Oak Ridge Today

Local talent leads Oak Ridge Junior Playhouse Summer Camp

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Adra Cooper, camp director

Adra Cooper, camp director

This summer, youth will have the opportunity to be inspired by local talent to explore their creativity and surround themselves with fellow thespians. Oak Ridge Junior Playhouse is pleased to connect the theater community by offering this experience to learn in a workshop setting with its summer theater camp for youth from rising third grade through rising 12th.

Adra Cooper, camp director, said her experience with theater with young people has led her to value its positive effects.

“I have seen introverted students, who barely speak or look you in the eye, become talkative and confident young adults after finding confidence on stage,” Cooper said, adding that she thoroughly enjoyed the Oak Ridge Junior Playhouse theater camp last year. “I especially enjoyed watching the kids grow in their confidence.”

Cooper brings a wealth of experience from working with youth as a drama teacher, director, and past camp director, a press release said. Campers will also benefit from the creative talent and love of theater from camp assistants Adam Moreno and Josh Farner. Both young men grew up doing theater in Oak Ridge and Knoxville and are excited to share their enthusiasm with the Playhouse campers, the press release said.

Adam Moreno, assistant camp instructor, performing at Middle Tennessee State University in 2014.

Adam Moreno, assistant camp instructor, performing at Middle Tennessee State University in 2014.

Moreno, assistant camp instructor, was very involved in Oak Ridge High School’s drama group, the Masquers. Adam continued his education and graduated with a degree in theater (specializing in acting) in 2016 from Middle Tennessee State University.

“Theater gives you a number of skills you can’t get in any other one platform,” Moreno said. “It teaches you to work with others (even if you don’t get along), to speak in front of a crowd, to listen to others, to take constructive criticism, and much more.”

Farner, also an assistant camp instructor, was a frequent participant at the Oak Ridge Junior Playhouse growing up both as an actor and as a crew member. Warner currently attends the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and he is majoring in producing, directing, and playwriting. Farner attended the Oak Ridge Junior Playhouse summer camps himself, so he’s especially excited to return as an instructor. [Read more…]

Registration for 2017 Summer Camp began April 1

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Registration for the 2017 Summer Camp sponsored by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department began on Saturday, April 1. Online registration is available at https://apm.activecommunities.com/oakridgerecandparks/Home.

Space is limited, and the camp will fill up quickly, a press release said. Early registration is recommended.

In addition to online registration, walk-in registration for cash or check payment will be available during regular Oak Ridge Civic Center hours (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Walk-in registrants should complete an online profile/account before coming in to register. The staff will complete the registration at the front desk, the press release said.

The first session of camp will begin on June 5 and run for eight consecutive weeks, Monday through Friday. There will be no camp on Tuesday, July 4. Campers must be six to twelve years of age, or have completed kindergarten, the press release said. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum summer camps continue in July

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Imagination Station Summer Camp continues at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge through July, inviting children to experience garden to table fun, create with chocolate and other culinary treats, learn from the artistic masters, fashion designs in clay, and many more adventures.

The summer camps, through July 31, offer activities for children ages 3-5 in preschool classes and for children entering grades 1 through 7. Clay camps with professional clay artist Sherrie Carris will be offered throughout the summer for children ranging in age from 4-13.

The week-long camps are offered Monday through Friday each week. Fees for a single camp are $125 for members and $135 for non-members. For combo camps, morning and afternoon, fees are $210 for members and $220 for non-members. Payment may be made by phone with Visa, MasterCard or Discover, by check, or online through PayPal.

Camps for the week of June 29-July 3 are: [Read more…]

Children’s Museum hosts Wonderful Wednesdays

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The Knoxville Opera will bring entertaining and popular selections from 20th century Broadway musicals and opera classics to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge on Wonderful Wednesday, from 11 a.m.-noon June 17.

The museum will host special Wonderful Wednesday guests from 11 a.m.-noon Wednesdays during Imagination Station Summer Camp through July 31. Summer campers at the museum each week will participate, and the programs are free to the public with admission.

Other Wonderful Wednesdays are: [Read more…]

New summer STEM Camp at Robertsville Middle School: Invention Project

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Robertsville Middle School is offering Invention Project, a brand new STEM summer camp for rising sixth- to eighth-graders from June 8-12.

Invention Project builds on the great success of the Camp Invention STEM program last summer, a press release said. STEM is an acronym that means science, technology, engineering, and math, but it is also an interdisciplinary educational approach that blends these fields, which are deeply intertwined in the real world and in how students learn most effectively.

The Invention Project summer camp features a variety of entertaining and educational STEM challenges to engage the inventor, artist, and entrepreneur in each participant, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Summer Camp registration began April 1

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Registration for the 2015 Summer Camp sponsored by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department began on Wednesday, April 1. A link to ActiveNet online registration will be available at orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov.

Space is limited and the camp fills up quickly, so early registration is recommended. Online registration will be available 24/7 beginning at 8 a.m. April 1. Payment plans are available to online registrants only. All payments must be completed by June 1. Convenience fees will apply to all credit card payments and payment plans. Walk-in registration, for cash or check payment, will be available during regular Civic Center hours, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., beginning at 8 a.m. April 1. Walk-in registrants should complete an online profile/account before coming in to register. The staff will complete the registration at the front desk. [Read more…]

Register for AMSE Science Explorer Camp

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AMSE Logo

Science field explorations, hands-on activities, and a tour of Oak Ridge National Laboratory will be offered during the American Museum of Science and Energy’s Science Explorer Camp for rising fifth, sixth, and seventh graders during two June sessions. Rising fifth graders must be 10 years old by June 10.

Located at Freels Bend Cabin in Oak Ridge, AMSE’s Science Explorer Camp is scheduled for June 9-13 (Monday-Friday) and June 16-20 (Monday-Friday) from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The cost for a one-week camp session is $150 for AMSE members and $175 for non-members. Camp registration is available online here or stop by AMSE to get a camp registration form, a press release said.

Curious about insects, land and water habitats, life science, weather, geology, fossils, flight, electricity and forensic science? AMSE Science Explorer Camp, sponsored by the AMSE Foundation, introduces students to a variety of science and nature topics in a fun learning environment, the press release said. For 25 years, the Science Explorer Camp has served students with field study and hands-on activities developed by the original educators that enthusiastically continue to teach the summer sessions. [Read more…]

Registration for city summer camp begins April 1

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Registration for the 2014 Summer Camp sponsored by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will begin on Tuesday, April 1. A link to ActiveNet online registration will be available at www.orrecparks.org and www.oakridgetn.gov.

All applicants should create an online profile/account since camp information will be distributed to parents through ActiveNet email. Online registration is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week while walk-in registration is only available during regular Civic Center hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, a press release said. Payment can be made online with a credit card or the applicant can pay with cash or check at the Civic Center. Convenience fees will apply for all credit card payments. The city’s summer camp fills up fast, so early registration is advised. [Read more…]