Arts & MEdia Camps

Acro is a combination of dance and acrobatic skills with an emphasis on strength, flexibility and the self-expression and rhythm of modern dance. Campers will have the opportunity to learn basic tumbling skills, leaps and jumps, as well as lifts and partner work. The benefits to campers include physical fitness, self-discipline, positive self-esteem, lasting friendships and team skills. Choreographed to music, campers will work towards developing a short acro routine showcasing skills they learned during the week that they will perform on stage in the Friday Showcase. This camp is the perfect opportunity to give acro a try for the first time, or to keep your camper having fun and working on their acro/ gymnastics skills through the summer. Acro Camp is directed by qualified, experienced instructors in a fun, supportive, safe environment where skills are taught progressively and modified for campers' skill levels.

Each day will offer a few hours of acro in our dance studio with a professional-quality sprung dance floor and mirrored walls, along with a variety of different activities such as crafts, recreational swim time, dance games, outdoor activities and much more. The camp provides a nutritious lunch daily in Appleby’s cafeteria. This camp is a huge hit with youngsters!

Ever wondered what happens backstage before, during and after a Theatre performance?  Did you know that most actor training programs recommend logging hours behind the scenes? Here’s your chance to learn the work that happens backstage and what it takes to make performers shine! 

Through hands-on learning, qualified Camp Instructors will help broaden camper’s understanding of all the puzzle pieces that make up a successful show.    From make-up to lighting to costumes changes, to sound, campers will learn many crucial skills about what it takes to prepare a production for dress rehearsals the live performance! Campers will have the opportunity to apply these skills during the live Friday Showcase, in conjunction with the Theatre Arts program, experiencing the backstage tech of an actual show!  This program also provides a balanced day, so campers will take a break from being backstage to enjoy some cooperative outdoor team building games, recreational swim time, and a hot lunch in Appleby’s dining hall. 

This hands-on program brings technical skills and working alongside others together furthering cooperation and teamwork.   Whether you have experience working backstage or want to learn what it’s all about, join the Backstage Tech camp to become the competent crew member for the Friday showcases!

You don't have to be a chef or even experienced in the kitchen to join the fun in this popular hands-on camp! In this sweet and tasty program, campers learn cooking and baking techniques, proper food handling, food preparation and presentation, kitchen safety, and how to decorate a cookie, cupcake, and more! The experienced Appleby instructors will teach campers basic recipes and techniques for decorating treats with icing flowers, letters, custom colours and more! Held in Appleby’s dining hall and newly renovated servery, there is a focus on safety while also promoting self-confidence and awareness in a fun and inspiring setting! The program also includes a well-rounded day with supervised outdoor activities, energizers, recreational swim time and also includes a nutritious lunch. Come join us and learn the basics of decorating and baking! Parents are welcome to join campers on the last day of camp to taste the end products of their children's amazing works of edible art!

Youngsters aged 7-12 who enjoy cartoons and comics from books, movies and galaxies far away will love this camp! Cartoon and Comics Camp has sketched up a week of activities where campers can discover how to draw incredible cartoons and have an absolute ball while they’re at it.

Talented artists and qualified staff teach campers sure-handed cartoon drawing skills to help their imaginations leap off the pages! As participants explore drawing and narration techniques, colourization, and the creation of a story-board creation, they will develop their very own comic creation. Learn about animation, and how animators create cartoons and movies. This hands-on program brings art to life using timelines and keyframes, all delivered in a fun, interactive and supportive manner!

Each camper concludes the week of camp with an impressive portfolio displaying their artwork, cartoons and comic strips. Appleby will host an exhibition of campers’ work for interested families and friends at the end of the week. Campers will also enjoy recreational swim time, a hot lunch in Appleby’s cafeteria and outdoor play!

Cooking is fun because it's like one big experiment, and best part is…. you get to taste the outcome!

Chefs in Training is a hands-on experience run by professional chefs that focuses on getting our campers comfortable and confident in the kitchen. Serving as an introduction to the culinary arts, in this camp participants will get to try new foods, read recipes, and practice food preparation basics such as measuring, mixing, and knife handling! This high-in-demand camp has a strong focus on food hygiene and kitchen safety, as such, in addition to the aid and supervision of our qualified staff, our budding chefs will be paired or grouped in rotation to allow each camper to participate with and as a "peer safety spotter" during the practice of advanced cooking/preparation techniques. And let's not forget about the best part of this camp: when the food is ready each camper will get to eat their tasty creation and/or take it home to share... that is if they save any for you! Campers will also enjoy a hot, nutritional lunch and recreational swim.

