A Note from Camp Director, Will Connell
Hello, Wolf PAC families!
As Camp 2026 rapidly approaches, we are busy preparing for what promises to be a stellar summer at Wolf PAC Summer Theatre Camp. This will be my seventh year working at camp after starting as a PAC and CUBS Director in 2018, then becoming the Assistant Camp Director in 2021 and ultimately Camp Director in 2022. So you might say it’s time for the seven year itch…because we are switching things up this summer!
We are introducing new age breakdowns and program names - Minis, Players, Company, and Troupe. Thanks to the overwhelming success of camp in recent years, we have the valuable opportunity to look globally at our programming and innovate as needed so we can continue serving our mission. Adjusting our age breakdowns allows us to welcome more performers into our community and to expand upon the opportunities each program offers.
After a stellar premiere summer, our Minis program returns for our rising kindergarten campers, building the foundation of theatre education through early childhood education practices and tools of ensemble storytelling.
This summer, the Players make their debut! Rising 1st-3rd graders will embark on fantastic quests inspired by some of literature’s most beloved adventures, deepening their theatrical knowledge through expanded musical opportunities, involved scriptwork, and more. Each week will also feature a hands-on lesson in sound design known as Foley artistry.
Next up, the Company brings Broadway titles center stage for our rising 4th-8th graders. This year, we are replacing our one-week sessions with another two-week session which allows us to produce each of our titles three times throughout the summer, giving actors even more opportunities to perform and fully embody their favorite Broadway characters. This summer’s lineup consists of titles that take us from the ocean floor to a backstage whodunit to a posh country club and beyond!
Even our Electives are getting a facelift, with the new title of ArtsLab workshops, expanding our offerings to Company participants and adding some new zest into the programming.
Rising 9th-12th graders will continue to have two exciting opportunities: our tuition-free Counselor in Training (CIT) program, where participants work alongside professional teaching artists as they teach, stage, and produce each week’s performance, and our newly renamed Troupe (formerly Summer Nights), which stages a full musical reading. This year’s adventure: Into the Woods! These intrepid performers will head into the woods to see the King, sell the cow, and–of course–go to the Festival
In addition to our traditional programming, this summer will feature our brand-new Spotlight Days. From June 29-July 1, campers can join us for one-day workshops in various artistic disciplines such as backstage tech, improv, and more. Groups will break down to incorporate rising Kindergarten through third grade and fourth through eighth grade. These sessions will offer a more exploratory introduction to these areas and culminate in a daily “show and tell” of the fresh and exciting skills from each day!
Every story we’re telling this summer leads the characters on an unexpected journey, sometimes to different planets, far-off kingdoms, or new surroundings. The only thing they can expect…is the unexpected! Every camper, from our smallest Mini to our boldest Troupe member, will be going on a journey of their own as they explore their love of theatre and grow together through these wonderful weeks. And while some things may look a bit different, we are grateful and excited to welcome everyone home to Wolf PAC as we set off on a quest to have the best summer yet!
