Creative Root Camps for Kids
Your mind is a magical place! If you’re looking for the perfect summer theatre camp for your children that’s filled with magic, wonder, and a whole lot of characters—you’ve come to the right place! We offer in-person summer camp experiences at DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus.
During our summer theatre camp, your children will create brand new epic adventures all while learning about the fundamentals of theater. Over the course of two weeks, Creative Root teaching artists will guide campers as they create an original script inspired by the worlds and characters of popular literature for young people that will culminate in performance for family and friends!
Hogwarts
Ages: 6-9
Mondays-Fridays, 9am-3pm
June 17, 2024 -
June 28, 2024
Program Fee: Two Weeks: $725, Early Bird $650
Inspired by the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Dust off your spell books and get ready for a summer of magic and play! Watch as our students take you behind the scenes of all the new shenanigans happening at Hogwarts. Explore a mystical world of brooms, sorting hats, wands and more as the Daily Prophet does a deep dive on all the adventures unraveling at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hogwarts
Ages: 10-14
Mondays-Fridays, 9am-3pm
June 17, 2024 -
June 28, 2023
Program Fee: Two Weeks: $725, Early Bird $650
Inspired by the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Every year on their 11th birthday, a new class of wizards receives letters inviting them to Hogwarts. Well, consider this your formal invitation! Explore a tale of brand-new witches and wizards and their adventures, challenges, and struggles as they take on a variety of classes, such as Herbology, Potions, Quidditch, and more! Watch as our students come together and take you on a journey through this magical land and the lessons they have learned, both in and outside the classroom, since arriving at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Explore-a-story-dom: Knight Owl
Monday-Friday, 9-1pm
June 17, 2024 -
June 21, 2024
Program Fee: One Week: $320 (No early bird discount available)
Inspired by the book by Christopher Denise
Little Owl has dreamed of becoming a real knight his whole life. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during the Night Watch, he is confronted with a true test of bravery. In the end, our tiny owl proves communication, friendship, and empathy are our greatest tools as honorable heroes.
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
Ages: 6-9
Mondays-Fridays, 9am-3pm
July 8, 2024 -
July 19, 2024
Program Fee: Two Weeks: $725, Early Bird $650
Inspired by the book by Roald Dahl
Nobody has seen Willy Wonka—or inside his amazing chocolate factory—for years. When he announces his plan to invite the winners of the five Golden Tickets to visit his factory, the whole world is waiting for the candy mysteries to be revealed! Who will pass all of Wonka’s chocolate-ly tests? The spoiled Veruca Salt? The gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde? The television-obsessed Mike Teevee? Or maybe it could even be the poor paperboy Charlie Bucket and his Grandpa Joe.
Matilda
Ages: 10-14
Mondays-Fridays, 9am-3pm
July 8, 2024 -
July 19, 2024
Program Fee: Two Weeks: $725, Early Bird $650
Inspired by the book by Roald Dahl
Matilda Wormwood is only a kid, but she is a genius. Unfortunately her parents are too dull to even notice. Even worse, her headmistress Miss Trunchbull is a horrible kid-hating bully who makes life difficult for Matilda's teacher, Miss Honey, and her friends. But what Miss Trunchbull doesn't know is that Matilda has a trick or two up her sleeve.
The Stinky Cheese Man
Ages: 6-9
Mondays-Fridays, 9am-3pm
July 22, 2024 -
August 2, 2024
Program Fee: Two Weeks: $725, Early Bird $650
Inspired by the book by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith
Find out what happens when each of your favorite storybook fairy tales is derailed and everyone from Chicken Little to The Gingerbread Man gets a completely ridiculous makeover. Featuring ineloquent giants, sassy barnyard animals, colossal cow pies, and enough stinky cheese to go around, these stories are packed with wacky adventures and delightful twists.
Sisters Grimm: Fairy Tale Detectives
Ages: 10-14
Mondays-Fridays, 9am-3pm
July 22, 2024 -
August 2, 2024
Program Fee: Two Weeks: $725, Early Bird $650
Inspired by the book Sister Grimm: Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
When orphaned sisters Sabrina and Daphne are sent to live with their mysterious grandmother, Relda Grimm, who lives in a strange town in New York state, known for its extraordinary number of unexplained and unusual crimes, they begin to unravel a mystery that leads to their ancestors' magical beginnings. Explore the world of Fairy Tale crimes as our heroic sisters take on Fairy Tale Criminals and solve mysteries leading them closer to the answer of their parents' disappearance.
