“Leading the Future”
Summer Camp Programme
The most extraordinary experience you and your children will ever have
“I can’t really put into words what [the programme] has done for me. It has been life-changing”
Imagine…..
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Global Leadership through the Arts
…bringing children and families from all over the world to work together on a community theatre performance with professional artists at the top of their game
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Diverse Languages and Cultures
... an international experience that exposes you to diverse cultures and languages, living and working outdoors, eating healthy organic food, collaborating on a large-scale creative project
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Engaging with the great outdoors
... exploring the beautiful Pyrénéean region, taking a day trip to the Basque coast, visiting an historic French chateau, crossing the border to Spain....
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21st Century Skills
... learning valuable 21st century skills and personal leadership - empathy, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity communication and collaboration, social and cultural awareness
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Strengthening Family Relationships
….the most fun you will ever have with your children, growing and learning together, deepening and strengthening precious bonds, creating precious memories that will last a lifetime
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More joy and inspiration
…coming home transformed with a deep sense of joy, connection and inspired to take action in building a better world
Teenage Summer Camp Programme
A 2-week programme for teenagers that will train them in all aspects of the performance process, learning theatre, dance, music, production skills, backstage, lighting, marketing and front of house. They will learn valuable 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, critical thinking, problem solving and project management and come home with a greater global perspective, new language skills, experience of living and working abroad and, an enhanced understanding of other cultures and their place in the world
Family Camp Programme
Week-long residential camps for the entire family that provides activity for both parents and children. Children and adults will take part together in workshops lead by our arts and cultural leaders with the opportunity to take part in a small performance or presentation at the end of the week, strengthening family bonds and creating life-long memories for both!
Arts for Social Change Certification Programme for College and University Students
An annual certification summer programme where university undergraduates will learn critical ‘higher order’ leadership skills through working closely with young people to lead workshops and performances in local communities.
The Artists
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Bridge and Wolak
Am I an artist? A unique duo of clarinet + digital accordion this camp guides students through a process of looking for evidence of their artistry… did you scribble down a drawing, did you record a video on your phone or take a beautiful picture, did you change your friend’s mind about a topic, did you perform for your family? Through action, they teach how to use the creative process to generate tangible impacts on the world and to change minds.
23rd June to 7th July (schools only)
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Guy Mendilow and Regie Gibson
How can teenagers feel more valued? How can the principles of listening and giving feedback help to create a feeling of safety and security for our young people? How can we explore both our individual and shared stories and build new narratives for change in a fractured world? The Listening Labs focuses on opening a space for us all to tell our stories and find joy in our shared humanity.
7 - 14th July
14th -21st July
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Preeti Vasudevan and Clarice Assad
Finding your voice as a young person living in a global community is so essential, especially as we uncover the beautiful stories within each one of us, and find ways to build our confidence from within. With dancer Preeti and musician Clarice, learn to use your voice and body as a form of expression and an instrument in a deeply transformational experience in self-discovery, connection and creativity.
21st July - 28th July
28th July - 4th August
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Laurie Rubin and Jenny Taira
How can we all find peace in a world of conflict? How can we overcome bullying and discrimination in our communities? In our Summer Camp for Peace, come together with others from across the world, many of whom have experienced global conflict and enforced migration, as well as those battling with conflict in their families or local communities, and build bridges across diverse populations that infuse pressing issues of social justice with hope.
4th - 18th August
And imagine all this whilst staying on the stunning Clos de Gaye estate in south west France, in the foothills of the Pyrénées, on the border with Spain….
Clos de Gaye
Extraordinary experiences where the world comes together for impact
New collection.
Accommodation will be provided in bell tents, with family camps housed in the superior ‘stargazer’ versions. ‘Glamping’ style toilets and showers will be available. All food and activities will be provided in multiple locations around the Clos de Gaye estate.
The Summer Camp Programme is part of the larger International Festival for the Arts and Social Change, held on the Clos de Gaye estate each summer
Download the full summer camp programme brochure now
Camp directors
Meet John O’Hagan and Emily Bolton Ditkovski, our camp directors, in charge of performance and community engagement and research
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Camp Director for Performance
John O’Hagan is a theatre artist/educator/advocate. Over the last 25+ years he has held multiple academic appointments including Performing Arts Department Chair at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO, Professor and Creative Arts and Communications Division Head at Principia College, in Elsah, IL and Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Wyoming.
John has received numerous accolades for his work as a teacher and director. He has experience working with undergraduates and youth, serving as the Director of Education for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival/Idaho Theatre for Youth. At each of these posts John has been a leading voice for innovative programming as well as devising and outreach projects. John has worked as an actor and director for numerous regional theatre companies including two seasons as a member of the resident acting company at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He is a founding member of Bankside Repertory Theatre in Alton, IL. Now based in Dublin, Ireland he continues to work as a freelance actor, director and teacher. Basing much of his work in the writing of Declan Donnellan, John seeks to focus on an unselfish approach to theatre making which holds that everything the theatre maker needs lies outside of self. The most engaging theatrical moments are found when paying attention to others and our surroundings. This has implications far beyond the rehearsal hall. It is a wonderful reminder that only through and with others can we truly accomplish meaningful results that resonate far beyond any stage.
