Kids Camp 2015 - Omaha World-Herald

Inside: Your pullout guide to Kidz Explore!

Kids Camp

With so many options, who can choose just one?

Special Section

February 8, 2015

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There’s a camp for every kid Back in the day, camp options were pretty much limited to overnight camps with lots of outdoor fun. Those camps still are great options for kids, but there are many other options.

Perhaps your child would enjoy learning about history at the Durham Museum, fashion at the Omaha Fashion Camp or architecture at Kaneko.

Or maybe your child would like to become a better performer by playing jazz music at the University of Nebraska at Omaha or acting at the Omaha Community Playhouse, or to become a better athlete by going to Peru State College’s sports and cheer camps.

If your child has diabetes, he or she might want to go to Camp Hertko Hollow to have fun and learn to manage the disease.

If outdoor fun is what you’re after, you could consider the 4-H, Girl Scouts, Fun-Plex and Elkhorn Equestrian Center camps.

Take a look at the stories and the advertisements in this section, and you’ll be sure to find camps of interest to all the kids in your family.

Football camp is one of the most popular camps at Peru State College. The camp runs on three different days and focuses on option football, defense fundamentals, and team competition and development.

At Peru State, young athletes get their choice of sports camps

By Daisy Hutzell-Rodman World-Herald staff writer

Athletes wanting to learn more about their favorite sport can do so at Peru State College Athletic Camps.

The college holds camps throughout the summer for athletes who want one-on-one attention with college athletes and hope to learn what it takes to become a college athlete themselves.

Peru State hosts both team camps, such as cheerleading day camps, and camps for individuals, such as Boys Skills Camp for basketball players, where they learn new skills and improve on skills they already have.

“Each coach designs their camp,” said Chelsea Allgood, PSC’s head cheerleading coach and the camp coordinator. “Typically the campers will arrive mid-morning.

They will be greeted by a head coach and typically some

of the athletes. Then they will have some ice breakers and start learning skills.”

Football players will expand their athletic skills in the recently renovated Oak Bowl, while court players enjoy the updated Al Wheeler Activity Center.

“This is our first season in the Oak Bowl,” Allgood said.

“It was taken down to dirt hill again, and it’s now a turf field with a stadium that holds up to 2,500 people.”

Kelsey Monahan, assistant volleyball coach at Peru State, said she enjoys working with the campers.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for junior high and high school students to get some extra training outside of the typical training they get during the school year,” Monahan said. “We’ll focus on their individual skills, whether that’s hitting or setting or something. Then we’ll break the kids into what position they play and help them excel in that position.”

M att H ane y / T he W o r l d - H e r a l d

Kids Camp

A special section produced by the news division of the Omaha World-Herald.

Special sections editor: Shelley Larsen Designer: Jan DeKnock Copy editors: Melinda Keenan, Howard K. Marcus Contributors: Kim Carpenter, Daisy HutzellRodman, Joan Krasne, Sue Story Truax Advertising sales manager: Terri Campbell For special sections advertising information, contact dan.matuella@owh.com or 402-444-1485.

Students entering third through sixth grade can improve their skills with other basketball enthusiasts at Peru State College’s Boys Skills Camp. The college also offers a camp for students entering seventh through 12th grade.

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Cheerleader hopefuls learn basic movements at Peru State College’s cheerleading day camp.

Peru State College Athletic Camps When: throughout summer Where: Peru State College, 600 Hoyt St., Peru, Nebraska Who: Varies by camp.

Cost: Varies from $40 to $100 based on individual camps. No financial aid available, but siblings can get a discount if they attend the same camp.

Information: Chelsea Allgood, project coordinator, 402-872-2350 or perustatecamps.com

James Matteen, 12, echoed that sentiment.

“I personally like the basketball camp,” he said. “They teach you a lot of new things.

They give you more things to do at home to make you a better player.”

One thing he learned in 2014 was to do a Euro step, in which an offensive player picks up a dribbling ball, takes a step in one direction and then quickly takes a second step in another direction to evade a defensive player.

James’ sister, 10-year-old Ella Matteen, said she also likes basketball camp best.

“I’ve been to Peru cheer camp, softball camp and basketball camp for two years,” she said. “I learned how to do a drop-step.

It’s when you’re a post, and there’s someone behind you. You kind of push them out of the way and do a layup.”

The brother and sister go to camp to have fun, but they come away more prepared to be team leaders.

“It’s helped me improve on stuff so I can help make my team better,” said James, who plays on a rec league during the year.

Many parents have a goal of getting sports scholarships for their kids, so allowing kids to see what it takes to be part of a college team is another goal of Peru State College camps.

“I think it’s a good idea for high school kids to see what is expected of them in college,” Monahan said. “I also think it’s good for junior high kids to see college kids playing.

“We might tell them the same thing their own coach says, but it’s a lot different coming from someone else. We might have a little more impact.”

Ella liked being at camp with the college students.

“It was kind of cool because they made it a long ways and can teach me things that they already know,” she said.

The sign-up information for Peru State College camps will come online this month, but parents who forget to sign their kids up need not worry. The college takes walk-ins for camp.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

SUMMER AT UNO! Maverick Basketball Camp Girls

June 1–12 | Grades 1–12 Skill Development I – $120 June 1–4 | 8:30 A.M.–12:00 P.M. | Entering Grades 1–5 Skill Development II – $120 June 1–4 | 1:00 P.M.–5:00 P.M. | Entering Grades 6–8 Team Camp I – $200 June 9 | Junior High & JV Teams

Maverick Young Entrepreneur Bootcamp June 8–12 | Grades 7–10

Camp Times: 8:30 A.M.–12:30 P.M. Register: myeb.eventbrite.com For more information: nbdc.unomaha.edu/CBAbootcamp/ 402.554.2706 | deesley@unomaha.edu

Team Camp II – $250 June 10 | Varsity HS Teams

UNO Jazz Camp

Elite Camp – $135 June 11–12 | Entering Grades 9–12

June 14–19 | Grades 7–12

Discount Early Bird Specials Available For more information & register: camps.jumpforward.com/UNOWBB 402.554.2571 | cbarrett-sw@unomaha.edu

Boys

Featuring the Jim Widner Big Band Instrumental Music Students

For more information: unojazzcamp.com 402.554.2297 | petermadsen@unomaha.edu

UNO Volleyball Camp

June 15–July 31 | Grades K–8

July 7–16 | Grades 1–12

Camps starting at: $45/single day | $135/week Early Bird Special: $120/week

Beginning Individual Camp July 7–8 | Grades 5–8

Individual Skills Camps June 15–17 & June 22–24

Advanced Individual Camp July 9–10 | Grades 7–9

Offensive Improvement Camps July 22–24 & July 29–31

Junior Camp July 11 | Grades 1–5

For more information & register: unobasketballcamps.com | 402.554.2574

Advanced Specialty Camp July 15–16 | Grades 10–12

UNO athletics camps are open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender.

