrial characters
- "Hogwarts" ~~ a plethora of boy wizards exists in Potter-dom
- "Godspell" ~~ the whole group of disciples can be played by guys or girls!
Do you offer early-bird discounts?
Yes. Early-Bird discounts are offered when registration opens on February 1st. Sibling or group discounts aren't offered during the Early-Bird camp pricing period, because a large discounts has already been applied to all campers in the form of reduced tuition. We offered Early-Bird discounted pricing for the first 100 campers, and those spots were all claimed by Monday, February 3rd. Because those spots filled up earlier than expected we have extended the Early-Bird discounts for all registrations through Friday, February 7th at NOON.
Do you offer sibling discounts?
Yes. Once we have entered our regular camp tuition registration period (after Early Bird discounts have ended), we offer discounts for 2nd or more children in a family. The first child/highest priced camp is full-price. The 2nd child (or more) will save 10% off tuition and extended care fees. *Siblings must enroll in the same camp week, on the same calendar day for discount to be applied*. Sibling discount only valid for children from the same immediate family who live in the same home -- no cousins or friends:) We cannot combine sibling discounts with other discounts, which is why we cannot stack Early-Bird and Sibling discounts. If enrolling for multiple weeks, the sibling discount will be applied to the 1st week, and the multi-week discount applied to the 2nd+ week (you'll save more money that way!!)
Do you offer a multi-week discount?
Yes. Once we have entered our regular camp tuition registration period (after Early Bird discounts have ended), your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th camp weeks will receive $20 off each full-day camp week, and $10 off each morning camp week. The highest priced camp will be charged the regular rate, and camps of equal or lesser value will receive the discount. We cannot combine multi-week discounts with other discounts, which is why we cannot stack Early-Bird and Multi-week discounts.
What should my child wear to camp?
Wear comfortable clothes you can move in. We will be dancing, running around, and sitting on the floor each day. Wear leggings/shorts under dresses or skirts. All shoes must attach around the foot and be closed toe-- no flip-flops or sandals allowed!
What should my child wear for the Production Camp Showcase on Friday?
We will email you a costume list by the Tuesday of each camp week, once the show has been cast. Most costume pieces can be found around the house, or hit up your local Goodwill. All students should wear their costumes on Friday for Dress Rehearsal Day.
What food should I pack for my child each day?
You are responsible for providing all of your child's food each day. We take snack breaks mid-morning and mid-afternoon and a lunch break. Morning Creative Dramatics campers should bring a morning snack, lunch, and refillable water bottle. Full-Day campers should bring 1-2 snacks, lunch, and a refillable water bottle each day. Please include any utensils or napkins your child will need. We do not have access to refrigerators or microwaves at most locations. ALL FOOD MUST BE PEANUT-FREE. We also have snack items available for purchase.
Do you offer extended day care?
Yes. We offer early drop off 8-8:50 am Monday-Friday and aftercare 3-6 pm Monday-Thursday. (We do not offer aftercare on Fridays because our staff will either be packing up after the afternoon Camp Showcases, be preparing for the evening Camp Showcases). All campers must be picked up at the end of their regular camp day on Friday. Extended Care is a chill-time where campers can eat food brought from home, watch movies, play board games, read books, do puzzles and coloring, or work on learning their lines. Extended Care is supervised by our staff while they prepare for the next camp day.
How many students attend your camps?
Camp size varies by location, based on the space available at each host location, and by the show theme or type. Our smallest camp week might be 8-10 campers while our largest camp week might be 50 campers. Some locations cap at 12-14 kids, and others can accommodate multiple casts working with different directors. It just depends on the space of our rehearsal rooms and the stage and audience seating area. We have an excellent camper:instructor ratio at 8:1 for Creative Dramatics camps and 14:1 for Performance camps.
How quickly do camps fill?
Each year our drama camps become more popular and sell-out more quickly. Registration opens on February 1st. We recommend registering your child in early spring to ensure a spot.
How can I tell if a camp is already full?
If a camp is sold-out it will be crossed out on our schedule, with the words SOLD OUT listed by the camp dates.
Is there a waitlist?
Yes, we offer a waitlist for sold-out camps. Occasionally spaces become available, and sometimes we are able to double an offering if enough students are waitlisted. If you would like to be placed on the waitlist, please register for the camp week (marked as WAIT LIST on the registration form). If a spot becomes available you will receive a call or email from our staff. We will not collect payment unless a spot becomes available.
Is payment in full due at registration?
You have the option to pay in full at registration or to set up an automatic installment payment plan for registrations submitted February - March. If selecting the installment plan a $50 non-refundable deposit holds your spot and the remaining balance is equally split into monthly installments on March 1, April 1, and May 1 and a $5 processing fee will be added to each installment. All installment camper accounts must be paid in full by May 1st or your camp registration will be cancelled and your spot will be opened for another child to fill. No refunds or credits will be given if a family fails to complete their installment plan but has not officially canceled their registration in writing by May 1st.
How do I cancel my child’s camp registration if I need to?
Email us at "Register@ForefrontArts.com" by May 1, 2020 if you need to cancel your camp registration. Paid up-front registration cancellations before May 1, 2020 will receive a full refund, minus a $35 administrative fee, any installment processing fees, and any credit card fees. No refunds or credits will be given after May 1, 2020 but campers may transfer to a different camp week as long as there is space available. Families are responsible for any price difference between the original and replacement camp weeks. Installment plan campers who cancel by May 1, 2020 will lose their $50 non-refundable deposit but all other tuition will be refunded.Transfer requests 7-14 days before the start of the camp week will be decided on a case-by-case basis. No transfer or adjustments can be made less than 7 days before the start of the camp week.
Is there a chance that a camp could be cancelled due to low enrollment?
Forefront Arts reserves the right to cancel camps for which fewer than five students are enrolled. In this event, we will notify the families affected by a cancelled camp with a choice of suitable replacement camp weeks or offer a full refund. We typically make the decision to cancel a camp 2 weeks out to give families time to find alternative childcare.
Do you have to audition to attend the camps for ages 4-14?
All levels of experience are welcome. Production Campers will all participate in group auditions on Monday morning to determine casting for their camp showcase.
Do you have to audition to participate in the Teen Summer Stock production of Godspell?
Yes. Students must submit a camp registration form to reserve an audition time. Auditions will be held in late March to determine admittance into the Summer Stock cast. Specific casting auditions will be held 2 weeks before each rehearsal process begins. Details are at www.ForefrontArts.com/Godspell.
Have another question? Give us a call at 770-864-3316!