Blog
The Creative Impact Zone
February 5, 2020
As mainstages enters our 10th year, I am taking the time to consider all of our different offerings and where we’ve had the most success in the past. Channeling the spirit of Russell Crowe in ‘A Beautiful Mind,’ I summoned up a diagram that introduces our secret formula for creative impact.
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5 Events to Boost Camp Spirit All Year Long
November 5, 2019
There are many ways to boost camp spirit all year long, but here are five of our favorite ideas for connecting with your campers before next summer!
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8 Crazy Games for 8 Crazy Nights
October 17, 2019
Chanukah is a wonderful time of year to come together with friends and family, but what happens when the kids need something fun to do, or when the conversation doesn’t last as long as the oil? Here are 8 fun games centered around Chanukah that are fun for the whole family!
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10 Lessons From 10 Years
October 1, 2019
Matt Dorter here! I want to share the 10 most important lessons that I’ve learned in the past 10 years, as we grew mainstages from an inspiration to a full-fledged business.
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Creating Healthy Competition
March 29, 2019
A competitive aspect to any lesson can help focus participants- learn some tips for creating a healthy and fun competitive spirit!
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Passover Games to Play with Kids
March 5, 2019
Check out these fun games and activities to play with kids at Passover!
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Quick and Easy Games that ANY Staff can Run
February 25, 2019
Get a Free Activity Packet featuring some of our favorite easy to lead games for camp!
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Featured Game: Statues
February 19, 2019
You can move... just don't get caught by the night watch at the museum! Learn one of our most popular curriculum games!
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Awesome Original Purim Games for Kids
January 24, 2019
Costumes? Games? Lots of cookies? Sounds theatrical to us!
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Featured Game: Freeze
January 7, 2019
Have fun turning scenes on their head by rapidly changing the place, characters, and relationships in this fun improvisation game!
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Making it Rain at Camp!
December 27, 2018
Rainy day at camp? No problem! Here are some easy, practical suggestions for how you can turn those dreaded cloudy skies into a sunny fun day for everyone!
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How to Use Space Effectively
December 17, 2018
In education, space is often at a premium. Learn some helpful tips for making the most of your space!
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Casting Call: How to Talk to Your Child about their Part
November 27, 2018
When the cast list goes up, parents can feel bewildered by the onslaught of emotions from their children-- both positive and negative. How to respond? Here are some helpful tips that parents can use to help their children cope with the uncertainty of the essential audition process.
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Featured Game: Here to There
November 26, 2018
Walk through all sorts of creative and fun "atmospheres" in this creative movement game!
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What Makes an Awesome Camp Program?
November 12, 2018
While we weigh factors like the number of participants, venue logistics, ages, etc., there is only one true way to know what will make a program awesome at a camp- LISTEN TO CAMPS.
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Featured Game: What are You Doing?
October 15, 2018
Have endless fun with this creative game that's fun for all ages!
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Eight Steps to the Perfect Birthday Party
October 10, 2018
Creating a party can sound daunting, especially with a busy schedule, but following a few easy steps can allow you to have a party that is enjoyable for everyone.
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Featured Game: Name and Motion
September 17, 2018
Get to know people with this great icebreaker!
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Featured Game: Slideshow
August 17, 2018
Play one of our most popular improv games for all ages, Slideshow! In this game, participants make tableau imagery of improvised situations.
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Impact of Arts Counselors at Camp
July 10, 2018
Being a counselor and teaching artist at camp can feel like a thankless job. Not because you are undeserving, it is only that there are so many things going on that directors, admin, campers and even parents can forget to show appreciation.
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Making Teen Programming Cool
May 21, 2018
There is one question that is asked of us more than any other, "How do we engage our teens?" The language teenagers speak is ever evolving and what's cool one day may be lame another (do kids say "lame" anymore?) We can simply dismiss our teenagers as cynical and "plugged in" OR we can create programming that teenagers will like.
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Experiential Learning
May 21, 2018
Everyone learns a little bit differently, but the one thing to keep in mind is that we all retain 70% of what we DO. Read this blog to learn more about how experiential learning can change how you teach or learn.
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Theater Vocabulary
January 10, 2018
Enjoy this list of our favorite theater vocabulary! Useful in all theater education settings and selected to serve the needs of student and educator.
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Tips for Memorizing Lines
December 6, 2017
Need help memorizing lines? Here are a few suggestions for getting off-book (not needing the script) in no time!
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Managing Difficult Behavior
November 15, 2017
Any experienced educator will tell you that managing a group of kids is the key to facilitating an effective lesson or rehearsal. This resource will provide you with proven techniques to engage kids of all ages, keep them focused, and avoid disciplinary action.
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