For more information & register: unovolleyballcamps.com

Mav Kids Summer Camp

UNO athletics camps are open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender.

June 1–July 24 | Grade 1–Age 12 Camp Times: 7:30 A.M.–5:30 P.M. Registration begins: Monday, February 16, 2015 For more information: campusrec.unomaha.edu/mavkids | 402.554.2539

For more information about all of UNO’s Summer Camps for Kids visit: unomaha.edu/camps

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Fun-Plex

Small groups at Camp Fun-Plex get matching T-shirts.

Water park, rides offer up fun

By Joan Krasne World-Herald Correspondent

Fun-Plex

Kids enjoy the water at Camp Fun-Plex.

Level up your musicianship at

OCMI

Omaha Conservatory of Music’s annual week-long Summer Institute!

Each day before Fun-Plex opens, campers swim under the supervision of certified lifeguards. The early swim time lets the campers experience the 14acre park’s Lazzzy River, water slides and Motion Ocean wave pool before the crowds arrive.

“Because there is so much to offer at our camp, we try to make sure that the kids are constantly with a counselor,” said camp coordinator Cindy Anderson.

“They get to swim with certified lifeguards before the complex opens, and then we split the campers into smaller groups of 10 to 12 so that they can bond with each other.

“Campers wear color-coded shirts, according to their groups.

The emphasis is on being safe.”

Anderson said counselors are former ride attendants who have worked at the complex for a required length of time. They apply to be counselors and are hand-picked by the staff.

“Training for counselors includes classes on childhood development and relationships, safety procedures and emergencies,” she said. “Junior counsel-

ors must be 16, and 18 is the age for the senior counselors.”

Because of the varying sizes of the rides, campers are grouped by age and height. In good weather, the campers are constantly running, walking and riding rides. On cloudy or rainy days, activities include bowling, movies, and arts and crafts.

Everything on the grounds is handicapped-accessible.

The Makana Splash at FunPlex, an all-new water park attraction, features four slides and 6,000 square feet of multilevel fun. Every five minutes, a 317-gallon bucket drops a wave of water onto the campers below.

Early-morning campers have the Makana Splash all to themselves.

Other camp highlights include miniature golf, go-karts, bumper boats, and rides on a roller coaster and the Tilt-a-Whirl.

“When the campers do an evaluation at the end of the camping session, they always say that they want to come back year after year,” she said. “We focus on the fun, and they get to do so many activities. We offer a water park, a ride park and an old-fashioned summer camp. Kids call us ‘the ultimate day camp.’ ”

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Camp Fun-Plex When: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Session 1 is July 6 to 10; Session 2 is July 20 to 24.

Where: Fun-Plex Campus, 7003 Q St. Who: Children ages 7 to 13.

Cost: $194 per session, with early discounts available.

Bring a sack lunch, or lunch is available for an extra charge.

Information: fun-plex.com or 402-331-8436

Kids enjoy the water at Camp Fun-Plex.

Fun-Plex

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If you want to

be the best then you need

Ropes courses and other activities help campers learn to work as a team

By Daisy Hutzell-Rodman World-Herald Correspondent

to train with

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Camps Available for Players 8-18 years old

Lessons, camps, and development programs offered at Elite Volleyball

4-H

4-H campers climb to new heights on the camp’s Odyssey course.

For More Information: Call 402.599.0423 or visit w w w. nebraskaelitecamps.c o m

Kids can develop endearing characteristics while attending Nebraska 4-H camp.

“Most of the time, this is the first time they have been away from home, so they have additional responsibility as far as caring for themselves and their property,” said Lindsay Shearer, 4-H camp operations coordinator and director of destination camps. “We also do some additional leadership training as far as interacting with peers appropriately.”

One way they achieve this is by having the kids create their own rules.

“Kids are placed in a cabin group, and as a group, they create their own cabin rules,” Shearer said. “We have counselors who help guide the house rules, but the kids make them up. A lot of times (the kids) will create a rule of no food or drink on the cabin bunks, so they are then in charge of policing that themselves.”

Kids do not need to belong to 4-H to go to 4-H camp. The 4-H programs, hosted through county extension offices, are based on outcomes such as healthy living or career development. The tagline for 4-H camp is “Grow, Learn, Discover.”

The variety of 4-H camps include: » Ultimate Girls Rock, which is promoted as an outdoor slumber party with outdoor movies and a dress-up part. » Zoo-Bound, which focuses on animals and includes a trip to Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. » Extreme Robotics, which focuses on working with Lego robotics.

Day camps such as “Culinary Creations” or “Wet ’N Wild,” are available for youths age 5 to 8.

Whether a camp’s theme is “Outdoor Adventures” or “Culinary Creations,” the experience includes time working with team-building challenges.

“We spend a significant amount of time on our ropes courses, where they are able to challenge themselves and learn to work as a team,” Shearer said. “Every camp gets an activity to do either low-ropes challenge or high-ropes challenge.”

The low challenges are on the ground.

One example is that the camp has a telephone pole on the ground, and the campers have to align themselves by birth month without speaking to one another.”

The high-ropes challenges are done on a series of ropes about 15 feet off the ground. The campers must wear protective gear such as harnesses and helmets.

The challenge course was one of camper James Baltes favorite activities at Boldly Bound Camp last summer.

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4-H

4-H camps aim to teach a variety of skills including archery. Campers also learn to appreciate nature, below, whether through art activities or fishing.

“You get to do some really fun things like you get to go on a swing where you go 30 feet off of the ground, and you do an obstacle course.”

Baltes, 12, spent a lot of time at camp last year.

“I was there like all summer,” he said.

“They have back-to-back ones, so I got to go on a Sunday and leave on Saturday, but I would go back on Sunday for a different camp.”

The camp has a no-electronics policy to ensure that their campers will spend time being kids — climbing ropes, swimming and spending time around a campfire.

Parents do not need to worry about their kids not being connected to their phones.

The camp is accredited by the American

Camp Association, which means they have been accredited for more than 300 standards, from site and food service standards to health and wellness standards to emergency management.

Baltes appreciated the effort the camp has put into their standards.

“Everyone there is nice and friendly,” he said. “If you’re allergic to a certain type of food, like I’m allergic to milk, they’re really good and really helpful with it.”

While Baltes did not enjoy sleeping away from home when he first started going to camp three years ago, he has no problem with it now.

“It’s just that it’s all outdoors, and there’s no electronics to distract you,” he said. “It’s just really cool.”

SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS

Sounds in the Summer Marching Band Camp July 8-10 Grades 9-12

4-H camps When: May 26 through Aug. 6 Where: There are two residential sites, Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center near Gretna, and Nebraska State 4-H Camp near Halsey; two additional camps (Summer Fun and Shooting Skills) are offered at Camp Comeca.

Who: Kids ages 5 to 18.

Cost: Varies, day camp is $40 to $60; weeklong camps are $200 and up.

Needs-based scholarships are available.

Information: 4h.unl.edu/camp or Lindsay Shearer at 402-472-2846

All-State Vocal Camp July 12-14 Grades 10-12

For more info, visit unk.edu/musiccamps or call 308.865.8618

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At the Durham, explore ‘deep content and still have fun’ Egyptology 101, Wizard University and Grossology are among the varied offerings

By Sue Story Truax World-Herald Correspondent

D u r h a m Mu s eu m D u r h a m Mu s eu m

Campers explore the sunflower fields at Lauritzen Gardens during the O! What a City Camp.

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Durham Museum campers concoct their own potions by creating dry ice bubbles during the Magic, Mystery and Mythology Camp.

What do wizardry, Lauritzen Gardens, jewelry-making and blood-typing all have in common? Each is part of a different summer camp for children at the Durham Museum.

Cease to be a Muggle at Wizard University, visit some of Omaha’s major attractions during O! What a City, craft ancient-style jewelry as part of Egyptology 101 and type blood at one of the Grossology camps.

Sessions covering these topics and more will be available this summer at the Durham.

Other sessions will include Durham Boot Camp, Fitness Fun and Fitness Fanatics, all three about living and eating healthfully; a chance to volunteer for a cause of your choosing during Hometown Heroes; experiencing life in the 1860s as a Soldier in the Civil War; a few more based on the “Harry Potter” books; several devoted to art and crime scene investigation; some that explore engineering and building; and a whole bunch based on “Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science,” the Durham’s summer traveling exhibit.

“We offer a lot of opportunities and

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Summer Fun

at Kids Network

Durham Museum

As part of the Community Heroes camp, Durham Museum campers learned about what our veterans do and wrote thank-you notes to them. activities for kids,� said Mick Hale, the Durham Museum’s director of education. “We want to provide an enriching and engaging opportunity for kids in the summer months,� he said. “We address the summer academic slide. Because this is a museum, we can provide deep content and still have fun. “The camps’ main content areas are history, the sciences, personal growth, physical fitness, the traveling exhibit and community service.�

Hale said the museum has camps relevant to actual display items. “We can be a source of this kind of informal education,� he said. “We offer different options for education in the community by expanding knowledge outside of books through experiential learning.�

Camp sessions are taught by eight certiIntroduction to

HORSEMANSHIP CAMP June 8-12 9 am - 12 pm Beginners ages 5 & 6

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DURHAM MUSEUM SUMMER CAMPS When: June 1 through July 31 in oneweek sessions. Full-day sessions are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Half-day sessions are 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Who: Children ages 5 through 13.

Cost: $160 for member child, $180 for nonmember child for full-day session; $80 for member child, $100 for nonmember child for half-day session.

Pre- and post-camp care available for additional fee.

Information: durhammuseum.org.

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fied classroom teachers, Hale said. Camp assistants are eager education majors in college who often learn as much as they teach, he said. “Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science,� the Durham’s summer traveling exhibit, will be open to the public May 23 through Sept. 6 during regular museum hours.

Other camp activities related to the traveling exhibit will include simulating the annual flooding of the Nile River and learning the waterway’s impact on Egypt, making perfumes and cosmetics the ancient way, learning Egyptian customs, studying a real mummy, creating cartouches with ancient hieroglyphics, tasting foods that would have been eaten when the pharaohs ruled, studying the country’s wildlife and nature, and finding out what archeologists do.

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Kaneko cultivates creativity Kids can learn about architecture, video game design, music and prototyping

By Kim Carpenter World-HeraLd Correspondent

camps & classes FOR KIDS & TEENS

SUMMER 2015

Positive space. Negative space. Charrette.

These are terms students interested in architecture start learning from the beginning, but at Kaneko, those students aren’t in college. They’re in elementary, middle and high school, and just like college students, they are exposed to some of the best professionals working in the field.

From its inception in 1998, Kaneko has focused on encouraging and exploring the process of creativity and how it impacts our lives, and to that end, it offers world-class exhibitions, talks and workshops. To make sure that children are equally engaged in the creative process, in 2013 it devised a unique summer camp experience that complimented its programming.

“We really wanted to infuse education into every program that we do,” said Mike Echternacht, Kaneko’s executive director.

“We thought if we were having an architecture exhibition, let’s do something for young people that would engage them in architectural literacy. We wanted to create a camp program that would feature meaningful play and help them further their curiosity.”

Mike Hamilton, architect and senior designer with HDR Inc., was involved with creating the camps and loves what it can bring to children.

“They fit directly with Kaneko’s mission.

A camper can come in and say he’s not very creative because he doesn’t know how to draw, but everyone can be creative. It’s something we can teach. We’re really interested in that.”

Kaneko is also interested in what that creativity can mean for the future.

“We wanted to do camps that focus on early development and provide career exploration,” Echternacht said. “That can be very powerful.”

To accomplish both these goals — fostering creativity and an interest in potential careers — Kaneko brings in high-ranking professionals to lead the camps and share their expertise.

Hamilton is one of these professionals.

“I’m able to talk about architecture in-depth and help them develop visual literacy,” he said. “They learn about basic principles, site context and connectedness and where architecture sits in the environment. I work with the kids in various media, and they learn how to draw, do computer models and create their designs.”

A a r o n Z av i t z / K a n e k o

Instructor Mike Houston, center, explores architectural software with students Edwin RodriguezFlorez, left, and Jusselle Golden, right, at the Kaneko Architecture Design Camp.

Mike Houston, an architectural intern at RDG Planning & Design, is also a camp instructor.

“In the camp we educate kids about what we do as professionals,” he said. “We’re interested in introducing campers to big concepts, ideas and goals, and we do it in a way that’s fun and engaging and lets them extrapolate ideas.

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“We instill an idea of play, which helps them think about how they can be creative in any profession. They really enjoy it, and they leave a little more excited about those ideas.”

Kaneko also has partnerships that further enhance the camp experience. This year’s 3D Prototyping Camp, for example, is presented by Fat Brain Toys, a company widely

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A a r o n Z av i t z / K a n e k o

Sophia Abourezk works on her model at the Kaneko Architecture Design Camp. known for its educational toys. The Soundry Music Camp is presented by Omaha Under the Radar, an annual experimental performance festival in the Midwest. “We’ve really been able to build strong relationships with the community and bring in industry leaders,� Echternacht said.

