Circus Arts Camp

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How long has CAC been operating?
2. Are campers able to meet kids their own age?
3. Are campers grouped according to age or skill level?
4. What kind of safety procedures do you use?
5. What if a camper isn't interested in trying a particular skill?
6. How do the campers stay hydrated and healthy on a really hot day?
7. Do you offer anything besides the circus curriculum?
8. What do campers usually do for lunch?
9. Can parents stay and watch camp activities?
10. Can campers attend for just one week?
11. Can campers attend for more than one session?
12. Are there any scholarships given?
13. Do campers have to audition to be in the circus show?
14. How many people can attend a camper's circus show?
15. What happens at Aerial Arts Week if the weather is bad?

1. How long has CAC been operating?
Begun in 1989, our camp was hosted for many years by SUNY Purchase. From 2003 to 2007 we operated on the SUNY Purchase campus under the aegis of Future Stars Camps. In fall 2007, Circus Arts Camp LLC left SUNY Purchase and the Future Stars umbrella organization and moved its program and staff to beautiful new air-conditioned quarters in the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Upper School Campus in Hartsdale, New York. Circus Arts Camp continues to offer instruction in a wide variety of popular circus skills, plus concentrated training in our newest program, Aerial Arts Week. We are the first and only place in Westchester County where you can experience the thrill of the flying trapeze.

2. Are campers able to meet kids their own age?
Children who are 7 years old or entering second grade in the upcoming September can enroll in our full-day camp, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our campers are as old as 15 and 16, with every age group being well represented in the 7-to-16 spread. Half of our camper population is under 10 years, and the other half is 10 or older.

3. Are campers grouped according to age or skill level?
In forming groups to practice at the various skill stations, campers themselves get to choose whether they want to be in a group with their siblings, with their friends, or with other kids around their own age. We have found this approach creates the most amount of fun for the campers and the greatest comfort level for them in trying new things.

4. What kind of safety procedures do you use?
At Circus Arts Camp, safety is made to be everyone's concern. All campers are taught and reminded frequently about safety requirements, and they are encouraged to look out for the safety of every camper in their group, whatever the skill being practiced. Campers are never permitted to practice skills without the required safety equipment, and equipment is never made available without supervision. All our equipment, such as safety belts and floor mats, meet the standards of the industry, and are checked and maintained by experienced personnel on a regular basis. Our staff is trained in spotting techniques and certified in safety procedures by the United States Gymnastics Federation (USGF) and other recognized industry organizations. All our aerial rigging is installed and maintained by our director Philippe Vercruyssen, who is an Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) rigger, as well as a CMC Rope Rescue Technician. Philippe works regularly as a rigging consultant to professional troupes such as Cirque du Soleil and Big Apple Circus during the “off season.” And lastly, experience itself is a safety precaution. Our years of experience in teaching circus arts and our own years of personal training have helped us develop a comprehensive curriculum that effectively matches developmental benchmarks with skill development. Our ability to recognize what a child should be able to do, actually can do, and is willing to do on any given day, helps us keep our campers safe and successful in their circus adventure.

5. What if a camper isn't interested in trying a particular skill?
During the first week of the session, campers are introduced to a wide variety of skills, and given the opportunity to see what appeals to them. Campers are encouraged during the second week to spend their time engaged in the skills that they most want to master, and those they feel comfortable practicing. There are always multiple skill sessions happening concurrently during the day, so there is always something for campers to practice. While we encourage campers to try everything, no camper is ever required to attempt something that he or she does not want to do.

6. How do the campers stay hydrated and healthy on a really hot day?
Aside from the great natural light that pours into the gyms at the Schechter School, and the handsome look of these facilities, the gyms are notable for being air-conditioned, giving summer comfort to all our campers. Additionally, water is available all day long. Campers are urged to cool down and stay hydrated as their regimen requires.

7. Do you offer anything besides the circus curriculum?
A portion of the camper's day—about an hour—will be spent in outdoor activities (weather and temperature permitting). Age appropriate games and noncompetitive sports are directed by experienced staff from the Solomon Schechter Summer Academy.

8. What do campers usually do for lunch?
A nutritious, fresh lunch, as well as daily midmorning and afternoon snacks are provided to all campers as part of their registration—no lunch money or brown bags required. Food is prepared and served in the Schechter Café by the regular kitchen staff, which operates all year long at the school. Menus offer an appealing variety of hot and cold choices and the meal program at the Schechter School has been well received by the students there. Campers with special dietary requirements must contact the directors prior to their camp session to make arrangements for nonparticipation in the meal program since all food, snacks, and beverages consumed on the premises must be certified kosher and must be either dairy or pareve.

9. Can parents stay and watch camp activities?
As with school, parents are encouraged to drop off and leave their campers on a regular schedule, to facilitate the daily routine of camp. If parents have safety concerns, or if their child has special needs, they should discuss these with the directors.

10. Can campers attend for just one week?
Our newest program, Aerial Arts Week is specifically designed to be a one-week program with a focused curriculum. For the regular summer sessions that precede it, the directors have developed a carefully staged curriculum of skill introduction and refinement that involves a two-week span which brings campers comfortably from their first attempt through to their circus performance on the final day. The first week is spent learning skills, and the second week focuses on refining those skills and preparing for the Big Circus Show. Based on the directors' experience, the two-week period is necessary for team-building and achieving sufficient mastery of the skills, as well as promoting another important aspect of summer camp: meeting new people and making new friends. Special attendance arrangements should be discussed with the directors, who do try to accommodate every family's needs.

11. Can campers attend for more than one session?
Absolutely! Many campers attend two sessions, some attend all of them. (Note there is a special discounted price for enrolling in the Aerial Arts Week for campers also enrolled in a regular session.) Not surprisingly, we find that the level of skill and degree of confidence a camper displays is exponentially improved with multiple session attendance.

12. Are there any scholarships given?
At present there is no tuition assistance available. However, we do offer early-registration incentives, and discounts on sibling registrations that bring some cost savings, and our Counselor-in-Training program provides a heavily discounted participation cost.

13. Do campers have to audition to be in the circus show?
Every camper is welcome to perform in the circus show held at the end of each two-week session. No audition is necessary, and campers themselves choose the skills they wish to show off in the closing performance. The directors and staff follow a framework that helps each camper take the stage with confidence on the last day, and perform those skills the camper has come to enjoy and feels good performing. Our show is a lot of kids in the center ring having fun and working hard! We do ask that campers are sure to attend their dress rehearsal on Thursday, the day before the show, so that they and their fellow performers are fully prepared for the spotlight. (Note: At the end of Aerial Arts Week there is no circus show, in order to allow for maximum focus on skill development over the five days.)

14. How many people can attend a camper's circus show?
As many of your family and friends as you would like can attend the show. There are no tickets required. Photography and videos for personal, noncommercial use are welcome.

15. What happens at Aerial Arts Week if the weather is bad?
Aerial Arts Week offers a concentrated curriculum, but it is still an array of skills that can be practiced both indoors and outdoors. Flying trapeze, which is rotated into the schedule at a level consistent with our campers’ strength and stamina, is necessarily taught outdoors, in the field behind the gym building. If the weather is inclement enough to preclude flying, campers get additional practice on the lyra, the static trapeze, the Spanish web, the hammock, the trampoline, or in partner acrobatics for that time period. The decision to suspend flying is always made on the basis of safety and enjoyment for our campers.