3 Themes from the School of the Arts Academies
With so many Foresters off doing great things elsewhere for a few months, Huntington University’s home campus certainly feels different in the summer than it does during the academic year, but it is far from quiet. One primary reason for this is the variety of camps we have the privilege to host throughout the summer months.
In the 2023 camp season, we hosted a variety of academic experiences for high school students. Our Forester Camps lineup included everything from animation to nursing, and we are thrilled with the energy and excitement the camp leaders and the campers brought to campus.
Huntington University’s School of the Arts Summer Academies, including camps focused on animation, film and television production, and voice-over and radio, took place June 19-24, 2023.
Like our other Forester Camps, the Academies brought high school students to home campus with the goal of giving them professional experiences and introducing them to college life. Students interested in the School of the Arts experienced firsthand what it is like to be a professional storyteller, producing portfolio-worthy projects with professional equipment and engaging with a community of artists and storytellers. For many students, the Academies confirmed their interest in the arts, giving them a chance to receive instruction from award-winning faculty and dig deeper into their craft.
But don’t take my word for it. On Thursday, June 23, I caught up with the campers while they were eating lunch in the Dining Commons to get their take on the week so far, why they chose to come to camp, and the memories they planned to take home with them. Their responses tended to revolve around three themes: the “cool factor” of working with real industry equipment, the value of getting practice in a potential career field, and the joy of finding friends with similar interests. The following are their own words, lightly edited for clarity and sorted by each of these themes.
1. Real experiences and resources — the “cool factor”
“My favorite thing was probably designing things in Photoshop that we ended up using later in the week. It was a great way to learn the program while still getting to have fun and be creative.”
Alyssa – Animation
“My favorite thing I have done has been the hands-on experience I am getting. The way they have freely let us use and experiment with the cameras, lighting, and other things has been so worth it. I loved filming ‘The Bench Project’ with my team and going through the whole production process with them. I have loved how much the staff wants to help us learn!”
Addison – Film & TV
“My favorite thing about this camp so far has been the hands-on experiences. I’ve made a podcast, done Foley, been LIVE on-air, and many other things. Learning by doing is one of my strong suits — and this camp really played to my strengths.”
Lana – Voice-Over & Radio
2. Opportunities to dig deeper into college and career interests
What interested me about this camp was “getting firsthand college experience in animation. I’ve dabbled in my free time with it, but learning with people who do this for a living is a completely different experience. The staff is kind, and I really appreciate them.”
Ethan – Animation
“I really liked that it [is] a group of similar-minded people and I saw it as a great opportunity to learn and grow.”
Vincent – Film & TV
“I am enjoying touching up on Radio Dramas. I really want to go into the acting field, so playing a new character was refreshing. The PBS trip was also enjoyable and nostalgic.”
Kyle – Voice-Over & Radio
3. New relationships with best friends
“I’ll remember fondly spending time with my friends in the residence halls, hanging out and talking about our lives. The friends I made I will cherish for a long time.”
Mags – Animation
“This is my third year going to this camp, so I have a lot of good memories. My favorite experience at camp was meeting new friends. We all seemed to connect and just understand each other. I still keep in contact with them through all these years. NO better time to make good friends.”
Amelia – Film & TV
