Some kids are natural hams, while others are shy in real life and only come into their own on stage. If you’ve got a wannabe singer, actor or rock star in your house, there is a camp for that. Campers can learn to play an instrument; act in a play; learn the basics of theater skills, such as blocking and etiquette; or just sing their hearts out with show tunes under the spotlight.
Seattle Children’s Theatre (various locations)
Seattle Children’s Theatre offers summer camps in Seattle and in many partner locations, including the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), the National Nordic Museum, Coyote Central, the Meridian School, Villa Academy, St. Thomas School, Vashon Center for the Arts and the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Kids can be their dramatic selves with these summer theater camps.
Dates: Various
Ages: 4–15
Cost: $125–$475
Rain City Rock Camp Summer Camp (Seattle)
This one-week camp supports youths of marginalized genders in a safe and empowering environment that fosters leadership and encourages creativity. Campers learn the basics of how to play an instrument and collaborate to write a song. Other activities include workshops on topics such as identity, activism, body power and zine making. At camp’s end, campers show off their original songs for friends and family.
Dates: July 15–20
Ages: 8–17
Cost: Sliding scale, $0–$500
Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre (Seattle)
Broadway Bound’s weeklong musical theater camps introduce kids to a variety of skills, from singing and movement for younger kids to audition tips, script analysis and theater etiquette for tweens and teens. Each camp ends with a 15-minute performance for friends and family that includes three Broadway songs.
Dates: Weekly, June 17–Aug. 30
Ages: 5–18
Cost: $450
Stone Soup Theatre (Seattle)
At this camp, kids can have fun acting and performing outdoors. These weeklong theater camps are held in various parks and include musicals and plays; each ends in a performance by campers. Before and aftercare options are available.
Dates: Weekly, June 17–Aug. 30
Ages: 5–17
Cost: $360–$800
School of Rock (various locations)
School of Rock offers a wide variety of music camps for elementary to high school kids. Choose from Rookie Camp for the novice to songwriting and music production for expert-level musicians. With themes from The Beatles to heavy metal, there is something for every music-minded kid. Most camps include a performance by campers.
Dates: Various
Ages: 5–18
Cost: $450–$550
Summer String Academy (Ellensburg)
String Academy’s six-day summer camp connects middle schoolers with professional musicians. Unlike other music camps, this program includes traditional camp activities and music education. Campers rehearse in both full orchestra and smaller ensembles, as well as learning music theory, rehearsal etiquette and more at the Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center.
Dates: July 21–26
Grades: 6–9
Cost: $720 ($670 until April 1)
Youth Theatre Northwest (Mercer Island)
Taught by professional teaching artists, these camps explore creative problem-solving, character creation, musical theater training, imaginative play, scene study and performance training. Youth Theatre Northwest camps culminate in a sharing of work on the last day so that families can get a glimpse of the students’ week.
Dates: TBD
Ages: 2–18
Cost: $60–$625