What to expect
at Creative Root Summer Theatre Camp
Creative Root centers joy and wellbeing in all of its work. Each day we’ll
warm up our bodies and get grounded through gentle yoga-based stretching, mindfulness,
and breathing exercises. While our camps end with a culminating performance (whether live or video),
it’s all the small steps that we take along the way that matter the most! We'll learn about all
things theater—from acting to scriptwriting. Campers will learn how to build a story and bring it
to life, all while making new friends! We will grow and deepen our ensemble through collaboration—working
with and learning from each other to share our own individual stories and talents. Our goal is to
encourage and empower our campers every single day and celebrate what makes each one of
them special in our final presentation.
Week One: The Fundamentals
During the first week of camp, we focus on building the ensemble, making new friends, theater games and exercises, an introduction to the actor’s tools, and the basics of acting. We’ll investigate the world of our story and its characters, explore scriptwriting with writing prompts as we develop an original script together.
Week Two: Putting It All Together
The second half of camp, we’ll bring our story to life through rehearsals and design elements focusing on props, costumes, and shaping what our world looks like. The awesome part about summer camp is that each camp experience is unique to its ensemble and how they envision their story together!
Have questions? Explore our FAQs or send us an email.
Do you require a COVID-19 vaccination?
Creative Root is taking steps to ensure your camp experience will not only be incredibly fun and artistically exciting, but as safe as possible for both participants and instructors. Currently, we will not require campers to provide proof of vaccination although it is strongly recommended. We will remain mask-friendly, and you can let us know if you would like your camper to wear a mask indoors or outside. You’ll receive a Welcome Letter and comprehensive information packet two weeks prior to your camp session start date that will include policies//procedures if staff or campers who are exposed, symptomatic or diagnosed with Covid. And you can find DePaul’s campus policies here: https://resources.depaul.edu/coronavirus/Pages/default.aspx
How many adults per age group and do you offer specialized care for individual students?
Each group has one lead teaching artist and one college intern in the room at all times. (One adult per every 10 students.) There is an admin floater who assists with groups as needed. Please note that staff are trained theater professionals and are NOT certified in special education or mental health counseling. If your student requires an aide during the school year or one-on-one care, unfortunately our camp is not equipped to handle those needs. Please feel to reach out if you have additional questions!
What do we do at Creative Root’s Summer Theater Camp?
We will learn about all things theater—from acting to design to scriptwriting. You’ll learn how to build a story and bring it to life, all while making new friends! We will grow and deepen our ensemble through collaboration—working with and learning from each other to share our own individual stories and talents. We’ll always start each day by warming up our bodies and minds with gentle yoga-based stretching, breathing exercises, and mindfulness. We will warm up our actor’s tools (imaginations//bodies//voices) and build our ensemble through a variety of fun theater games and activities. In our first week, we will spend time together exploring our story, its characters and collectively creating a script. In our second//third weeks, we’ll bring our story to life through rehearsals and design elements focusing on props, costumes, and shaping what our world looks like. The awesome part about summer camp is that each camp experience is unique to its ensemble and how they envision their story together!
How long is a camp session?
Our two week sessions take place Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. (No camp on Sat/Sun). We do offer a one week//half day session for ages 4-6.
What’s the typical schedule of a two-week camp day?
- 9:00-9:15 Drop-Off
- 9:15- 9:45 am: Check-in, ensemble warm-up, and goal setting for the day
- 9:45 – 10:30 am: Theater games and exercises to build the ensemble and work on the fundamentals of acting
- 10:30-10:45 am: Snack Break!
- 10:45-12:00 pm: Creative storytelling, music, movement, writing, and rehearsal
- 12:00-1:00 pm: Lunch Club at the playground!
- 1:00-2:50 pm: Mindful moment & re-centering for the afternoon, craft projects, rehearsal/filming, & closing reflection
- 2:45-3:00 pm: Pick Up