Dear Sir,
We are grateful for all the wonderful programs to develop the creativity and artistic abilities of children who live in Lakeside villages.
And we appreciate all the volunteers and donors who make such programs available at little or no cost to the families. Fortunately, CREM, the music school that offers scholarships, and the Children’s Art Program and summer art camp, have been nurturing creativity in local children for years. When young people have opportunities to make music, art and dance with others they are far less likely to get into trouble.
This summer the Ajijic Cultural Center and Lakeside Little Theatre made their facilities available for the second two-week Children’s Theater Camp. The 30 or so children aged 4-14 who participated benefited in many ways. They had their imaginations encouraged as they created art that was used in their theatrical production. They learned to cooperate with others and to stand on stage and speak with poise in front of an audience.
Many of them had also attended the first writing workshop for children in the month before the camp. After a few of the bravest kids read their imaginative stories to an appreciative Open Circle, I asked if they had ever had opportunities to do creative writing in school. Sadly, the answer was “never.”
The theatrical production at the end of the camp was impressive thanks to the dedicated volunteers who worked so hard preparing the children and bringing together all the elements of music, lighting and stage sets. The parents and other adults who attended the performances were thrilled.
We who care about children and their creativity should be especially grateful to Antonio López Vega, Jennifer Stanley, Thom Weeks, Lisa Davis and Abril Iñiguez for their vision, creativity and hard work to make this wonderful Children’s Theater Camp a free opportunity for Lakeside kids.
I intend to do what I can to ensure that many other local children have an opportunity to attend such a wonderful writing workshop and theater camp in the future.
Barbara Hildt, Ajijic