Campers are encouraged to bring their favourite aprons as well as containers to bring home their recipes each day.

Whether you have experience helping in the kitchen or have never cooked a thing, you will leave this camp with new skills, increased confidence and an appreciation for the value and importance of what we eat. Let's get cooking!

Calling all writers, beginner and experienced! Either under a tree overlooking the lake, or in our state-of-the-art classrooms, Appleby provides an inspiring setting where campers can feel safe and supported as they grow as writers! This new camp is designed to offer the opportunity to develop creative abilities and writing talents. Instructed by experienced and talented instructors, campers will receive specific writing instruction and discuss individually with staff to build and reinforce their writing skills. Campers will have time to explore their writing interests, discover their strengths, and learn more about the craft of writing. (Please note that this is not a remedial writing camp). Campers will also enjoy a hot nutritional lunch served daily from our dining hall and have the option to participate in recreational swim time.

The camp provides in-depth writing instruction, extended periods of writing time, flexibility in writing assignments, and daily time to share writing with peers. Fiction, Non-Fiction, Writing for the Stage, Poetry and Screenplays are some of the potentials! A nutritious lunch and a recreational swim time in the pool will help inspire the creative juices daily! Join us this summer, and unlock the writer in YOU!

Have you ever looked at a bowl or a mug and wondered how it was made? Learn the three basic techniques of Clay Creation. Campers 10-14 years of age will begin to master the art of pinching, coiling, and slab building. Clay Creation will help campers brand new to the world of pinch pots, or build on the skills of those ready to slip cast your next serving bowl. As their masterpieces have been through the kiln, painted, and/or glazed; campers will continue to add final touches to showcase their newly learned skills.

The program also includes a balanced day of co-operative activities outdoors, recreational swim time and includes a nutritious lunch, with hot selections. The week culminates with campers displaying their work in our Friday Showcase!

Hop n’ bop your summer away with this fun dance camp! Campers will learn a variety of different dance moves at the same time as making new friends and learning new games.

The Dance Camp is designed to develop creativity, co-ordination, flexibility, physical strength, self-confidence, musicality, and performance skills in beginner to intermediate dancers. Using story-based themes, campers will learn a variety of dance genres such as modern, jazz, ballet, creative movement, and hip hop. Making costume pieces, delving into theatrical makeup, and developing choreography skills are all part of the fun! Using a selection of the latest music, sound, costume, props and masks, the campers perform dance routines that are an integral part of the weekly production.

This fun Dance Camp emphasizes the development of technique, terminology and creative skills relating to dance and composition in a variety of performance situations. Our dance instructors bring a wealth of dance experience as well as a background in children’s education, providing a fun approach to learning. Campers will be grouped by skill level.

The goal of this program is to introduce campers to new styles of dance, strengthen technique of experienced dancers, provide a wonderful platform for future progress and to have fun! Campers use the dance skills they learn to create a routine that they will perform for interested families and friends at the end of the week.

Building on skill sets learned in Cartoons and Comics, campers will learn the basics of computer animation including how to take photographs or other images and transform them into comics! Campers will add word balloons, captions and sounds to their drawings and photographs to create a comic strip for the web or an interactive comic they can share with family and friends! In this exciting program, you’ll learn all about cartoon animation using computer software in one of Appleby’s computer labs. Learn how animators at Cartoon Network, Disney and Pixar create cartoons and movies. Begin by creating your own drawings and then explore ways to modify them on the computer. Learn how to bring your art to life, animate your drawings using timelines and key frames and by incorporating sound and special effects.

Talented artists and qualified staff teach campers digital cartooning skills to help camper’s imaginations come to life! Learn about animation, and how animators create cartoons and movies. This hands-on program brings art to life using timelines and key frames, all delivered in a fun, interactive and supportive manner!

Each camper concludes the week of camp with an impressive digital cartoon. Appleby will host an exhibition of campers’ work for interested families and friends at the end of the week. Campers will also enjoy recreational swim time, a hot lunch in Appleby’s cafeteria and playing co-operative outdoors daily.

Exploring the Arts Camp gives campers an opportunity to try their hands at a wide variety of different art avenues. Blending instruction, exploration and creativity provides a great experience for all participants. Our staff is an exceptional collection of certified teachers, instructors, assistants and volunteers who entertain/educate daily. Exploring the Arts provides a fun introduction to many traditional art forms such as painting, sculpting, cartooning, fashion design, music and beat production and photography! Our aim for this camp is to nurture an appreciation for the arts and provide an environment where all campers achieve success regardless of their artistic ability.

