Wide Open’s Crispi Lord (r) and her side kick Pete are sharing a love of puppetry with kids at summer camp. (Britainy Zapshalla)

The field trips and play days have begun, we are in the last days of the school year and as it winds down, many parents (like me) wind up. Our heads begin swimming with worries of the two months that lay ahead of us. One question looms large, “What the heck are we going to do to keep our kids busy this summer?”

Luckily the folks at Wide Open Children’s Theatre have the answer. The company famous for their menagerie of puppets are putting on puppet camps for kids. All the materials are supplied, your kids just have to be creative and crafty. You can sign up for a week at a time, they even have half day options for younger children. “This is a great way to introduce kids to theatre and explore their imagination,” explains Wide Open’s Crispi Lord “Kids’ lives are full of screen time and technology these days, this is a way to get them up on their feet and creating.”

 “This is a great way to introduce kids to theatre and explore their imagination.”

There are many different camps to choose from for children 4-10 years old. Campers will get to create shadow, hand and even giant puppets. “We’re so excited to be exploring the different kinds of puppetry.” Lord continues, “The giant puppets are something we don’t do very often and it’ll be exciting to create one, like a Chinese dragon or a whale.” There’s even a chance campers will get to be in the Exhibition parade (Aug. 9) with their puppets.

For the puppeteers, this camp is a shot of inspiration. “You get full and immediate feedback,” says Wide Open’s Jacklyn Green. “They tell you right away what they don’t like and what excites them. It gives us a different perspective on the storytelling we do.”

The camp is also a great chance for kids to express themselves. “Kids are definitely more outgoing with a puppet in their hand,” says Lord. “It’s like wearing a mask. You’re more free to act it out because it’s not you, it’s your puppet.”

“Kids are definitely more outgoing with a puppet in their hand.”

Of course it wouldn’t be a Wide Open party without their own puppets coming out to play. The first day, for a little inspiration, professional puppeteers will be doing a performance for all the campers and yes, Pete will come out to play. Then at the end of each week, the tables will turn and it’ll be the campers chance to perform. The children will put on a puppet show for their family and friends as well as some local daycares with the puppets they’ve made at camp.

Spots are filling up quickly for this camp, you can find more details here.