speak loud. and stay young.

 So, this may be the best compliment for an arts camp.

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Seriously, how precious is that?

and

A testimony to the power of the arts.


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I like spending time with creative kids. in the mountains.


and this is my fourth year so I feel like I have seen the returning kids grow up. and learn things.




Mostly, how to think differently.

Which is exciting.
and also important.

I mean...





I encourage this.





The craze in facial hair is actually their commitment to their parts in The Tempest.





If you give a kid a moustache...


and

 Sometimes I love a drawing a kid does so much that I wish I could take it home.

This zebra is on my list.

the enthusiasm. is awesome.

And I would say- yeah... put your cell phone away during class.

But when you are stretching to the max to get a video of the puppet production another group did... 

GO. AHEAD.

this is also sometimes called- a stressful mess.

YES.

 KE$HA. did I even need to tell you?

and THIS. 

You can't make this stuff up. and don't shoot the messenger- but the kids wrote super short plays and they had to create the characters. 

This guy above is a "business man." 

and no lie. 

someone made ME.

and someone also made Tara... one of the drama teachers.

please note the likenesses. and the outfits.

ok. moving on.

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watch them think. 

THIS IS A UNICORN

I read your mind. you needed a close up.



oh, yeah.. and when I asked them to write something about camp... or the arts... or what they really liked this week.

I got some real answers.

and some sweet ones.

preach it...

I said.

PREACH IT:

I think so too.

bam. someone added a wand.

and in the spirit of how I'm feeling lately- 

SPEAK. OUT. 

AND 

SPEAK. LOUD.

(and build monsters. for the stage.)

I love most... watching kids work together.

My guys made that monster. and his mouth moves. 

I'm so proud.

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oh, and my nephew was there. so after the big kids left he checked out the place.

(never to early to give a kid a stage.)

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Bye sweet campers.

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I have to hit the road. 

Mary Poppins style.

where I blast the music. keep the windows down. stop at all flea markets necessary. and sing at the top of my lungs. 

and

I know it is camp season because it is also peach season.

and apparently I buy everything that is brilliant orange. and canned locally.

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by the way

It does exist:

“Imagination is everything.  It is the preview of life's coming attractions.” ~ Albert Einstein

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