<p>Hi all. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!</p>
<p>I have a question about these two summer programs - UMinn’s Elements and Centauri. Neither of these are first come, first served, are they? I know people have raved about Centauri for younger campers, but my son will be 15 next summer and I wasn’t sure if he’d had the same sort of great experience at this age.</p>
<p>UMinn’s program sounds great too, but I am sure it’s very competitive also and the notification is so late (around May it seems).</p>
<p>He’ll be entering his sophomore year next fall.</p>
<p>Centauri has programs for kids up to age 18, unless something has changed recently. One of my Ds attended when she was 14 and again at 15 and she loved it. I don’t think that age would be a problem for your son. As far as I know, Centauri still opens booking for the following year to return ‘campers’ first, then to the general public around mid-November, and yes, it is on a first come, first served basis, as many camps are. Spots fill quickly in many of their programs.</p>
<p>Both my son and daughter attended Stage Elements at UMinn. My daughter was a rising senior when she went and the following year my son attended as a rising junior. Both years rising juniors were the youngest in the program of 20 students. In my daughter’s year I believe there were 4 rising juniors and in my son’s class there were 5 (all with pretty solid resumes) - It is an absolutely amazing program and so well priced! The students work with both the BFA and the BA professors and it is a very, very intense program. I would not consider this a “camp” but rather a summer acting conservatory of the hightest caliber. Hopes this helps!</p>
<p>Actingmom and Alwaysamom - Thank you both for very informative feedback. I plan to call Centauri tomorrow to see if space is still available for the sections in which he is most interested. I sort of had the impression that UMinn might be for kids a little closer to college age to help influence their decision to ultimately enroll there. We might try that one summer before his Jr. year.</p>
<p>Well done, Momom2! He will have a blast! You’re lucky to get him into the Stage Combat class, as in past years that one has filled up seemingly in minutes. </p>
<p>I still remember when I first dropped my daughter at the school when she was only eleven. During the school year, the camp location is actually a boy’s military school, and on first approach it looked a little bleak and foreboding. Made us think of that school in Harry Potter --St. Brutus School for criminally insane, or something like that? On top of that, we were early, so no other kids were there yet. All trepidation was quickly dispelled by the two counselors assigned to my daughter’s cabin, who gave her the tour, enlisted her help, and made her feel completely useful, needed, liked and at home. I left quietly. </p>
<p>She attended 4 sessions over 3 summers, and although she has been to several other great camps since, I don’t think anybody matches the terrific vibe that you get at Centauri. A great mix of kids from all over the world, some with no experience, some who already have their own agents, great teachers, fantastic learning experience, but no divas, lots of fun and camaraderie. The off site day --to the Shaw Festival, or Second City, etc.,–is always fun. too. That actually inspired us to take our family vacation before or after the camp and to see all the shows at Shaw and Stratford.</p>
<p>Anyway, hope your son has the time of his life!</p>