Summer is the perfect time for camping… Day Camping, that is! Our summer day camps are a big part of the education program at MCT! In June and July, children get to spend their whole week learning a show- the same shows we take on the road all year long, but here at home in Missoula! This summer The Secret Garden, The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, or Peter and Wendy will play on Friday evenings. I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside the incredible day camp teachers, and I got the inside scoop on what it looks like at an MCT camp from the perspective of Natalie Renk, one of our Actor/Directors this summer.
This is Natalie’s third year being one of our Actor/Directors at MCT Day Camp. Each summer, she learns three shows and teaches them to a new group of seventy kids every week on a rotating basis. As I’m sure you can imagine, this is no easy feat! When times get tough, Natalie reminds herself that on Thursday there is a Talent Show, and that never fails to lift her spirits! Some of Natalie’s favorite acts of past Talent Shows were “cat noises”, “monster truck”, and “skunk puppet show.” Of course, there is never a shortage of creative ideas for the Thursday Talent Show!
Even though Natalie hadn’t had the chance to step foot into our MCT building until she was an adult, she did participate in some MCT shows on the road when she was a kid herself! Her very first MCT show was Princess and the Pea- she playeda dust bunny! The MCT shows Natalie participated in during her childhood were the first full productions she performed in and absolutely helped spark her love of theatre! We love to see a full circle moment!
I asked Natalie what life lesson she hopes to pass down to students through their experiences during camp. She said, “I want all my students to realize their value and see how they fit into the whole. Theatre doesn’t happen unless everyone is doing their best. Every student gets a chance to see how their preparation, dedication, and talent make the show possible. Many of the students I teach won’t go on to have a career in theatre, but I hope they will never lose the magic that theatre leaves in their hearts.” Natalie, who is also a schoolteacher when she’s not with us for the summer, shared her biggest takeaways as a teacher. She said, “Joy is everywhere! One of my favorite parts of working with youth is that they are delighted by something every day. When you spend enough time watching children find joy, you start to see more and more in your own life. The other lesson that teaching children has taught me is that the show really will always go on. I have seen my fair share of backstage (and onstage) chaos, but at the end of the week we always had a show. Perseverance will always win out!”
It can be hard to remember in our fast-paced lives that we are still growing even as adults, and we can always learn a thing or two from the children in our lives. The last question I asked Natalie was what we adults can learn from the young artists of today. Natalie said, “We can learn so much about the grace of flexibility from our children. Kids are constantly being confronted with disappointment. Whether they don’t get the part they wanted, or they’re separated from their friend, or whatever the case may be, they are constantly adjusting their expectations and keeping a ‘yes, and’ attitude. They choose to find the fun and embrace the show, and by the end of the week they’ve had a blast! In life we are constantly faced with disappointments, but if we embrace life’s unexpected challenges, we will find fulfillment, even if it’s not what we imagined.”
I’ll leave you with that powerful statement from Natalie, who we are so grateful to have on our team at MCT! If you’d like to see the fruits of labor from the amazing day campers and staff, please join us on a Friday evening this summer at 4pm or 6pm-you’ll have a great time and you’ll surely be blown away by the hard work each child puts in to creating a show in only a week!
