Summer Camps Back At West Chester University

WEST CHESTER, PA — Summer camp is not canceled for COVID-19, as West Chester University announced a variety of modified camps and programs it will hold over the summer.

In-person camps on West Chester University's campus are moving forward with COVID-19 safety protocols and modifications in place to ensure the safety of campers and staff. Some camps will still be delivered virtually, the university said this week.

In all, dozens of in-person and virtual camps and lessons are scheduled for school-aged children from the surrounding region in high-quality, relatively low-cost programs. Information and links to registration for each camp can be found at www.wcupa.edu/summercamps/. Many programs are currently accepting registrations or will be early in May.

John Villella, Vice President for University Affairs and Chief of Staff said, "West Chester University is thrilled to be able to invite the young students, performers, artists, and athletes of our community to our campus this summer. We are carefully and thoroughly planning for camps and campers using limited enrollments, distancing, the use of indoor and outdoor spaces, and mask-wearing as COVID-19 mitigation strategies. We want nothing more than for our young campers to enjoy our campus and programs in a safe and healthy environment."

Programs are led by expert faculty and coaches, student-athletes, and by local professionals who are specialists in each camp’s field. On-campus programs take place in West Chester University’s state-of-the-art facilities.

For young musicians, West Chester University’s Wells School of Music will host in-person day camps for elementary, middle, and high school-aged musicians.

Elementary and middle school musicians in grades 3 -8 (2020-21), grouped separately, are invited to attend in-person music camp from Monday, June 28 through Friday, July 2 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

The High School Summer Music Institute for grades 9-12 (in 2020-21), will run Tuesday, July 6 through Saturday, July 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

The Summer Jazz Camp is open to high school jazz musicians and advanced middle school jazz musicians in grades 7-12 (in 2020-21) runs Monday, July 12 through Friday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All music camps are held in the Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street. Indoor and outdoor spaces will be utilized. Registration opens around May 3 and space may be limited to align with social distancing requirements.

School-aged thespians are invited to train in all areas of theatre arts at the Pennsylvania Theatre Institute’s camps for ages 8-18. Hone skills in acting, voice, dance, improv. and design at the Young Company camp for ages 8-14, running Monday through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the weeks of August 2 and August 9th.

The one-week Pre-college Intensive is focused on audition preparation for performers ages 15-18 and will run Monday, July 26 through Friday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All theatre camps take place in the E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosedale Avenue.

Young artists ages 8-12 can register for community clay classes on Saturdays from June 5 through July 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Classes take place in the E.O. Bull Center for the Arts’ Ceramics Studio at 2 E. Rosedale Avenue.

Educational enrichment camps include learning the writing process in a relaxed, non-threatening camp environment with the Pennsylvania Literature and Writing Project’s Young Writers/Young Readers camp. Students in grades 1-11 will compose, share, and edit all genres of writing, as well as share and explore quality, age-appropriate literature. The camp runs Monday through Thursday the weeks of July 12 and July 19 from either 9 a.m. to 12 noon, or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Space is limited and registrations will open on May 3. The iCamp Summer Media Academy for media-minded rising high school seniors will be held virtually this year from August 1-7. The camp is free to a select number of students through an application process here.

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