In this camp, qualified instructors and teachers present different art mediums in a creative and fun way! Campers will gain a solid foundation of introductory art techniques that will help them express their imagination through a selection of different mediums. The program also includes a well-rounded day with supervised recreational activities outdoors, fun games, art scavenger hunts, recreational swim time and also includes a nutritious lunch.

Each week culminates in an impressive art exhibition/gallery of campers’ work. A personal portfolio displaying their artwork contributes to our Friday Showcase. Parents/guardians and friends are invited to be amazed by your campers’ creations on Friday afternoon!

Bring out the fashionista in you! Campers will explore the elements of fashion design (colour, silhouette, fabric, line) and learn about the process of designing for a specific client, character and/or occasion. Campers will experience life as a designer by creating their own “label” and will fabric paint it onto their own portfolio case. Campers will complete acrylic and mixed media art work and learn embellishment techniques in ribbon, felt and feathers. Through the "Doll Project", participants will be a Fashion Designer, Fashion Photographer and Fashion Writer and walk the runway with their favourite pieces in our Friday Showcase! No previous experience necessary as participants will develop a keen understanding of what it takes to be successful in the fashion industry. If you daydream of seeing a catwalk full of your designer outfits and have a flair for fashion, this camp is the perfect fit for you!

Bring out the fashionista in you! Campers will learn about the process of developing a design “From Design to Consumer”. This includes sketches, technical drawings, pattern making, cutting and sewing, accessorizing, marketing , selling wholesale/retail. Participants' very own designed label will be painted on their portfolio containing their fashion illustrations (a complete outfit) with technical (flat) drawings and fabric swatches of their original designs for their bag.

Campers will design and make the patterns for pockets on their bags. Once their “License to Drive” on the machines are passed, construction of the bags begins (basic materials for bags are included)! Campers will also have a chance to “Drape” fabric on a dressform as well as make and embellish a Top Hat to wear for the Runway Show on Friday! No previous experience necessary as participants will develop a keen understanding of what it takes to be successful in the fashion industry. If you daydream of seeing a catwalk full of your designer outfits and have a flair for fashion, this camp is the perfect fit for you!

This introductory program explores the making of a film in an exciting and hands-on environment! Camera techniques, editing and sequence are all studied together. Campers, often working alongside others through the process will learn the stages involved in the creation of a digital movie and further their skills in cooperative teamwork.

Film campers can explore the world of movies and television from both behind and in front of the camera, working with guidance from instructors who are themselves experienced film-makers and teachers. Campers work towards the creation of short movies which are screened at camp. Campers write screenplays, scout locations, try different jobs on a film set, learn about movie acting, and discover how to break into film and television through audition training. Each week this camp ends with our movie premiere where interested families and friends can enjoy the unveiling of the campers’ films. A nutritious lunch with hot selections is included as well as supervised activities and recreational swimming periods help to form an action-packed day.

Do you enjoy singing?!  Do you like movies like ‘Pitch Perfect’ and ‘Glee’?  Then join us for Glee at Appleby Camps this summer!  Glee offers an exciting way to spend a week of summer for campers who are serious about the performing arts and is a great introduction to the joy of song!!  Learn how to make the most of your natural singing voice in coordination with a group of like-minded people. Under the guidance of our highly skilled camp instructors and vocal teachers, this camp will explore harmonies, vocal ranges, mastering melodies and vocal techniques! Throughout the week you will learn about different genres of music, which voice range you best fit into, the basics of reading music and different vocal techniques. Creativity thrives in this week of combining song with developing ensemble performance skills.  Glee Camp welcomes campers of all experience levels from beginners to experienced young singers (ages 7-12). 

Glee Camp helps to develop skills in singing, dance and acting and helps to develop a self-confidence, communication and collaborative skills within all participants.  Building balanced days with recreational activities outdoors, a nutritious lunch and a recreational swim time in the pool will give campers time to rest their vocal cords and be ready for the rest of the day.

While in a small group atmosphere, campers learn how to make the most of their voices, and through creative choices in movement they will perform a unique choreographed song by week’s end!  Parents/Guardians will be invited to see their young performers in the Friday Showcase to highlight the wonderful melodies they have created during the week.  Join us to make melodies and memories with Glee Club Camp!

