Summer PROGRAMS
TACAW 2025 Summer PROGRAMS
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TACAW 2025 Summer camps
TACAW’s summer camps let Roaring Fork Valley kids explore the performing arts in fun, one-week sessions in acting, filmmaking, songwriting, and movement.
Scholarships are available for summer camps on a rolling basis. We encourage prompt sign-up as awards are issued as funding allows. We cannot guarantee scholarships will be awarded to all worthy applicants in the amounts requested.
Please reach out to Anna Feiss at afeiss@tacaw.org if you have any questions.
Songwriting Workshop for Teens
- Age 13+
- June 9-13
- 9AM to 3PM
- Price: $375
- Location: The Arts Campus at Willits – 400 Robinson St Basalt, CO 81621
Join us as we explore the creative side of music making. This workshop will cover the fundamentals of songwriting, how to craft melodies, lyrics and chords that work together, and tools for getting past writer’s block. Students are welcome to bring any songs they have been working on or can show up with a blank page and pencil ready to write. They will have the opportunity to collaborate with their peers in addition to receiving one-on-one support from songwriting mentors. Some prior music experience is helpful but not necessary; instruments are welcome. Scholarships are available.
Instructors: Natalie Spears and Eric Lamb
Local performer and music educator, Natalie Spears, is excited to dive into the songwriting process with the creative youth of the Roaring Fork Valley. Her education style weaves together a background in private music instruction, outdoor education, and performance. She loves songwriting as a vehicle for expression and collaboration.
Eric Lamb teaches English and French at Roaring Fork High School. He is an outdoor sports enthusiast, grateful to live in one of nature’s best playgrounds. Eric is a musician/founding member of local band, The Confluents (@confluentsband), and is proud to be dad to Elliot and partner to dynamic wife, Cassidy.
ANIMATION FILM CAMP WITH ASPEN FILM
- Ages: 10 – 14 / Edad: 10 a 14 años
- July 14-18 // Del 14 al 18 de julio
- 9AM to 3PM
- Price: $450
- Location: The Arts Campus at Willits – 400 Robinson St Basalt, CO 81621
Do you dream of becoming a filmmaker? This is your chance to join fellow aspiring filmmakers for an immersive dive into the world of animation.
During this week-long camp, with the guidance of professional filmmakers and teaching artists, students will collaborate with each other and gain valuable hands-on experience as they craft individual fairytale stories through many styles of Stop Motion: Pixilation, Cut Out Animation, Object Motion, Claymation, and 2D Computer Generated Imagery. It’s an exciting hands-on experience with plenty of arts and crafts to keep the team engaged along the storytelling journey. We will also use Adobe Creative Cloud Software to composite all the animated elements together. Films will be shown on the big screen for friends and family at the end of the week.
TALLER DE CINE Y ANIMACIÓN CON ASPEN FILM ESTE VERANO.
¿Sueñas con convertirte en cineasta? Esta es tu oportunidad para unirte a otros jovenes con ganas de hacer cine y explorar el mundo de la animación.
Durante este taller de una semana, los estudiantes colaborarán entre sí y obtendrán valiosa experiencia práctica con la guía de cineastas profesionales y artistas instructores, mientras crean historias individuales de cuentos de hadas a través de varios estilos de Stop Motion: Pixilación, Animación con Objetos, Claymation y Gráficos Generados por Computadora en 2D. Es una experiencia práctica, donde haremos trabajo manual y aprenderemos el proceso de narración. Además utilizaremos el software Adobe Creative Cloud para componer todos los elementos animados juntos. Las películas se mostrarán en la pantalla grande para amigos y familiares al final de la semana.
MATT BAXTER
Matt is a Denver-based filmmaker who believes in the positive impact of quality original work. Specializing in post-production, Matt’s work has aired on Rocky Mountain PBS numerous times. Focused on fulfilling his clients’ creative vision, he has collaborated with the National Governors Association, Colorado Office of Economic Development and the Colorado Secretary of State’s office. Matt also serves as a post production instructor at the Colorado Film School, which has been nationally recognized as one of the top film programs in the country.
LIVIER CRUZ GUERRERO
Livier Cruz is a Mexican actress, puppet maker, entertainer, and child monitor. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Arts and has formal Theater training in Spain and Mexico City. Her personal interests and passions focus on the Performing Arts and entertainment. She is happy to be part of Aspen Film as the Education Coordinator.
Puppet Storytime Adventure! ¡Aventura de Cuentos con Títeres!
- Ages: 6 – 11 / Edad: 6 a 11 años
- July 21 – 25 / Del 21 al 25 de julio
- 9am to 2pm / De 9 a.m. a 2 p.m.
- Price: $375
- Location: The Arts Campus at Willits – 400 Robinson St Basalt, CO 81621
This summer, get ready for a magical week of bilingual puppet theatre! Children will have the chance to craft their very own paper puppets using fun, recycled materials. At the end of the week, we’ll bring these creations to life with a lively performance, where the kids will take center stage! Join us for a week of creativity, storytelling, and unforgettable fun!