Janet Podliska’s 12-year-old son, Simon, participated in the video game programming camp last year, and she was impressed with this aspect. “I was shocked to find the camp. These kinds just don’t exist out there. They

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Simon, a sixth-grader at Bell Elementary School, enjoyed the opportunity to do so. “I was looking for a camp like this, and my mom found it. We actually learned how to code and definitely accomplished that

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goal. That was really cool,� he said. “And it was great to check that out before junior high. I’m really interested in this. In fact, when I grow up, I want to be a programmer.

I felt lucky. �

Chantel Asselin Dunn’s son, Brodie Crockett, a freshman at Glenwood Community High School in Iowa, also attended the video game programming camp last year, and she was equally impressed. “We had done a lot of camps — wonderful camps — in Omaha, but we didn’t find a lot of diversity in programs. There is nothing else like this,� she said. “It’s important to focus on something outside the norm.�

Brodie agrees and says it was nice to be able to explore his own interests. “I liked the whole idea of design and how you can construct things,� he said. “It was super complicated. The instructors gave us objectives, and we learned certain aspects of video games we weren’t aware of. I enjoyed that.�

No matter the camp, at the end of the week, kids are eager to share what they’ve learned with friends and family by showing them their projects. “Most of them are really excited to show off what they’ve created,� Hamilton said. “It’s super exciting for me to see these kids discover what design is. It’s about as rewarding as it gets.�

He’s also gratified that the camps can inspire children about how they approach the future. “I think it’s good to reach out to these age groups who don’t get exposed to these professions at all,� he said. “You’re not born a designer. You become one.�

Houston agrees. “The kids bring in a lot of energy and ideation. It’s inspirational,� he said. “You

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Kaneko Summer Camps Where: Kaneko, 1111 Jones St. Information: www.thekaneko.org.

3D Prototyping When: July 20 to 23 and July 27 to 30; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Who: Ages 12 to 15 Cost: $325 Architecture Design When: Session 1: June 29 to July 2; Session 2: July 13 to 16; Session 3: July 27 to 30; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Who: Ages 12 to 15 Cost: $225 Soundry Music Camp When: July 6 to 9; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Who: Ages 12 to 16 Cost: $100 Video Game Design Camp When: Session 1: June 22 to 25; Session 2: Aug. 3 to 6; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Who: Ages 12 to 15 Cost: $225 see what they see on their level, which is sophisticated play, and it’s a reminder of how we all can think creatively. The experience really enlightens them.�

For his part, Echternacht is thrilled with how each Kaneko camp provides a formative experience. “We want students to come out of the experience with different knowledge,� he said. “The real goal is for them to take that knowledge with them.�

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

TODDLER VILLAGE

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PLAY AREA FOR KIDS 3 AND UNDER

COLORING CAFE TODD LER VILLAGE!

SOLVE PUZZLES, DRAW AND PLAY

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SATURDAY & SUNDAY FEB. 14-15 10 AM - 5 PM

MID-AMERICA CENTER

FACE PAINTING!

BLENDER BIKES

PONY RIDES!

PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE

SAVE $2.00

BECOME AN ANIMAL FOR A DAY! Make your own animal masks!

RACE TRACK!

ON EACH TICKET ONLY AT: BAG ‘N SAVE NO FRILLS SUPERMARKETS SUPERMERCADO NUESTRA FAMILIA

CRAFTS! AN OMAHA WORLD-HERALD EVENT

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Equestrian classes are more than riding lessons

TEAM GOLF

By Sue Story Truax World-Herald Correspondent

NJGT Team Golf is a 9 hole team sport coached by a PGA Professional. Contact the

Shoreline Pro Shop for more details.

PARENTS WELCOME $150 FEE • TEAM GOLF F - is a team sport on the golf course. • TRAINING CAMP - 1 week long golf camp to get ready for the season.

Elkhorn Equestrian Center

Victoria Wieseler, left, and Ayla Splonskowski, far right, practice a polo wrap while learning about horse leg protection at last summer’s Elkhorn Equestrian Center Summer Camp. .

Summer Sizzles at Camp Kroc!

• PRACTICES - practice once per week. • MATCHES - the team will play in at least 4 matches!

Does your child enjoy playing sports?

Does he or she benefit from playing on a team?

WHY W HY N HY NOT OT O T try ttry Team Golf?

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Where a horse’s fetlock is, what a farrier does and the differences between Western and English riding disciplines are just some of the things kids learn at the Elkhorn Equestrian Center Summer Camp. “It’s a great opportunity for kids to experience all aspects of horses without owning their own horse,� said Lexi Koch, barn manager and trainer at the center. “It’s everything about horses we can jam into one week.�

Each week is limited to 15 campers to maximize individual attention. This year’s camp will be for beginner and intermediate riders, Koch said. Campers must wear weather-appropriate clothing, including long pants such as jeans and closed-toe shoes, preferably boots.

A child crazy about horses might want to attend several sessions in a summer. That’s discouraged, she said, because the activities repeat each week.

Each day starts by going over the scheduled activities. Then campers are divided into smaller groups, which cover all things horse: health, care, grooming, riding tack and leg protection. Each week campers also see a farrier at work and listen to a veterinarian discuss horse health. “It’s a really fun, vibrant atmosphere,�

Koch said. “We try to pack as much into the week as possible while still having fun. It’s very, very hands on.�

Campers spend about four hours daily on

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, February 8, 2015

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ELKHORN EQUESTRIAN CENTER SUMMER CAMP When: June 8 to 12, June 15 to 19, June 22 to 26, July 6 to 10 and July 13 to 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Elkhorn Equestrian Center, 20915 Bennington Road.

Who: Ages 6 and older; children must have turned 6 before Jan. 1.

Cost: $325.

Information: elkhornequestriancenter.com.

Safety equipment, including long pants, closed-toe shoes and a helmet, help protect young riders at the Elkhorn Equestrian Center’s summer camp. horses, Koch said. “We try to spend the majority of the day on the horses. They (campers) learn two different disciplines, Western and English,� she said.

Western discipline grew out of cowboys’ needs. Western saddles are larger and heavier to distribute the rider’s weight over a larger surface for long hours on the range.

English saddles are smaller, giving riders a closer contact with the horse. Riders hold the reins differently in the two disciplines.

Western riders generally have the reins in one hand while English riders have one rein in each hand. The horse’s tack differs in each discipline, too.

Campers learn how to control a horse, how to guide a horse and how to ask it for different things, including all three gaits — walk, jog and lope — she said. “The joy of being around horses is a great deal for them. It makes an introduction to a (riding) lessons program much easier,� Koch said. Some of the campers go on to take riding lessons or return the next year to summer camp, she said. “Camp’s just a really upbeat place,� Koch said. “They have a great time and make a lot of friends.�

YOU’LL

“DIG�

SUMMER CAMP!

