Magic of Summer Camp at MTYP with Kirstin Caguioa
Kirstin Caguioa, one of our summer camp teachers, shared her heart warming moments and educational adventures with young theatre enthusiasts at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People.
Tell us about yourself. What inspired her to be a Summer Camp Instructor and how long has she been doing this?
I am a Theatre and Music student at the University of Manitoba, having just finished my third year. I am an emerging multi-disciplinary artist, and have always known that I wanted to become an educator from a young age. I started off volunteering at local Elementary schools in my area and later received the opportunity to experience the spring camps at Meraki Theatre company. This July marks my one-year anniversary with MTYP! I was inspired to be a summer camp teacher as I am pursing a career in Early Years Theatre and Music education. When the opportunity presented itself, I was extremely grateful and excited.
What has been your experience taking the ages 5 -6 in the third week of the camp (Celebrate our remarkable Planet). What expectations do you have for week six of camp (Pajama Week)?
My experience working with the 5-6 year olds this week has been remarkable. These are the experimental stages of their life, so it brings me joy in knowing that I am able to help them form the skills to grow their confidence, encourage them to experience their feelings, and learn social lessons as they discover more about their capabilities in all aspects of mind, body, and imagination. The theme of celebrating our remarkable planet has also encouraged them to hone in on taking concepts such as recycling, not engaging in overconsumption, and respecting the life around us into real world themes.
My expectations for Pajama Week revolve around creating a comfortable environment for the kids to be goofy without embarrassment or fear. I plan on incorporating favourite bedtime stories and recreating exciting dreams that the students may share, which will help us derive characters of our very own for the big performance at the end of the week.
What gives you joy working with young people?
The beauty of working with young people is how every day brings new opportunities to learn from them. Children love to speak about what is on their mind at any given moment, as they do not have the ‘filter’ that we learn to adopt as we grow older. I feel as if I learn new facts about certain animals, cars, and public figures everyday (to name a few!) In a way, it also heals my own inner child in knowing that these students have so much love and encouragement surrounding them from the energy that everyone at MTYP brings; sentiments that I hold near and dear to my heart from my own early childhood. Despite their attention spans at these ages, kids will always remember the feelings that they received from a situation, even if they do not have the words to articulate them just yet. It also makes me incredibly happy with this new generation of educators in knowing that we advocate for our kids by encouraging them to make mistakes and grow from them.
Can you share memorable moments from your time teaching the children this summer?
On the first day of each camp, I always ensure to create a “Camp Contract” with my students that we devise together as promises to keep for the duration of their time here. As the week has gone on, it has been so rewarding to witness them keep their promises and exemplify ones such as, “We will be respectful to one another,” and “We will use our manners,” with their fellow classmates; those who were complete strangers on day one. Seeing the kids befriend each other and aid one another during moments of emotional difficulty have been especially rewarding. It is also really special to witness the power of music within my teachings! The students have picked up the songs I have taught them very quickly and often sing it to themselves or to each other during casual moments throughout the day. “The Pizza Song” has become a favourite!
Teaching here has been somewhat of a full-circle moment for me, as I had always wanted to take courses and camps at MTYP growing up, though never got the chance to. Being able to learn and grow with the kids in this institution has been so inspiring, as I am able to experience the joys of Theatre for young people alongside them, despite me being the educator!
What specific experience and skills do you hope the campers take away this summer?
I hope campers leave with the understanding that everyone is unique, which highlights the importance of kindness toward others and working together. Building confidence is also my key goal, as it is crucial to me that students feel motivated and inspired to push their boundaries, discovering new abilities with their body and voice. Whether it’s memorizing lines independently or learning to project their voice after initially speaking softly, exploring their creative potential is pivotal.
I also hope the campers leave with a broadened understanding of theatre beyond just performance. Through my classes, I aim to expose them to various parts of theatre, including design elements that encourage hands-on learning and tactile skills. These include, making binoculars for a nature walk, creating the set backdrop which included trees, rocks, and leaves with our input on how to protect the earth. My goal is for them to discover a passion for the technical aspects of theatre, alongside performing, so they can explore and appreciate all dimensions of this art form.
Summer camps continue at MTYP until the end of August. Pajama Camp runs from August 6 to August 9. You can still register at: https://mtyp.ca/theatre-school/summer-camps#week-six
