More than 250 at-risk kids will participate in the Circus and Magic Partnership (C.A.M.P.) taking place at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg, on now until April 3.
C.A.M.P. is an artistic intervention project spearheaded by the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival. Under the program, each child learns to become a well-rounded variety performer, using materials like stilts, unicycles, tight wires, and magic and juggling supplies. The project’s objective is to provide a positive and proactive arts and education experience opportunity for “youth-at-risk.”
The kids are selected in partnership with school guidance counselors, The Winnipeg Police Service, social service agencies, and inner-city drop-in and resource centers. This year’s Winnipeg C.A.M.P. participants will primarily come from the following areas: Downtown, West Broadway, North End, Point Douglas and East Kildonan/Elmwood.
A contingent of world class circus artists, magicians and arts instructors provide instructional workshops and performance opportunities for the kids, aged 10-14. The one-week camp culminates with a performance by the participants for their parents, peers, family and friends.
This is the 13th Winnipeg C.A.M.P. event staged by the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival (www.kidsfest.ca), a charitable, non-profit, community-based organization. C.A.M.P. is a precursor to this year’s Kidsfest taking place June 4-7 at the Forks.
Earlier this month the same C.A.M.P. program was offered to children in rural Manitoba communities.