CAMPS BEGIN JUNE 1

Elkhorn Equestrian Center

Campers at the Elkhorn center learn all about horse care, including how to bathe the animals.

GLENN KORFF SCHOOL OF MUSIC ‚ ƒ „ …

Come join the fun in these unique educational experiences

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SAVE BY REGISTERING TODAY! Take advantage of Camp Mount Michael’s 2015 early bird discount Register before: February 13th - SAVE $20 QUESTIONS: Please contact Mr. Dylan Parlor, Camp Director, at 402-238-1457 or camp@mountmichael.com REGISTER at mountmichael.com

CAMP 2015 DATES:

Session 1: June 14-19 Session 2: June 21-26 Session 3: July 5-10 Session 4: July 12-17 Session 5: July 19-24

• Horseback Riding •Swimming •Crafts •Archery •Hiking •Games •Campouts •Olympic Day

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS SUMMER!

SummerAtTheDurham.org

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Show time

The First Stage Theatre Academy at the Omaha Community Playhouse develops skills in acting, dancing, singing, directing — and more.

By Sue Story Truax World-Herald Correspondent

O m a h a C o m m u n i t y P l ay h o u s e

The 2014 Henry Fonda Scholarship recipients for the First Stage Theatre Academy at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Ahmad Ealy is second from left, and Joy Weidenhamer is second from right.

O m a h a C o m m u n i t y P l ay h o u s e

Ensemble members build a dragon as part of the First Stage Theatre Academy at the Omaha Community Playhouse.

Omaha.SchoolofRock.com

402.691.8875

BEGINNER & ADVANCED

13270 Millard Avenue WE TEACH/GUITAR/KEYS/BASS/VOCALS/DRUMS

Joy Weidenhamer overcame stage fright and also learned a valuable life lesson.

Ahmad Ealy tried something different while making new friends.

Both high school students had these experiences at First Stage Theatre Academy, a summer camp at the Omaha Community Playhouse.

“The students act, write and perform an original work of theater” at the Playhouse’s Howard Drew Theatre, said Denise Chapman, director of educational outreach.

Instructors team-teach directing, playwriting, dance and music.

“Students work on singing, dancing and acting,” Chapman said, and build their own props as needed for their production.

The tweens and teens spend the first week putting together their show and the second week working on performing it, she said. Camp ends with a stage production for the students’ families.

“We start with a theme” and use that to choose songs and write the program around the theme, Chapman said.

“Our playwright-teaching artist sort of puts it all together. You’d be surprised at how capable young people really are at doing the work,” she said.

From the process, she said, campers build friendships, a sense of ownership, a sense of empowerment and leadership skills.

Students use the theater skills as life skills to think outside the box, employ critical thinking skills and do problem-solving, she said.

“I don’t ever want anyone to think the stage isn’t for them because they aren’t hard-core theater students. There’s a place for them,” Chapman said.

Joy Weidenhamer, a 15-year-old freshman at Millard South, echoed Chapman’s words.

“It’s a welcoming environment. It’s a place where a lot of kids can fit in. Not only is it a good place to begin performance and expand in performance, it’s a great place to make friends.”

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

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FIRST STAGE THEATRE ACADEMY When: July 13 through 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays Where: Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Who: Children ages 12 through 18.

Cost: $350.

Information: omahaplayhouse.com.

O M A H A C O M M U N I T Y P L AY H O U S E

Teaching artist Doran Schmidt gives vocal notes before the final run-through at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Ahmad Ealy is in the center with a red sweat shirt. Joy Weidenhamer is the girl with brown hair and bangs with her hands in her pockets.

2015

Duchesne Preschool

This Summer’s Thi Th Sum mmer’s Hottest Camp!

to ride horses?

Offering 5-one week sessions

hhorses in grooming, tacking, bathing, first aid – and much, much more!

June 15 - July 30

! n u f e cover th

for preschool-age boys and girls 3-5 If you have questions, please contact Mary Jo Begley, Summer Enrichment Coordinator at 402-810-9969.

Or visit the Summer Camp webpage: http://duchesneacademy.org/preschool/ preschool-summer-camps/

She also learned something “really heavy.” “I had a ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ experience.

Be that weird person you might be at home and open up.” You’ll find that some people you didn’t think you had anything in common with are just like you, she said.

Joy attended the summer camp in 2013 and ’14.

“I had a lot of fun the first year. I’d been working on getting over stage fright,” she said.

“The next year, I was able to perform in front of people. I think it was the atmosphere. Everyone was very welcoming and encouraging of myself and other kids to perform. I really enjoyed doing the onstage roles. It now comes naturally to me,” Joy said.

With her last summer at camp was Ahmad Ealy.

The 14-year-old freshman at Omaha Westside went on to have several non-speaking and chorus singing roles in the Playhouse’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol.”

Of the camp, he said: “I actually enjoyed it. I was new to the whole theater world. I got to try something new and meet new people. It was a fun two weeks and I hope to attend this year.”

He also discovered that he liked dancing, something he hadn’t tried much of before. Choreography and dancing were difficult at first then, after a while, they seemed a lot easier, he said.

For “A Christmas Carol,” “Some of the songs I caught on to early, others were harder,” he said. “I had to make my way off stage in a certain number of band beats. Overall it was kind of fun.”

Dis

CAMP WEEKS: C

JUNE 8 - 12 . JUNE 15 - 19 J JUNE J U NE 2 22 2 - 26 2 . JULY 6 - 10 . JULY 13 - 17 Registration starts Febr 17!

PLEASE PL EASE GO TO www.elkhornequestriancenter.com forr registration forms OR CALL Kellie: 402-238-2027 20915 20 915 BENNINGTON ROAD, ELKHORN, NE 68022

SPACES ARE LIMITED...

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“Givingg children backk their summe summer, one adventure at a time” Summer Day Camps

Children Grades K-6 Experience Daily: C • On-Site Swimming • Archery • Zip Line • Sports•Obstacle Course • Art & Crafts • Team Building

Register online at www.camplegacyomaha.com or call 402-496-6017 Located at 167th & Ida Street

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Where friendships are made and curiosity is the guide Girl Scout camps have a wide variety of activities for girls of all ages

By Kim Carpenter World-Herald Correspondent

Girl Scouts

During the Girl Scouts’ advanced horse camp, girls ride and go on a wagon train near North Platte.

They spend the night in tents and cook over a fire.

Summer Camps Start your journey to becoming a Woman of Mercy!

Arts and Athletic Camps June & July 2015

Grades 3rd-8th

Find out more at www.mercyhigh.org

Where will your adventures lead? How will you be your best self? How many new friends will you make?

These are the kinds of questions the Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska like to pose to prospective campers. Whether it’s horseback riding, tanking and tubing, cake decorating, sewing or doing science experiments, any girl can let curiosity be her guide and answer those very questions.

