Academic Camps

Digital Storytelling
Ages 11 - 14 • July 9 - 13 • Cost: $640

Did you ever want to design a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure game or publish your own short stories and poetry? In this multimedia writing course, we’ll discover the place where creativity meets computers. Using applications such as Comic Life, Photoshop, iMovie, Stykz and Studio Artist, we’ll explore the world of new media. Students will learn about multimedia poetry, digital storytelling, web-based
comics, print ‘zines and more. All participants will bring home a CD of their stories to share with others.

About The Instructor: Kirsten Dinnall Hoyte is an English and Computer Studies teacher at Concord Academy. She has a BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MFA from the University of Iowa. Her prize-winning fiction, essays, and poetry have appeared in various publications, including the Harvard Review, the Minnesota Review, and Sojourner. Her first novel Black Marks (Akashic Books) was a Lambda Literary Award finalist for Debut Fiction.

Writing Camp
Full Day: June 25-29, July 16 - 20 • $640
Half-Day (9am-12:30pm) • July 2 - 6 • $280 • July 23 - 27 • $350

This year CA’s Summer Writing Camp offers a third season of activities to nurture campers’ writing. We’ll consider poetry and prose from a broad international and historical range, explore the CA campus and other nearby destinations, and join other campers in activities including games and crafts. With the goal of enhancing interest in and sensitivity to the written word, we’ll explore a variety of genres, including poetry, essay, journal, correspondence, narrative, reporting, and constructive criticism--both individually and in collaboration. Camp requires no homework, but provides plenty of in-camp composition.

Half-day camp will provide more extensive written professional review; full-day camp will offer afternoon swim, lunch, and more additional opportunities for campers’ interaction, including peer review. Both camps produce a blog.

Music Technology Camp
Ages 12-15
Level 1: July 30 - August 3 • August 6 - 10
Level 2: August 13 - 17
Cost: $640

Get creative, get inspired, and get serious about music!

In Level 1 you’ll start creating your own music with the powerful, professional-level software Ableton Live. You’ll learn about music technology, computer systems, acoustics and physics, and compositional techniques. Wherever your interests lie -- songwriting, ambient soundscapes, heavy metal, electronic dance music, or more -- you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to go further on your own after your week of camp. No prior musical experience or instrumental proficiency is required.

In Level 2 you’ll go further with Ableton Live: using hardware tools for hands-on control of the software, incorporating your own samples, programming synthesizer sounds, and advanced mixing techniques. Instructor coaching will focus on composition, encouraging campers’ own musical identities, and the sophisticated application of technology. Prerequisite: prior completion of Level 1 or special permission of the instructor.

The camp day consists of short lectures and instructor demonstrations, independent student work on headphones, extensive one-on-one coaching, presentations to the other campers, and constructive critique. In additional, campers have the option of a free swim and another outdoor camp activity every day. For both Levels there will be exciting collaborations with other academic and specialty camps, and showcases of our music for the entire camp community.

To listen to music created by last summer’s Music Tech students,
visit: http://soundcloud.com/camp-at-concord-academy/sets

About The Instructor: Justin Samaha is a professional composer for television, film, and the web, and most notably writes music regularly for PBS’ Frontline series. He has taught music and music technology at several schools, and is a music technology consultant and workshop instructor for other professional composers. He is a graduate of Concord Academy ‘94, and the Berklee College of Music.