SFAC students greet the arrival of adult campers? (SFAC photo)


After three decades, the Sitka Fine Arts Camp is striking out in a new direction. Since 1973 the camp has taught thousands of kids music, dance, theater, and art. This summer, for the first time, they’ll offer a camp for adults.

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Roger Schmidt is the director of Alaska Arts Southeast, which runs the camp. He’s says the camp has been considering an adult program for a while, but has never had the space. Now there’s no excuse.

“I’ve heard from lots of people that they want to do it, so we’re throwing it out there to see if people really want to do it – sign up for classes. And then we’ll have lots of opportunity for feedback, and we can evolve it however it needs to be evolved in the years to come.”

The opportunity to create the adult camp came when the trustees of Sheldon Jackson College gave the school’s campus to the Sitka Fine Arts Camp in March of last year. Besides the adult camp, there will also be a new family camp for elementary-age students, a circus camp, and a musical theater camp.

Learn more about the Sitka Fine Arts Camp for adults.

But the adult camp is definitely a new market for Alaska Arts Southeast. Schmidt is fairly certain adults need what the camp offers.

“When you’re fourteen it’s important to stretch and do things you’ve never done before, because it opens up dimensions in you. It’s even more important, I think – You know as adults we become so certain that This is What I Do and This is What I Don’t Do. This idea that we hatch, and then we’re done. And that’s such a tragic way to go about life.”

Adult classes will be offered in two evening blocks from June 11 to June 15, and campers can take one class in each block. Schmidt says the curriculum is less conservative than he first imagined: campers can take, among other things, African Drumming & Dance, Painting, Understanding Chamber Music, and Ceramics.

At an even slightly higher tempo, the camp will also offer adults Afro-Cuban Dance and, for those interested going airborne, Trapeze and Acrobatics.

“I think the thing that’s so important for people is to play, and I thought that there’s nothing more playful and freeing than trying trapeze and acrobatics. The acrobatics class is really popular at fine arts camp for our students.”

The adult camp represents some risk for Alaska Arts Southeast. The model is more or less untested. What Schmidt is certain of, though, is that whoever shows up will benefit. And he’s got the adjectives to prove it.

“Invigorating, lively, empowering – the same things that happen to the kids. Increased self-esteem, increased social interaction, blah, blah, blah. We have grants that document this stuff!”