And any girl means all girls. That’s one of the messages Theresa Cassady, Girl Scouts of Nebraska’s chief communications officer, likes to get out to the public.

“We have camps all across the state, and any girl is welcome,” she said. “You don’t have to be a Girl Scout.”

You just have to be a girl in kindergarten through high school to enjoy summer programming across the state at locations such as Camp Cosmo in Grand Island, Camp Maha in Papillion, Catron Camp and Retreat Center in Nebraska City, Camp Crossed Arrows in Nickerson and Lakeview Cabin in North Platte. Depending on the camp, girls can experience the great outdoors near rivers and lakes and, of course, in rural atmospheres.

“Our camps are little jewels sparkling in

small towns,” Cassady said.

Girl Scout camps offer a wide variety of experiences.

“There’s a lot of research in trends in camping,” Cassady said. “Because the ‘Hunger Games’ made archery popular, we offer a lot of that. We also have a water camp, where girls can spend the entire week doing water activities on a river or lake. Then there’s an Executive Camp, where girls are paired with professional women and are mentored. For that they do a lot of teamwork building and at the end have a formal dinner.”

Mia Azizah, an 18-year-old senior at Lincoln East High School, participated in the Executive Camp in 2013 and found it to be an impressive experience.

“I really gained a lot from it,” she said.

“We paired with mentors and learned about leadership and how they succeeded. I also learned about jobs and the kinds of classes to take in college.”

Of course, girls also can do what most people think of as standard summer camp activities, such as push themselves on challenge courses, slide down zip lines, go on nature hikes and ride horses.

“We’re pretty robust in outdoor education,” Cassady said, “and girls are fearless.”

Given the wide variety of offerings, girls often don’t just do one camp — they do two

SCHOOL-AGE SUMMER CAMP!

By Westside Early Childhood Centers New Flexible Scheduling

JUNE A WEEK OF PERFORMING ARTS FUN FOR GRADES 3-8 (grade entering in Fall 2015)

JULY 20-24, 2015

Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm/Performance 7pm Friday

(402) 553-9424

CO-HOSTED BY:

THIS ISN’T JUST ANY OPPORTUNITY.

Lutheran Church of the Master and St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church

It’s the opportunity to make friends, take exciting courses, and grow intellectually and socially. It’s OPPTAG at Iowa State.

$125 (first 50 campers) / $225 (after 50 campers) A $50 deposit is required to register, with the balance due 30 days before the camp begins. For registrations received within 30 days of the camp date, an additional $25 fee applies and the balance must be paid in full. Scholarships available; contact the church for more information.

8:30 am – 12:00 pm Grades 4-12, College, and Adults

15 19

DAY CAMP COST:

OPPTAG.IASTATE.EDU

Call for info: (402) 333-4444 MUSIC • DRAMA • DANCE • INSTRUMENTS • PUPPETS • SCENERY PAINTING

Contact Julie Oelke at 402-390-8207

Young writers of all ages, register today!

Finelines.org Space is Limited!

Explore God’s Creation This Summer!

The Salvation Army Gene Eppley Camp and Retreat Center 10 Minutes South of Bellevue on HWY 75

Summer Camps Available June 1st through July 24th Open to Boys and Girls 1st Grade through High School Sports Camps, Character Building Camps, & Outdoor Adventure Camps Available.

Download Applications at www.geneeppleycamp.org Or Call Us at (402) 898-5923

Join Us This Summer for Fun & Excitement at Camp!

HERTKO HOLLOW W Held at the Y Camp in Boone, Iowa

Iowa’s Camp for Kids with Diabetes

April 24 - April 26 • Family Weekend and Teen Retreat June 21 - June 27 • Kids Week (ages 8-12) June 28 - July 4 • Teen Week (ages 13 - 17) Also Mini Camp (half-week sessions) available for 6-7 year olds and Leadership Camps available for 16-17 year olds.

Swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, rappelling, archery, and many more activities PLUS education about diabetes management.

Licensed medical staff and experienced counselors on site.

1-855-502-8500 Learn more and register online:

www.CampHertkoHollow.com

Summer Camps REGISTER ONLINE FROM FEB 9TH - 15TH TO RECEIVE

20% OFF All Camps!

www.OmahaSportsAcademy.com

402-504-1222

11726 Stonegate Cir Omaha, NE 68164

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Girl Scouts

Girls at Camp Maha discover nature, learn about conservation and have fun. From left are Ella Hutfless, Kennedy Grace and Aaliyah Bentley. or more each year.

“We have a lot of repeat offenders,” Cassady said. “They do one week and then come back for another one. There really is something for every girl, no matter her level of interest. Whether they want to stay outside with the spiders or be pampered.”

Camps also vary in length of time. Some

last a full week, others two or three nights, while others are as short as half a day for girls who aren’t yet ready for overnight camps.

No matter the level of readiness, girls can all expect the same thing: to make friends.

Chelsea Sidel, a 19-year-old counselor at Catron Camp, attended Girl Scout camps

n JUNIOR SummeraFtu Starts LEAGUE SIGN-UP at Eagle Run Junior Leagues

8 Weeks starting the second week of June.

Sign-ups begin March 1st.

Gir l Scout m a C p

Eagle Run has League on the par 3 for ages 7 and up (Cost $90).

The Executive for ages 11 and up ($115).

Play is on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Junior Lessons

EVERY

GIRL IS WELCOME!

1 week clinic (5/1-hour lessons). Cost $90.

Sessions in May, June, and July.

Check websites for schedule.

eaglerungolf.com

GirlScoutsNebraska.org

when she was younger and believes that’s one of the best parts of the camp experience.

“I think it’s a great way of meeting a lot of girls who have the same interests as you as well as meeting girls who come from lots of different areas,” she said. “It’s a way to gain more friendships. You become like sisters.”

Last year Tricia Feagins signed her 10-year-old daughter Collette, a fifth-grader at Grace Abbott Elementary School, up for the Theme Extreme camp, which lets girls explore everything from zip lines to arts and crafts, and she appreciated how quickly friendships developed.

“I really like the fellowship of the girls,” she said. “All these girls are coming from different places, and it’s super positive. I could see how many new friends she made.”

Collette experienced that herself.

“Sometimes I go with friends, and sometimes I make new ones,” she said. “It’s really nice to meet new people and talk to them and make new friends.”

Azizah appreciated that aspect as well.

“I really made a lot of friends. Even though the camp was two years ago, we’re still in touch — even with the mentors.”

Cassady sees that as pointing to how successful these camps are.

“The great thing about Girls Scout camps is that they are in tune with the vision of Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts,” she said. “She wanted girls to be self-reliant and be able to do things for themselves. In the camps, that vision is still very much alive and thriving.”