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Camp Director for Community Engagement
Born in Santa Monica, California into a family of theatre makers and educators, Emily proudly carries on the family trade. She holds a B.F.A. in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, an M.A. in Educational Theatre from NYU’s Steinhardt School, and an M.A. in Arts Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Emily began teaching while still an undergraduate at NYU. Soon she was using theatre for social change at community sites all over New York City including the South Bronx, Washington Heights, and Sunset Park through the Children’s Aid Society and The Young Women’s Leadership Institute where she taught Shakespeare and devising with students ages 12-19.
While in graduate school at NYU Emily focused her coursework on theatre for social justice, which led to her first of many trips to Ireland where she studied abroad at Trinity College, and also to Brazil where she studied with Augusto Boal at the Centre for Theatre of The Oppressed, Rio. From 2009-2021 Emily was the Director of the Williston Theatre at the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Massachusetts, where she taught theatre to students ages 12-19, directed over 40 plays and musicals, and led all aspects of the theatre programme including budget oversight, curriculum development, and programme advocacy.
In 2021 Emily returned to school to study arts administration at Teachers College, Columbia University where she researched equity practices of arts administrators in out-of-school educational theatre programmes, the role of the arts in youth criminal justice reform, the link between devised theatre and empathy generation, and educational theatre as a disruptive space for masculinity. While at Columbia she was an administrative intern at the People’s Theatre Project in Washington Heights where she was a grant writer for the development team and assistant to the education team. Unable to stay out of the classroom, she was also a PTP Supporting Artist in a Year One Academy class!
She is a founding board member of the Scarlet Sock Foundation, a grant-giving non-profit organisation focused on expanding access to all facets of theatre arts for historically excluded populations. Emily is a fervent believer in the power of theatre to transform lives and the necessity of equitable access to the arts.
In August 2023 she relocated to Dublin, Ireland where she lives with her spouse and three children on coast of the Irish Sea. For more information about Emily’s teaching practice, leadership experience, and research interests visit emilybditkovski.com
Our artists are also joined by Harvard Pre-Texts facilitators
Harvard Pre-Texts’ programme is an educational protocol that can support a range of goals, covering literacy, innovation or civics. When the goals interlock, we achieve high impact. With a single prompt: “Use a text as material to make art,” the whole person thrives.
What you and your child will get
By the end of camp, each participant will CREATE!
COLLABORATE with a diverse cohort that values partnership, respect, and empathy.
RESPOND to the needs of the group knowing their own needs will also be met.
ENGAGE in a process that enhances critical and creative thinking.
AWAKEN and share the unique artistic qualities inherent in each of us.
TRANSFORM challenges into opportunities with joy and hope.
EMPOWER themselves and each other knowing what they do impacts the world.
Side trips to add to your itinerary
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Paris
City of Lights, one of the most romantic capitals in the world, and host of the summer Olympics 2024. An easy train ride from Paris with lots to see and do, we recommend a few days stop here en route to Clos de Gaye when flying internationally.
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Toulouse
Just two hours from Clos de Gaye, this gorgeous ‘pink city’ is unique in France for its distinct architecture and vibrant and youthful spirit. Our partnership with the Hotel des Arts provides a wonderful addition to your stay with us.
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Basque Coast
With it’s dramatic landscape and Michelin-award winning cuisine, the Basque coast and the towns of Bayonne and Biarritz, St Jean de Luz and the Spanish city of San Sebastian make for a stunning driving holiday to finish off your trip.
Our camp leaders are all French BAFA-qualified* in compliance with French law, and are subject to a diligent screening process with criminal record checks. Additionally, the Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership has a rigorous safeguarding policy and procedures. Further details can be provided on request.
*The Brevet d'Aptitude aux Fonctions d'Animateur (BAFA) or, childcare aptitude certificate, is a qualification that is required by the French government. Under Youth and Sports regulation in France, a certain percentage of childcare workers in a summer camp must have this certificate.
What People Are Saying
I was quiet before, I didn’t talk much and I didn’t reach out to people. When I was home alone, I felt isolated. I didn’t communicate alot with my parents….we never talked deeply— [but] when we acted, the feeling was fantastic. We can be anyone that is different to ourselves and that is so great. We are closer than before, both friends and parents. The [facilitators] helped us both with the play, and with our lives
- Camp participants
Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to participate in the workshop. I have witnessed firsthand how it ignites creativity within participants and offers avenues for engaging and empowering others through art.
- US State Department
Thank you so much for yet another very wonderful workshop. It was beautiful and humbling and so very thought-provoking and I loved being amongst all of you. The work you do is bursting with goodness.
— Adult participant
20 years of summer camps and counting….
Watch a video of one of the summer camps lead by our team in China, for which our founder, Caroline Watson, won the prestigious Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum award.