Blue Skies Arts Camp 2025 – Workshop Descriptions
Please note: Campers of all ages are welcome at all workshops – no previous experience is required.
Visual Arts – The Puppet Factory with Madeline McKinnell
Puppet people unite! Madeline is back with even more creativity, fabric, newspaper, and glue and is ready to help you make your imaginations come to life! This year you will have the choice to build your own hand puppet or collaborate on a BIG (like really big) pageant puppet – or maybe even do both! Let’s spend our time getting messy; shaping and painting everything our wild minds can come up with – rumour has it there will even be flag and parade ribbon making to help breathe life into our puppet world. Join us and become a puppet person!
Fine Arts – Tree Art with Heather Kushumnell
The beauty of trees, sticks, branches, and stones is all around us—texture, shape, and colour! There are so many natural elements to notice, appreciate, and transform into art. In these fun and creative workshops, you’ll become both a maker and a mindful observer, drawing inspiration from the quiet magic of nature. It’s an artsy adventure you’ll be tree-mendously glad you joined!
Drama – Acting the Quinn Way with Quinn WayLaing
Interested to explore the curious world of theatre and dramatic arts? Come-on and join us! Quinn is a passionate young thespian and all around jokester! Whether you are new to acting or looking to refine your talents, this welcoming and uplifting space will help you showcase your inner performer. Acting the Quinn Way is a fun and playful workshop that offers a little of everything– improvisation, character work, voice, movement and a small scene creation that will build confidence to “play” on stage. You will learn some of the acting essentials and performer techniques… there will be costumes too!
Music – Singing and Songwriting with Claya Way-Brackenbury
Do you want to be a songwriter? What about a singer… or musician? A star?! We can get started on one, two, or even all of those things….
Claya Way-Brackenbury is a singer-songwriter and the frontwoman for the Kingston, Ontario-based musical project, Piner. She has been writing songs since she was 8 years old and has toured and recorded her original music across Canada over the past six years. It can even be said that she got her start when she attended Blue Skies Arts camp back in 2009 as a camper. This year you’ll even find her bracing the main stage at Blue Skies Music Festival! Claya has a deep passion for song and believes it can be an invaluable tool to carry throughout one’s life! In this workshop you will learn where to find inspiration, how to create melodies and lyrical compositions, catchy rhythms, and last but not least… how to flaunt your style and dress like the star you are meant to be!!
Movement – Hip Hop Fun with Nimelan (Nim)
Ready to move, groove, and grow? Step into the world of hip hop with Nimi—a self-taught dancer, choreographer, and youth mentor with over a decade of experience. This high-energy workshop is designed for young dancers through rhythm, groove, foundational moves, and freestyle flow. With a focus on building confidence, self-expression, and joy, participants will engage in dynamic drills, creative choreography, mini routines, and playful competitions, all while enjoying a crew-like vibe. Come ready to sweat, smile, and shine—this is hip hop, the Nimi way!