Azizah can testify to that.

“The Girl Scout camp made me really involved,” she said. “It made my life different.”

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Girl Scouts

Hanna Van Cleave swims in the Camp Maha pool as part of a Girls Scouts camp.

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska Summer Camps When: Throughout the summer.

Who: Girls who are entering first grade through those who just graduated from high school.

Where: Different camp locations.

Cost: Variable.

Information: www.girlscoutsnebraska.org.

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Children with diabetes learn skills in a fun setting

By Joan Krasne World-Herald Correspondent

CAMP HERTKO HOLLOW

At Camp Hertko Hollow near Boone, Iowa, campers learn diabetes-management skills and independence in a supportive environment.

Camp Hertko Hollow was founded in 1968 so children with diabetes could experience camping, have fun and learn diabetes-management skills. Since then, more than 14,000 children have attended the camp. “If a family cannot pay the whole fee, their financial situation should never get in the way of their child benefiting from our camping experience,� said camp director Debra Holwegner. “Thanks to the generosity of various donors, families can pay what they can afford.�

Camp Hertko Hollow teaches and encourages successful diabetes-management skills and independence in a supportive environment. Campers gain a better knowledge of carbohydrate calculation, insulin application and healthy dietary decisions. They are supported in their struggles and also get a healthy, positive camping experience.

A family weekend provides an opportunity for families to come together, learn

DISCOVER SUMMER THE CAMP FOSTER WAY!

Exciting Resident Camps

AN ALL TOGETHER DIFFERENT SUMMER

Youth & Adult/Child Camps Family Camp ZipLines Jumping Pillow Swimming & more Great Summer Fun

• build a battery out of a lemon • create paint from mulberries • learn about the natural world and yourself in the heart of Omaha!

Traditional Camping amped up!

9677 County Road 3, Fontanelle, NE 68044

Contact us: 402-478-4296 or Fontanelle@GreatPlainsUMC.org

Register online at CampFontanelle.com

Summer theme

You know and love our fall corn maze. Register for camp. Come to know and love us in the summer.

“A Place to grow with God in all seasons�

We Make Learning Fun. At Learning HQ, you’ll find an amazing selection of new and imaginative products from the top names in education. With thousands of interactive games, arts & crafts activities, books, educational toys, CDs and DVDs, puzzles and so much more, it’s everything you and your family could ask for to fuel inspiration and fun.

67th & Center in Aksarben Village 402-763-8455 LearningHQ.com

At Camp Foster, each child will create friendships that last a lifetime, all while discovering the outdoors through new activities.

YOU’LL LEAVE CHANGED

Sign up for Overnight & Day Camp today!

www.mcsomaha.org/summer OR CALL 402-345-2001

Registration is available online at www.campfosterymca.com or call 712-336-3272.

PARENTS’ CO-OP FOR CHILDREN, INC.

Located in Okoboji, Iowa!

One of the most affordable, enriching summer experiences in Omaha

Montessori

3717 N. 52nd St. | Omaha, Nebraska 68104

info@mpccomaha.org

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Preschool Summer Fun Camps Themed camps are two hours of learning and exploring.

Some of the themes include cooking, pirates, Legos and even Frozen!

Our camps are taught by certified teachers.

CAMP HERTKO HOLLOW

Helping out and learning from fellow campers is an essential part of what happens at Camp Hertko Hollow, where kids with diabetes can have fun and learn more about taking care of their health. diabetes and share their experiences in a supportive setting. Because the disease affects the whole family, this is also a chance for newly diagnosed children to share their feelings and concerns.

Campers enjoy activities such as archery, arts and crafts, campfires, canoeing and horseback riding. If they choose, kids can climb a wall, hike, swim and use a zip line.

The camp provides four counselors for every 10 campers. Some counselors are volunteers who have diabetes.

More than 120 health care professionals volunteer and assist with educational programming.

Each week of camp has at least 12 physicians who are pediatric endocrinologists, along with family physicians, internists who specialize in diabetes, and medical residents, fellows and interns. Also on staff are two to four pharmacists, two dietitians and eight to 10 registered nurses.

Counselors monitor blood sugars, ketones and sometimes inject insulin into campers who need assistance. During instructional education time, counselors guide campers in how to deal with medical aspects of their

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Camp Hertko Hollow

CAMP HERTKO HOLLOW

Cabin buddies often spend a lot of time together at Camp Hertko Hollow, which offers participants traditional summer camp activities along with training in diabetes-management skills. diabetes. The doctors, nurses and pharmacists train staff in policy and procedures to keep campers safe.

Holwegner, reading from a testimonial received from the parent of a camper, said “Camp Hertko Hollow is literally saving my

When: April 24 to 26, Family diabetes education and teen retreat. June 21 to 27, Kids’ Week for ages 6 to 12. June 28 to July 4, Teen Week for ages 13 to 17 Where: Grounds of the YMCA north of Boone, Iowa.

Who: Children with type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Cost: $650 for a full week; $325 for mini camp. Scholarships are available.

Full Day Summer Program Children age three through school age will explore weekly themes and participate in weekly out-reach programs.

Breakfast and lunch is provided.

Space and availability are limited.

Call today for more information 402-991-6770.

daughter’s life every single day. The complications of not managing diabetes are truly deadly. I will never understand what she goes through, but her friends at camp do, and it’s a wonderful example of peer pressure. They all help each other.”

www.mpsfoundation.org June 22-27, 2015

Residential camp for gifted and talented students completing 7th or 8th grade. hastings.edu/hcsa

Creating a Foundation for Bright Futures

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Strike a pose

Camp teaches kids the ins and outs of the fashion industry

By Kim Carpenter World-Herald Correspondent

At Omaha Fashion Camp, the week begins at Goodwill’s Reserve 99 store in the Old Market, above and below, where campers are given a $5 budget to shop for clothing items that they will transform into their own designs. Back at the work area, right, the campers look for ideas that will boost their creativity and marketing skills.

3D prototyping video game design architecture

creative design camps for ages 12–15 402.341.3800 thekaneko.org

Next month, Molly O’Brien will debut a readyto-wear line at Omaha Fashion Week, the fifth largest in the country.

It’s no small accomplishment. A sophomore at Millard North, O’Brien is only 15. Less than a year ago, she was in the Omaha Fashion Camp, an experience that inspired her to aim for the runway and begin what she hopes will be a career.

O’Brien, of course, already had an interest in fashion, as do scores of kids across the metro area. Until now, they didn’t have a camp where they could explore that interest. That’s why Alyssa Dilts, owner and director Molly of Develop Model Management, O’Brien created the camp last year.

“There’s nothing like it around,” she said.

Brook Hudson, who co-produces Omaha Fashion Week with her husband, Nick, agrees.