Este verano, ¡prepárate para una semana mágica de teatro de títeres bilingüe! Los niños tendrán la oportunidad de crear sus propios títeres de papel utilizando materiales reciclados y divertidos. Al final de la semana, ¡daremos vida a estas creaciones con una animada función, donde los niños serán los protagonistas! Únete a nosotros para una semana de creatividad, narración de cuentos y diversión inolvidable.
Livier Cruz, a Mexican actress, puppet maker, entertainer, and children’s monitor. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and media arts. Her personal interests and passion focus on the Performing Arts and entertainment. She creates, produces, directs, and performs her own spectacles for her company “Brillantina”, theater and puppets for children.
Tucker Knight studied literature and creative writing at Middlebury College and earned a Masters of Education at Colorado State University. They have lived and worked in Alaska, Oregon, Vermont, and Colorado. They teach at Basalt Middle School and create art as often as they can in their free time. They are a puppeteer, writer, and dancer. They teach workshops at the Art Base and Red Brick center for both adults and children.
Your Brain, Onstage!
- Ages 9-13 // Edad: 9 a 13 años
- August 11-15 // Del 11 al 15 de agosto
- 9am to 3pm
- Price: $375
- Location: The Arts Campus at Willits – 400 Robinson St Basalt, CO 81621
Brain Science takes center stage in this unique camp encompassing brain science and theater arts! The week-long bilingual camp for rising 4th – 6th graders culminates in a performance at TACAW for an invitation-only guest audience. Students will participate in experiential learning by putting neuroscience on its feet for an audience. This camp takes the concept ‘if you can explain it then you’ve really got it’ to a new level…if you can ACT it then you’ve REALLY got it! Participants will take away observable knowledge of brain function along with skills and tools to help them self-regulate, manage behavior, and thrive – on stage and off!
The week’s activities will consist of theater and acting classes, and rehearsing the FocusedKids “Brain Play” and will have opportunities for “non-performers” to participate in costume and set construction. Supplementary to the theater components of the camp students will learn about the brain, its parts, and their respective functions and also participate in engaging neuroscience lessons developed by the Aspen Science Center. This unique offering will engage students with an interest in science and the arts alike.
¡La ciencia del cerebro ocupa un lugar central en este campamento único que abarca la ciencia del cerebro y las artes teatrales! El campamento de una semana para estudiantes de 4º a 6º grado culmina con una actuación en TACAW para los invitados. Los estudiantes participarán en el aprendizaje experiencial poniendo la neurociencia en pie ante una audiencia. Este campamento lleva el concepto “si puedes explicarlo, entonces realmente lo tienes” a un nuevo nivel… si puedes ACTUAR, entonces ¡REALMENTE lo tienes! Los participantes obtendrán conocimientos observables sobre la función cerebral junto con habilidades y herramientas para ayudarles a autorregularse, gestionar el comportamiento y prosperar, ¡dentro y fuera del escenario!
Las actividades de la semana consistirán en clases de teatro y actuación, y ensayos del “Brain Play” de FocusedKids y tendrán oportunidades para que los “no artistas” participen en la construcción de vestuario y escenografía. Además de los componentes teatrales del campamento, los estudiantes aprenderán sobre el cerebro, sus partes y sus respectivas funciones y también participarán en interesantes lecciones de neurociencia desarrolladas por el Aspen Science Center. Esta oferta única atraerá a los estudiantes interesados tanto en las ciencias como en las artes.
Suzanne Vitullo is a teacher of 20+ years who is passionate about working with children and their parents. She is so excited to teach Your Brain On Stage with TACAW because of the creative blend of brain science and the theatre arts. She loves teaching kids social-emotional learning and helping them find their inner resources through mindfulness tools and practices. She has taught at Basalt Elementary, Crystal River Elementary, and Colorado Mountain College. Suzanne is a K-12 teacher, a yoga instructor, a Mindful Parenting coach, and the creator of Breathe Parenting, LLC, which teaches parents tools and practices to find calm in the chaos of family life.
Micha Schoepe studied Musical Theatre Performance in Leipzig, Germany. He played roles in diverse state theatre productions before touring internationally with acappella group, vocaldente. One tour led to Colorado, where he met his husband, Paul. Micha runs an Airbnb, is the worship leader at Snowmass Chapel and locally active as a singer, actor and director. Micha also teaches private voice lessons: www.michaelschoepe.com
TACAW 2025 SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
The Bailey Shaw Internship program honors the legacy of Bailey Shaw, a valued local community member and one of TACAW’s first summer interns. The program is designed for high school and college-age youth interested in the arts, providing hands-on experience, career development opportunities, and access to a supportive arts community. In 2025, we are offering two internship positions: Education and Performing Arts Intern.
Please reach out to Anna Feiss at afeiss@tacaw.org with any questions.