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“It’s better to build a child
than to repair an adult”
The Community Circus Camp Concept
is based on an initiative begun in Winnipeg ten years ago
to create a program for youth and youth at risk, ages 9 to
14, to acquire self esteem building skills through unique
physical activity. These skills develop into performance,
and can lead to job and career opportunities.
Unicycle, wire walking, juggling, stilts,
rola bola, balance and performance are the core activities.
Qualified professional performer/instructors from around Canada
teach the skills. An opening show is performed by the instructors
and a closing show is performed by the campers for family
and friends.
The kids have a great time, learn skills that less than 1%
of the population have, and come to realize that they have
the ability to excel in an area that they never would have
considered. The self esteem and confidence building benefits
are enormous and automatic.
Flyin’ Bob has run many
of these camps across Canada.
He is hired as producer and director of the camp and provides
all camp equipment, PA system, music, certificates, waiver
and registration forms, hires instructors, and is available
for interviews and publicity.
The Community provides the venue, campers, volunteers, and
promotes the camp in your area.
The hope is to build a sustainable program which becomes
a part of your community rather than a one time experience.
Your Community Circus Camp is
a day camp and can be run as a Parks and Rec, Social Services,
Arts and Culture, Education or Friendship Centre program.
The Circus Camp concept easily fits within the mandate of
any of these municipal departments. Costs can be reduced considerably
by using existing community infrastructure. (eg, School Gym,
Rec Centre, existing volunteers, fire and police department
sponsorship, municipal printing services, etc)
Your Community Circus Camp can
be a free service, supported through grants and sponsorship,
or a fee based one. In Red Deer in 2004, a combination of
the two was very successful. 25 participants were sponsored
through Social Services and 25 paying registrants were found
through advertising.
2 to 5 day Community Circus Camps
can be designed for 25 to 200 participants. Extended programs
will also include swinging trapeze,
magic, acrobatics, and clowning.
Please contact Flyin’ Bob
and together a model can be developed for your community. |