“We’ve had a lot of parents interested in getting their kids involved, and they’re looking for opportunities,” she said. “This camp allows them to dip their toes into the water. They learn everything from how to change a hemline to talking about professional aspects of the fashion industry. It’s really well-rounded.”

Well-rounded is exactly what Dilts wanted — to create a camp for ages 6 through 17 that touches on all aspects of the fashion industry, not one that simply provides an opportunity to create an outfit to take home at the end of the week. She also wanted to make sure that the camp was open to everyone, whether they’ve designed their own clothes in the past or have never held a needle.

“It’s really accessible to everyone,” Dilts said.

Campers begin the week with a $5 budget and a trip to Goodwill’s Reserve 99 specialty retail store in the Old Market, where they purchase clothes to

Camps for ages 2-8

ocm.org

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Campers are taught some of the tools used by professional designers, such as building a “mood board� of fashion images that inspire them creatively, above.

At left, young designers learn how body proportions affect the fit of fashions. transform into their own designs. “They take the garment back and repurpose it by doing things like changing buttons or zippers,� Hudson said. “This is a good teaching opportunity to explore how things are made. And then they create something new.�

They start creating something new by using the same tool a professional designer does: a mood board, where they build a collage consisting of things such as fabric swatches, drawings and any image that might inspire them creatively. “They pick out what they really love and explain why they love it,� Dilts said.

As part of this process, campers work on creating a brand for their clothing, which involves learning about how to market their clothing and who their potential demographic might be. This can be as simple as creating a logo. “Six-year-olds come up with brand names and logos that are really creative,� Dilts

said. “A brand should mean something to the individual and yet also mean something to the public. One of the girls last year used her grandmother’s middle name in her brand name. It meant something to her.�

But fashion is about far more than designing clothes. “There are so many different areas to get involved with,� Dilts said. “We only see a narrow percentage of the fashion industry.

It’s everything from styling accessories to steaming clothes and putting them in the right styling order. That’s a super cool aspect. If you look at fashion camps in other cities, they’re not as comprehensive.�

Hudson particularly likes this approach. “The camp explores career paths the campers have yet to experience,� she said.

That’s what appealed to O’Brien. “This has been my favorite camp. It showed lots of sides of the fashion industry, not just one side, and we were able to talk to people in the industry,� she said. “The

OMAHA FASHION CAMP When: June 8 to 12.

Where: To be determined.

Who: Children ages 6 to 10 (8 a.m. to noon) and 11 to 17 (1 to 5 p.m.)

Cost: $225.

Information: www.develop-models.com.

camp really taught me about creating a brand. You never really hear about that side. They showed you things you wouldn’t necessarily think about, like stylists, the people who produce the shows, the makeup artists, the technicians, the people who make the fabrics.�

Omaha Fashion Camp not only taught O’Brien about these things; it also proved a pivotal point for her. “Alyssa told us, ‘You guys have gotten this far, so if you really want to be involved, keep working toward what you want,’ � she remembered. “That inspired me to try out for fashion week.�

The 15-year-old was accepted not only to Omaha Fashion Week but also to the one in Kansas City, and she’s excited to introduce her own creations to the public. “I’ll be showing a ready-to-wear line inspired by Bohemian style from the early ’60s and ’70s with a more modern twist,� she said.

For campers who won’t be premiering lines at fashion week, they still get a taste of the experience by putting on a fashion show for their family and friends at the end of the week. Dilts loves that aspect. “We’re super excited to see what the kids can come up with,� she said. “That’s the fun part.�

Hudson adds that the final event isn’t just about fashion. “The garments turn out really cute and define their personal style,� she said, “but it was awesome and so exciting to see how this truly builds confidence. That’s so important.�

Above all, Dilts finds it rewarding that the experience can be so transformative for campers. “Fashion is such a young person’s industry,� she said. “It’s great to start out at this level and get started young. We say, ‘Here’s a taste of it.’ I’m proud to play a part in that.�

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

UNO camp features top jazz musicians as teachers

By Joan Krasne

UNO JAZZ CAMP

World-Herald Correspondent

The UNO Jazz Camp and the Jim Widner Big Band have combined their efforts to sponsor a camp for enthusiastic teenage musicians to learn about jazz. Musicians in the Widner band have played with Stan Kenton’s orchestra, Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson.

“The UNO Jazz Camp is one of the premier jazz camps in the nation because it features some of the best jazz musicians around the country,” camp coordinator Peter Madsen said. “The members of the Widner band include professionals from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and St. Louis.”

Madsen, himself, has performed in jazz, classical and pop groups. He received his doctor of musical arts degree in trombone performance from the University of Illinois and has played with such artists as Clark Terry, Marilyn Maye, Buddy DeFranco and Louis Bellson. A performance for former President Bill Clinton was a highlight of his career so far.

Widner band members are teachers and counselors for the camp. Students have the opportunity to participate in ensembles, improvisational groups, jazz history groups and instrumental master classes.

To attend the sessions, campers must have studied their instruments for at least one year.

The camp is open to 100 kids each year.

When: June 14 to 19 (1 to 8 p.m.

Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday to Friday). Lunch is on your own.

Where: UNO Strauss Performing Arts Center.

Who: Instrumental music students in seventh grade and older.

Cost: $330, with a $50 deposit at registration.

Information: 402-554-2297, petermadsen@unomaha.edu or www.unojazzcamp.com

U n i v e r s i t y o f N e b r a s k a at O m a h a

Young musicians get a chance to both study and perform at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Summer Jazz Camp.

Seventeen professional musicians serve as teachers and counselors during the week.

Campers have a great time playing, listening and studying. They then can take their experiences back to their school jazz bands

BEST SUMMER EVER Preschool Morning Camps • Summer Day Camp Mini Camps • Specialty Camps • Sports Camps Premier Camps • YMCA Camp Platte Teen Camps • Counselor-in-Training Program

CAMP REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Contact your local YMCA for more information or visit metroymca.org for a complete camp guide. Don’t miss out on the fun!

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA • www.metroymca.org

Don’t Miss our YMCA Camp Open House!

Saturday, March 21, 2015 10:00 am-12:00 pm Register for camp during the open house and pay NO REGISTRATION FEE! ($25 value)

during the new school year.

“There are jazz camps all over the country, but this is truly one of the best in the nation,” Madsen said. “Very few camps offer an entire band of professional musicians of

this kind. Whether you consider yourself an experienced student jazz musician or you just want to try out jazz for the first time, this camp is for you if you enjoy playing your instrument.”

On June 19 at 6:30 p.m., campers will perform as the opening act for the Widner jazz band concert. Family members, teachers and friends are encouraged to come to support the students as they demonstrate their newly improved skills.

Not only do campers get to show off what they have learned, but they also are able to share a program with one of today’s hottest jazz bands.