“Fantastic! The best camp ever.”

“I learned so much and it was all fun.”

“What? You mean the camps are over? This quick? No way!!!”

“Count me in for next year!”

Again this year Bishop Connolly’s Summer Enrichment Camps met with rave reviews, as noted above, from students who participated in one or more of the several Cougar camps offered on the Bishop Connolly campus.

The first round of camps were held from July 16 through August 8 with separate art and theatre workshops staffed by Connolly’s Visual and Performing Arts Department members. The camps met on alternate days allowing children to participate in both enrichment opportunities.

Art campers were introduced to the basics of both two dimensional and three dimensional art. Students explored their talents through various cultures and artistic-inspired themes. Composition and elements of design were emphasized through the sketching, planning and creative process. Two dimensional work included drawing, painting and collage with 3D projects involving soap, clay, paper mache, mosaics as well as other mixed media. While each day was spent learning and creating artwork, the final day allowed budding young artists to display their work in a grand art show.

The summer theater workshop focused on theater basics and introduced children to public speaking, projection, body control, proper breathing, scene study, character development, basic dance and basic vocal instruction. Throughout the four week-long camp, students rehearsed monologues, scenes, songs and dance routines to perform at the “Summer Showcase,” a performance for parents on the last day of the workshop. Both camps were open to children ages 7-13.

Unique to Bishop Connolly High School is the exclusive free weeklong enrichment camp opened only to rising grade 8 students attending Fall River Catholic schools. For these youngsters three camps were offered simultaneously: theater, visual arts and sports conditioning camps. Held the week of August 14th, the camps were exciting ways to end to summer for the program’s many participants. School President, Robert Morissette was quick to note the popularity of all the Cougars Camps: Summer is the perfect time for students to stretch their interests to new limits and be able to do so in a fun atmosphere with the best teachers in the area.” Alluding to Connolly’s teachers who, during the school year produce stunning results with the school’s young talent, Morissette added, “the camp’s instructors gave all our participants an appreciation for the remarkable teaching staff we’ve assembled in the art arena. By far the best there is!”

Asked if the camps will continue in the future Morissette enthusiastically responded, “not only continue but expand. The demand for quality summer programs is high and we can easily provide the talented teachers willing to work with the greater Fall River youth.