Camp Creativity

CAAPA Receives $28,000 Grant From The Learn Foundation To Provide Free Performance Arts  Camp For Youth

Photos By Catrilia Watson

Critics always fall in love with an 11-year-old Othello.

  The Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA) is in position to train and introduce the next generation of performance artists starting this summer.

   Housed within an eight mile radius of FEDEX Field Stadium, youths K - 8 grade will enjoy a free performance arts intensive summer camp at CAAPA  thanks to a grant issued by The Landover Educational Athletic Recreational Non-Profit Foundation (LEARN).

Councilman Calvin Hawkins

  LEARN is a charitable, non-profit fund with the Prince George's Community Foundation. It provided a grant for $28,000. and presented it to CAAPA for  CAAPA C.A.M.P (Cultivating Artists, Musicians, and Performers).  It was during the LEARN Foundation’s general meeting that LEARN’s President Dorothy Bailey announced the award to audience members including former County Executive Rushern Baker, III, Prince George’s County Council-at-Large Calvin S. Hawkins, board members and the community.  LEARN also presented annual scholarships to outstanding high school students.  

Former County Executive Rushern Baker III

This is the second year CAAPA received the esteemed award for CAAPA C.A.M.P., (camps is daily July 29 through August 2), culminating with a camper’s showcase August 2 at 6:00 pm at the Dodge Park Elementary School Campus. The campus is located at 3401 Hubbard Road, Landover, MD

"CAAPA is excited to service Prince George's county youth in such a significant and meaningful way thanks to The LEARN Foundation's grant in helping CAAPA to "Bring Color to the Classics," says Pamela Simonson, CAAPA co-founder and board chair.

   Using opera and musical theater as basis for the week-long camp, campers enjoy music, drama, dance, and visual art fused in a creative way with motivational methods to galvanize camper’s activities. Opera is often intimidating to the minority community, but a professional staff challenges the students to hone their skills, explore and discover their own individual talents, self-esteem and confidence. Students also learn traditional theatrical and musical culture including expressions such as “Da Capo,” an Italian musical term that means at the top or at the beginning and “Bravi Tutti” (good job everyone).

   The program affords youth with a stimulating personal and creative growth experience by providing excellent performing and visual arts instruction.

   Joining forces to launch the C.A.M.P., The LEARN Foundation believes the future is now and through partnership and collaboration, they can enrich the lives of students living in the Washington Football Stadium Impact Area.  Free breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided daily.  

  CAAPA is accepting online applications at https://4caapa.org/caapa-camp.html, email caapacamp@4caapa.org, or call the office at 301-839-1444.