French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts

French Woods is a co-ed sleepaway performing arts summer camp for children aged 7 to 17. Campers come from every state and over 40 countries. Internationally recognized as a premiere program in the performing arts, we feature options in music, art, theater, dance, circus, magic and horseback, sports, and traditional summer camp favorites. Younger campers have more guidance and supervision, while older campers are able to take on some responsibility and work in their areas of interest. We are located on over 1000 acres of hills, fields and woods bordering a private lake in the town of Hancock, New York, in the Catskill Mountains.

In this preview week, young campers get an opportunity to try on the overnight camp experience before jumping into a full session next year. This week is reserved mostly for our 12 and youngers, but we can make special accommodations if there are older siblings or friends who would like to join the fun!

The bedrock of the program is an all-encompassing schedule of 80 theater productions, including shows that are fresh off Broadway, along with other favorites, classics, and forgotten jewels from the last century of musical theater. On top of that, Broadway stars, professional musicians, conductors, composers and playwrights as well as members of internationally recognized orchestras will visit French Woods during the summer and offer their mastery as coaches to the campers. The instrumental program collaborates with the theater program with the use of live full orchestrations for the musicals. This raises the quality of the performance as well as the experience for performers and their audiences.

Additionally, French Woods festival offers the broadest schedule of daily activities of any summer camp, and each child makes their own schedule of the activities they want to do. Campers are able to focus on one particular area, or choose to select a variety of activities. We celebrate diversity and provide a safe environment for children to try new things. Every day is divided up into 3 majors, which are chosen over the first few days of camp, and three minors which are chosen every day at breakfast. Our campers are encouraged to try new things, and can focus on their favorites, all the while surrounded by other children who share their interests.

Beyond that, French woods has created a community of passionate staff members and campers who come to French Woods to do what they love and to share their excitement with others who share their enthusiasm. Every child who attends French Woods is their own person, with their own individual wants and needs. This is reflected not only in the community that embraces each and every child, but in the structure of the program itself.

Unlike a traditional camp structure, where children are arranged into groups, and the groups are together night and day, a camper at French Woods is able to plan their own summer, depending on their own interests and passions. Sharing the same cabin, you might easily find both a child who rehearses all day long – shows, circus, music – and a child who goes the whole summer without setting foot on a stage, instead preferring to spend time swimming, horseback riding, and making things in visual arts. From one extreme to the other, and any combination in between, the individualized program at French Woods allows a child to make choices and shape their own camp experience. No matter the needs of the child, no matter how quirky the interests or the personality, French Woods has something to engage every child – and a community in which to delight and grow.

Through the French Woods experience children can explore their interests and try new things - all in one of the most educational and loving environments possible. Give your child the opportunity to shine, call 1-800-634-1703 or visit frenchwoods.com and watch our videos to learn more.

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