Do you see in a world full of shapes and colours or perhaps you look at a sign and rearrange the words and pictures in your mind. 

The world of Graphic Design is a growing industry as more talented individuals are hitting the Digital Marketing scene.

Campers age 10-14 who have never created new fonts, or who design holiday cards annually are welcome to join us for a week of skill development and fun in our new camp.

Our talented Instructors will encourage campers to find their motivation to create posters, cards, website pages and more.

The program also includes a balanced day of co-operative activities outdoors, games, recreational swim time and includes a nutritious lunch, with hot selections. The week culminates with campers showcasing their creations at our Friday Showcase!

Have you ever looked at a mason jar, or a piece of wood, or some colourful beads and thought of all the different ways to transform them into something wonderful? This camp is geared towards those creative and crafty minds looking for a place to learn or refine those DIY skills. Campers will have the opportunity to create things such as a mason jar centrepiece, pallet board sign, painted mug, moon sand, small rug hooking, family tree, scrapbook page, and perhaps a piece of homemade jewellery!

Supplies are included in the cost, as well as a daily nutritional hot lunch and swimming in our indoor pool. Show off your work to friends and family at our Friday Showcase!

Do you love music? Want to start producing your own beats? Are you curious as to how music is made? Have you always wanted to create your own digital music mashups and remixes? In this fun camp qualified instructors open the doors to musical exploration providing campers with the tools to express themselves creatively, be adventurous with technology, and build confidence!

Learn about song writing, DJing, mixing, music history and composing songs! Campers get a chance to indulge their inner rock star through hands-on lessons. Through learning about sound, design, choreography, songwriting, and music campers will be actively learning and have a creative outlet for their musical talents! With access to the latest software they will be able to turn a computer into a keyboard, drum kit, with presets for voice or guitar too! The week culminates with campers making music like a pro, even if they have never played a note!

Do you love music? Want to start producing your own beats? Are you curious as to how music is made? Have you always wanted to create your own digital music mashups and remixes? In this fun camp qualified instructors open the doors to musical exploration providing campers with the tools to express themselves creatively, be adventurous with technology, and build confidence!

Learn about song writing, DJing, mixing, music history and composing songs! Campers get a chance to indulge their inner rock star through hands-on lessons. Through learning about sound, design, choreography, songwriting, and music campers will be actively learning and have a creative outlet for their musical talents! With access to the latest software they will be able to turn a computer into a keyboard or drum kit, with presets for voice or guitar too! The week culminates with campers making music like a pro, even if they have never played a note!

Designed specifically for campers ages 7 – 10 who would like to learn or improve their photography skills. Behind the lens of their own digital camera, campers will learn the 5 basic rules of photography; Simplicity, The Rule of Thirds, Lines, Balance and Framing. Campers build and shoot stone statues at the beach, create mini worlds, shoot images of patterns and textures in the woodland trail, create their own Photograms (yes, a real darkroom using B/W paper and processing chemicals). The print is taken home by the campers. A professional photographer and camp staff provide top-level instruction in all fundamentals essential to learning and improving photography skills.

Campers will practice taking pictures in various locations on Appleby’s beautiful 60-acre campus, shooting ‘Forced Perspective’ images, leaves in water, reflections in water droplets and much more. Our fully equipped digital media lab provides a great environment for campers' imaginations, using Photoshop to develop images as well as leaning how to crop, use quick mask to create colour within a B/W image and adjust the HSL (Hue, Luminance and Saturation.

Campers will need to bring a camera, fully charged battery, empty memory card, USB thumb drive and lots of enthusiasm as they explore the world of digital photography. Campers will be venturing out for field work so please ensure the camera they use is something that parents/guardians are ok with being intensively handled. The program also includes a well-rounded day with supervised recreational activities outdoors, energizers, photo scavenger hunts, recreational swim time and also includes a nutritious lunch, with hot selections.

Each campers’ week culminates in designing a collage displaying their best photographs which is printed to be taken home and they create a  slideshow of their images shot during the week, using I-Movie, that family and friends are invited to attend.

Calling all digital photography enthusiasts ages 10 - 14! A professional photographer, with the help of camp staff, will deliver a five-day development program aimed at beginners to advanced-skill level photographers and focuses on helping each camper maximize his/her talent. This camp aims to be fun, encourage and motivate young photographers, stimulate their imagination, and inspire creative freedom. Campers must be prepared to bring a functional digital DSLR camera that offers a range of exposure and focus control, fully charged battery, memory card, empty USB Thumb Drive and lots of enthusiasm.

