Kids Club Camp - Hamilton Festival Theatre Company

Kids Club Camp

Calling all young campers with big imaginations!

Kids Club Camp is back in-person with Day Camp and Public Drop-Ins with FREE Arts-Based Workshops July 24-28, 2023.

Kids Club Camp will be running in-person with day camp and public drop-in activities at the 2023 Hamilton Fringe Festival. Join us for an action-packed week of day camp filled with drama, dance, music, and most importantly… fun! Featuring local guest artists each day and opportunities to catch all the performances at Family Fringe, you won’t want to miss out on all the ways creative, young Fringers can dream this summer.

Kids Club Camp runs from July 24-28, 2023 from 9:30am – 3:30pm at The Music Hall (24 Main St W, Hamilton) and is open to children ages 5-8 years of age (entering Senior Kindergarten – Grade 3). The full cost for all five days is $250 + HST with optional before- and after-care for an additional $25 + HST.

All subsidized registration spots have been claimed for this upcoming summer. Registration to Kids Club Camp closes July 1, 2023, or when all spots are filled. With only 22 spots available, don’t miss the chance to register for Kids Club Camp today!

Funding for Kids Club Camp would not be possible without generous support from the Martin Foundation Fund at Hamilton Community Foundation. The views and opinions expressed in this website do not necessarily reflect those of Hamilton Community Foundation.

Thank you to our sponsor:

FREE Family Activities at The Music Hall

We are keeping the Kids Club Camp family fun accessible by opening up FREE daily arts-based workshops! Pop by and stay with your kids to enjoy exciting guest appearances and performance-based activities outdoors WEEKDAYS at the Family Fringe Hub for FREE.

Stay tuned for our full Public Drop-In Schedule.

Public Drop-In Schedule (Coming Soon)

Event Listings (Coming Soon)

Box Office Info

Special Guest Lineup

Dramatic Arts

Carly Anna Billings

Carly Anna Billings (she/her) is a Hamilton-based Indigenous and Italian theatre-maker, risk-taker and candlestick maker. Ok that last one’s not that true, she’s only made candles in her mom’s basement once… but she IS a comedian, actor, singer, storyteller and podcaster. Carly is a co-founder of the bi-city theatre company @afterlifetheatre whose solo show Meat(less) Loaf premiered at the 2022 Hamilton Fringe to critical acclaim. She also co-hosts the weekly spooky comedy podcast @ghostsareeverywherepod.

Visual Arts

Rebecca Casalino

Rebecca is an artist-educator based in Hamilton. She is a white queer woman, maintaining her practice through personal collaborations in her community and sheer willpower. Working in artists’ multiples, video, sculpture, performance and drawing Casalino channels her lived experience through her quirky, often deadpan, humour. Casalino completed her BA in Studio Art, at the University of Guelph and graduated from OCAD University with an MFA in Criticism and Curatorial Practice. She currently works as a freelance facilitator running youth arts programs across Hamilton.

Dance

Dylan Vandemaele

Dylan Vandemaele (He/Him) is an actor and dance instructor based in Hamilton. Dylan trained at Defining Movement Dance, specializing in street styles such as hip-hop, commercial choreography, funk styles (popping/locking) and more. Dylan has worked with various companies such as The Hamilton Fringe, The CEBL, Theatre Aquarius, Defining Movement Dance, Rooks Theatre, and more within Hamilton’s scene of arts as a performer and producer.

Movement

Clairandean Humphrey

Clairandean is a Black Queer Multidisciplinary Artist, Movement Instructor, and Tarot Reader based in Hamilton. They completed their embodiment program at GOODBODYFEEL and currently remain an instructor. They have completed their training with New Leaf Foundation Program: Reaching In, Reaching Out program. Deepening their understanding in trauma informed, gender inclusive and anti-oppressive frameworks. Their various practices explore movement as ritual, mindful movement, and play.

Music Production

Arturo Jimenez

Arturo Jimenez is an interdisciplinary Artist/Musician from Hamilton Ontario. His practice incorporates new and traditional media/sound. Now engaged in the local Hamilton music and art community, Jimenez has published work with various independent record labels, sold visual works at McMaster University’s SUMMA 2020 & 2021 charity auctions, and collaborated with established artists and community leaders. Jimenez is currently involved with local non-profit community projects.

View Sample Schedule

9:00am Optional: before-care begins
9:30am Camp Welcome, Warm Up Games
9:45am Snack
10:00am Music, Drama and Dance
11:00am Arts and Crafts
12:00pm Lunch
12:30pm Special Guest Activity (Public Drop-In)
1:30pm Family Fringe Show
2:30pm Snack
2:45pm Camp-Wide Game
3:15pm Campfire
3:30pm See You Tomorrow!
4:00m Optional: after-care ends

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need any theatre training?

Kids Club Camp is open to children at any experience level. We are excited to meet campers in their artistic journey and build new skills this summer together.

What is your refund policy for summer camp?

In the event you have to cancel camp, a full refund will be provided up until one week prior to the camp (July 17, 2023). After this we are unable to provide refunds.

If my child is very shy, how will you support them?

Our Kids Club Camp staff members are well-equipped to navigate a variety of barriers campers may experience. We are dedicated to building connections and empowering brave spaces. If you have specific concerns, or want to share helpful strategies we encourage you to get in touch with the Kids Club Camp Coordinators for a one-on-one phone call.

Should I have concerns about too much screen time, eye strain, and that my child will be sitting for too long?

We believe that camp is about putting away our screens, getting outside, and making meaningful relationships with campers and staff. Kids Club Camp activities will be focused on hands on arts-based learning and we encourage campers to leave any personal devices at home or with their belongings.

Are there subsidized spaces?

There are two (2) subsidized spots available each summer at zero cost on a first come first serve basis. Although Hamilton Fringe staff will not be asking for further questions to prove a need for a subsidized spot if requested, these spots are reserved for those who are in high financial need (i.e. reserved for children who would not be able to access this camp without this type of support). There are currently still subsidized spots open for the 2023 summer. All subsidized spaces have been claimed for this upcoming summer, however full price registration is still open!

Will I get to see my child perform?

Yes! There will be a final performance by the Kids Club Camp campers at The Music Hall on Friday, July 28th from 3:00pm-3:30pm on the last day of camp. The performance is available for all parents and guardians to attend.

My camper has food allergies, will I be able to send them to camp?

We do our best to be aware of all camper allergies prior to camp start through registration and ensure that the snacks provided by the Hamilton Fringe comply with all dietary restrictions. We cannot guarantee that our site will be free of your camper’s specific allergy, as campers and guests bring their own products. If this happens, we ask guests and campers to put this product back into their bags. If it is opened, we also ask them to wash their hands while staff sanitize surfaces.

What are the Kids Club Camp Staff like?

We are proud to have such qualified and experienced Kids Club Camp staff and guest artists on our team with over a decade of experience working with children and youth. All staff and volunteers go through an interview process complete with reference and vulnerable sector screenings. Additionally, all staff take part in a training week that includes conflict resolution, leading with care, health and safety, creative counselling, and certified Plan to Protect training. Senior Kids Camp staff are also certified in Standard First Aid.