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By Lauren Deck, Senior Program Manager

Middle school students from P.S. ARTS’ after-school theater program, Inside Out Community Arts (IOCA), recently returned from a three-day overnight camping and rehearsal retreat in the Santa Monica Mountains.

IOCA’s camping retreat was designed with two key goals in mind: to provide focused time outside of the 18-week after-school program for students to continue creating and rehearsing their original plays and to get students out of their usual city environments and its challenges. Year after year, I have witnessed how this immersion in a neutral and natural setting often provides students with the structure and safety needed to be more creative, successful team members in their play-creation process and to make new friends more easily.

When 70 middle school students from three Los Angeles area schools arrived at camp, they were greeted by cheering camp staff, youth leaders, cabins nestled under a Sycamore tree canopy and Camp Agreements that began,

“We’re here to work and play together, as a community of artists and friends!”

This was the 10th camping event that I have co-planned with the programs team since 2008. Over the years I have noticed many visible transformations in both middle school participants and the high school and college age program alumni who return to help run camp.  This year’s retreat was no exception, and I am pleased to share several highlights with you!

Middle School Student Magic Moments! 

Jannya is a middle school student who returned after participating in the program last year.  During a star hike at camp last year, she exhibited behavior issues.  Since then, a big change has occurred.  The four Artist Leaders at Jannya’s school reported that she has really stepped up this year; she is involved in leadership groups and has demonstrated new skills among her peers during the IOCA workshops. Her new motivation became apparent to me at this year’s camp when she requested to lead the very star hike that she disrupted last year. On the first night of camp, I joined a group of students and Artist Leaders, and we trekked up a winding dirt path with Jannya at the lead. We came to a point where countless stars and constellations could be viewed. For many of the campers, this was their first experience away from city light pollution where they could gaze at the starlit sky.

Jannya took her role seriously and led her peers in a thoughtful star naming activity, where they dedicated stars up above to someone in their life. We listened quietly as young voices spoke out in the darkness to dedicate a star to a recently passed loved one, a special family member, a pet, a friend, someone who actively supports their goals and dreams, among many other heartfelt mentions of what is important in their lives.

Another highlight of the star hike was walking up the hill with a visually impaired student David. He felt his way on the unsteady gravel pathway, using his cane and a teacher’s arm for support.  During the walk up I overhead David comment excitedly to his teacher, “My mother will be so happy to hear that I climbed up a steep mountain!”

Katrina is an 8th grade student in her third year in the IOCA program.  She plans to join the Alumni Mentor program next year when she goes to high school to continue her leadership and artistic development. This year at camp she showcased her musical talent by singing and playing her acoustic guitar at the talent show. Katrina and her cast mates co-wrote wrote an original song for their play about gender equality. The song, called Breaking Through, speaks to the need for equality among all people regardless of gender. Katrina has a line in the song where the chorus continues while she steps up to the microphone and states something personal: 

My passion is coding for websites and it’s sad to know that my passion might be blocked just because I’m a woman while males get the opportunity to express their passion in the world of technology.

One of Katrina’s cast mates adds this line:

I was told that crying was not for men, just for girls. If you show emotion then you’re weaker than others. I personally think that’s wrong and that we’re all human; we all show emotion and we all cry.

Another student summarizes the play’s message: 

At the end of the day, we’re trying to break through to be equal, whatever gender you are. That’s just how you were born or how you choose to live your life. Nobody can judge you (us). That’s just how you (we) are.

Justin is a 7th grade student who discovered a new talent at camp as a student photographer.  One of the Artist Leaders at his school commented,

Justin was very nervous about camp. He was new to IOCA this year and had missed several workshops, so he didn’t have the time to really bond with his cast like the other students did. I saw ENORMOUS progress from Justin during camp. He was open, friendly, and had the chance to shine behind the scenes as a student photographer. I believe he found a home with Inside Out and will follow suit to join the Alumni Mentor program along with a new friend he made who already turned her Mentor application in the week after camp!

Justin shined as a student photographer during a group set painting activity when students were coached and allowed to use professional cameras to help staff document the event. He was repeatedly swarmed with students who wanted to pose for his pictures and he made a concentrated effort to experiment with multiple angles. After each photo, students would crowd around Justin to review the pictures and he was grinning largely each time he showed off his artistic work!

Alumni Magic Moments!

IOCA camping events feature young adult leaders, now in their late teens through mid-twenties, who participated in IOCA back when they were middle school students. Special recognition goes out to these former program participants who now play key roles at camp: Patty Duran, Alumni Mentor Coordinator and Camp Leadership Staff Member, Brandon Tillis, Camp Team Leader, and Louis Viera, Camp Team Member.

Leadership positions are also provided to high school students who have exhibited exceptional leadership qualities. Congratulations to this year’s Camp Youth Leadership team that featured three high school seniors who will be off to college in the fall: Jessica R. (CSU Northridge), Jose M. (CSU Northridge), and Sally H. (California Lutheran University)!

This year, two Alumni Mentors, Jose and Kevin, co-wrote lyrics and music to the very first original IOCA camp song!  They’ve kindly allowed me to share their first improvised version with you before it’s finished. Click HERE to listen to the inspiring, heartfelt, and fun song. P.S. ARTS staff members have been playing it in the office over the last few weeks when we need a momentary distraction from our to-do lists, to remind us how fortunate we are to provide programs for young artists!

What’s up next?

All of the IOCA campers are now back in the city at their respective middle schools – Whaley in Compton, Adams in South LA, and Irving in Glassell Park – adding the final touches to their short plays.

You are invited to join our audience this Saturday, May 16th at 7pm in downtown Los Angeles to witness their creative and courageous work on a professional stage.  Seats are free of charge and do not require a ticket. We look forward to seeing you there!

From the bottom of our artist heARTS, a big thanks to everyone who supported IOCA’s 2015 camping retreat, with special high fives going out to:

  • Every IOCA student who came to camp this year and their family members who helped make it possible
  • Spring 2015 Artist Leaders and Production Artists for their dedication, leadership, wisdom, creativity and talent
  • School staff members who provided program workshop space, school buses, and many hours of teacher support
  • Co-founder Camille Ameen for providing artistic direction to playgroups and annual leadership of the Mentor Council
  • Mentor program coordinators Lora Cawelti and Patty Duran, and the whole team of Alumni Mentors
  • DJ TNT James Davis for rockin’ yet another IOCA dance party
  • Musician David Cowan who led his first IOCA campfire drumming activity this year
  • Student Photographers: Juan P. Galvin O., Nathan P., Jesse P., Justin A., Justin P., Jair Q., Sharrod E., Merari H., Emmanuel A.
  • Student Photographer leader Jennifer Browne
  • Volunteer Camp Nurse Pamela Parker
  • A multitude of generous funders, partners, businesses, and individuals, too lengthy of a list to include here, who provide monetary contributions and free or discounted goods and services that make this all possible for the IOCA students
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