This camp is about learning to use the functions of your camera to take pictures of people and places and things with increased predictability and control well beyond mere snapshots. Using Photoshop campers will make their digital photos really stand out, starting from basic adjustments, progressing to advanced artistic control for creative results. Learning about ‘The 5 Rules’, The Golden Ratio and raw vs. JPG, inserting text (even 3D) to images to make an ad for cupcakes, B/W conversions and pull zoom techniques. Campers create their own Photograms (yes, a real darkroom using B/W paper and processing chemicals), the print is taken home by the campers. A professional photographer and camp staff provide top-level instruction in all fundamentals essential to learning and improving photography skills.

The program also includes a well-rounded day with supervised recreational activities outdoors, energizers, photo scavenger hunts, recreational swim time and also includes a nutritious lunch, with hot selections.

Each campers’ week culminates in designing a collage displaying their best photographs which is printed to be taken home and they create a  slideshow of their images shot during the week, using I-Movie, that family and friends are invited to attend.

Discover the wondrous world of acting, drama games and theater! Creativity thrives in this action-packed week of improvisation, scene-creation, and unique characterization through voice and movement. Theatre Arts Camp welcomes campers of all experience levels from beginners to experienced young actors (ages 7-15).

Under the guidance of our highly skilled camp instructors and teachers, this camp introduces valuable theatre arts skills in creative drama, movement, improvisation and production design, and creating fun characters for the stage, all while rehearsing an original production! Theatre Arts Camp helps to develop a keen sense of creativity, self-confidence, communication and collaborative skills within all participants. While in a small group atmosphere, campers learn to build a story script and develop characters through creative choices in movement and sound. Our performers explore guided improvisations, group exercises, and open scenes, while creating truthful moments, specific character choices, and learning to work as a group.

The program also has added features to this exciting week, building balanced days with recreational activities outdoors, theater games, some puppet or mask making, theatrical make-up lessons, recreational swim time and also includes a nutritious lunch, with hot selections. The week culminates with campers stepping into the spotlight to perform their original production on the big stage within Appleby’s Willis Hall Theatre!

Join us as we get creative both outside and inside our art studios, exploring the wonderful world of visual arts! In Visual Arts Jr. campers are introduced to a variety of artistic media including a selection of drawing materials, paint, paper mâché, modeling clay and items drawn from the environment as they develop drawing, painting and sculpting skills. Campers will be also be introduced to a selection of artistic-styles and encouraged to create within their framework. Of course, each camper will also get ample time to explore their own mind and creativity to produce completely original work, both individually and in collaborative projects.

In this camp, qualified instructors and teachers present different art mediums in a creative and fun way! Campers will gain a solid foundation of introductory art techniques that will help them express their imagination through a selection of different mediums. The program also includes a well-rounded day with supervised recreational activities outdoors, fun games, art scavenger hunts, recreational swim time and also includes a nutritious lunch.

Each week culminates in an impressive art exhibition/gallery of campers’ work. A personal portfolio displaying their artwork contributes to our Friday Showcase. Parents/guardians and friends are invited to be amazed by your campers’ creations on Friday afternoon!

Join us as we get creative both outside and inside our art studios, exploring the wonderful world of visual arts! Visual Arts Sr. takes campers past the basics of artistry, and delves deeper into more advanced techniques, stylings, and even artistic philosophies. Campers will be taught advanced techniques in a variety of artistic media such as sketching, painting, modeling, sculpting, and more!

Campers will get to try their hand at recreating some famous masterpieces as well as work on their very own creations with high quality tools and instruments, as they explore both individual and collective projects.

In this camp, qualified instructors and teachers present different art mediums in a creative and fun way! Campers will gain advanced understanding and practice of complex artistic techniques that will help them express their ideas with increasing confidence. Two-dimensional paintings and drawings, three-dimensional sculpted work, printmaking, trainings on mounting and displaying work, understanding the role of visual arts within performing arts, colour schemes and mixing theory round out an all-encompassing Visual Arts experience. The program also includes a well-rounded day with supervised recreational activities outdoors, fun games, like Pictionary and Cranium, art scavenger hunts, recreational swim time and also includes a nutritious lunch.

Each week culminates in an impressive art exhibition/gallery of campers’ work. A personal portfolio displaying their artwork contributes to our Friday Showcase. Parents/guardians and friends are invited to be amazed by your campers’ creations on Friday afternoon!