2010 Improv Camp
August 3 - 6, 2010 (half days mornings or afternoons)
St. Vladimir's Cultural Centre,
404 Meredith Road NE (Memorial Drive and Edmonton Trail)
Calgary, Alberta
9:00 am to 12:00 or 1:00 - 4:00 pm daily (half days)
See the registration form or the fee summary for fee information.
This half-day camp (either morning or afternoon*) is for all students aged 8 to 12 years. In this camp, children will create their very own unique characters and write dialogue for them in a series of highly original, lively and fun-filled skits.
*When you register we will attempt to accommodate your preference of morning or afternoon but we cannot guarantee availability of spaces in either morning or afternoon camp.
In 2009, Improv Camp combined inspiration, imagination and invention, with elements of both writing and and dramatic performance. In a fun-filled week, crammed with creativity and excitement, children conceived their very own unique and highly individual characters, then wrote effective and engaging dialogue for their creations.
A series of short and highly original skits were performed throughout the week, using a variety of props and other dramatic devices, in several different genres, all with an unexpected twist as camp participants connected the lives and personalities of all their characters together. All children developed a sense of mutual cooperation, partnership as a result of their collaborative efforts throughout the week, some even returning for PlayWriting camp two weeks later. Improv Camp is a very welcome addition to our summer schedule and promises to be just as exciting and action packed in 2010. 
Children will be given a picture at random and asked to create a character, complete with occupation, career path, friends and family, likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams - in short, anything that makes them come to life. Together children will first write, then perform, a short skit featuring their characters, with the condition that there has to be an unexpected twist at the end, in which it is revealed that the characters have some common link, such as them being long lost twins, father and son and so on. As part of the plot, the skits must also use a selection of four or five random objects drawn from a hat.
Simon Rose, Director
Simon Rose was born in Derbyshire, England. He graduated from university with a degree in history and has lived in Canada since 1990. He is also a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature of West Redding, CT. Simon and his two children, dog and cat live in Calgary, where he is active in the local community.
Simon’s first novel for middle grade readers, The Alchemist’s Portrait, was published in 2003 followed by The Sorcerer’s Letterbox in 2004, The Clone Conspiracy in 2005, The Emerald Curse in 2006, The Heretic’s Tomb in 2007 and The Doomsday Mask in 2009. A seventh novel for middle grades, The Time Camera, will be published in spring 2011, along with The Insistence of Memory, a novel for young adults. Simon is also a contributing author to The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction Volume One, has written several books for younger readers with Weigl Educational Publishers and works as a writer for Dark Roasted Blend online magazine.
Simon offers a wide variety of presentations, workshops and author in residence programs for schools and libraries, plus virtual author visits by video using Skype. His services for writers include manuscript evaluation, editing, writing workshops and coaching, plus copywriting for the business community, websites and blogs. He is an instructor for adults with Chinook Learning Services, University of Calgary and at the National Writing for Children Center, and offers a variety of online workshops for both children and adults. Full details can be found at his website www.simon-rose.com. You may also visit his blog at http://simon-rose.blogspot.com/, his channel on YouTube, follow him on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
“2010 will be my sixth year working with the highly talented and gifted children who attend CASSA's wonderful camps each summer. In 2007, I was the script editor for the Musical Theatre Showtime production, introduced the popular Playwriting Camp in the summer of 2008 and was pleased to unveil this brand new Camp in 2009.
As an author of six children's novels, I visit schools and libraries across Canada throughout the year, making presentations, conducting workshops and serving as an author in residence, working with children from grades one through eight. I cover such topics as where writers get ideas from, the writing process, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time travel stories, the fantasy realm, and more. During the summer months, I make appearances at a variety of summer camps for all age ranges in the city of Calgary and the surrounding area.
Following the success of the Playwriting Camp in 2008, I conceived the idea of a similar camp which would also combine creative writing with dramatic performance, but with a difference. Rather than a play written in four or five acts, children at Improv Camp will create their own unique and highly individual characters, then learn how to write effective and engaging dialogue for their creations. The performance aspect will consist of a series of short skits performed throughout the week, all with an unexpected twist in the tail.
The Improv Camp will be a week of fun, excitement and creativity, as children unleash their incredible imaginations in the craft of character development, then breathe life into their characters with dynamic and effective dialogue, creating a unique series of short, but highly imaginative, dramatic pieces. A feeling of partnership, mutual cooperation and respect will also undoubtedly develop among the children as a result of their collaborative efforts throughout the week.
I serve as an inspiration to children in schools in Canada, the US and elsewhere, for much of the year, yet each August I always find myself inspired by the incredibly gifted and talented CASSA students with whom I have the pleasure to work. I always enjoy my time with the students at the summer camps and am very much looking forward to the Improv Camp this August.”
Mr. Rose offers a wide variety of services for writers, along with workshops, presentations and residency programs for schools and libraries.
Phone: (403) 285 9383 Cell: (403) 813 4918
The Insistence of Memory 2011 - The Time Camera 2011
The Doomsday Mask 2009 - The Heretic's Tomb 2007
The Emerald Curse 2006 - The Clone Conspiracy 2005
The Sorcerer's Letterbox 2004 - The Alchemist's Portrait 2003
Manuscript Critiques - Online Workshops - School Programs
Coaching for Writers - Editing - Copywriting - Autographed Books
