16th Annual Dawson Creek Circus Camp (2024)

Circus Camp is back!

About Circus Camp:

This unique program is a five-day interactive circus art training for children ages 8 and up. Participants learn various circus art skills including acrobatics, juggling, stilt walking, unicycle riding, costuming, wire walking, and clowning. It wraps up with a final performance in front of family and friends showcasing their newly learned skills. 2024 will mark the 16th year of SPCAC hosting this program for our community.

Circus Camp is facilitated by Green Fools Theatre Society (from Calgary) who employ highly skilled circus art professionals. Their main focus is to teach circus art skills that build cooperative team spirit, which helps to develop appropriate social skills, confidence, leadership skills, and respect.

This program is inclusive to children of all developmental levels and abilities, including those on the autism spectrum disorder.

Participants learn that it is okay to be different. We have witnessed an increase in participants’ self confidence as they practice self-motivation, goal setting, and interpersonal skills which are transferable to personal life and academic learning.

Watch a news clip from a previous year’s camp courtesy of CJDC TV.

Parent Testimonial:
“My 9 year old son attended circus camp this year for the first time. He has Asperger’s, as well as sensory processing disorder and developmental coordination delay. He was very nervous about going as he struggles with socializing and with activities that require coordination. After the first evening he was HOOKED. All the staff – including mentors and The Green Fools – were amazing. They were so encouraging and patient. My son chose to work on silk aerials as his project. He worked very hard at a very difficult skill for him. But the encouragement and
instruction he received while at camp was amazing.
When I saw his final routine I was in tears. Skills that would, in my mind, have been impossible for him were demonstrated with confidence and skill. He was even given the skills needed to create his own ‘moves’ and make the routine his own. He developed a very close friendship with another boy his age and they worked hard at encouraging each other to work hard and perfect their routine. Watching the final show I was blown away at the confidence and skills my son was able to develop in just a few short days. All of the children in attendance were able to showcase what they had learned and were encouraged by staff and mentors alike. If you are wondering if circus camp might be right for your child, I offer a resounding YES! To
have a place to feel like they are heard and welcomed and encouraged is an amazing gift. To be able to tackle challenging activities with positive role models is rare and I loved watching the progress my son made during the week. What an AMAZING program this is and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to any parent and child. You can have the faith in this program that your child will grow in confidence and flourish under the guidance of amazing and talented leaders. I can’t wait to see what my son will learn next year!!” – Dee R.

About Green Fools:

Green Fools Theatre Society is a not for profit charity based in Calgary, Alberta, that creates, performs and teaches physical theatre arts for diverse audiences locally and internationally.

Co-founded by Christine Cook and Dean Bareham in 1991. They both graduated from the Dell ‘Artes School of Physical Theatre with an ambition to create their own work, travel the world, and impact their community. Since then, they have taught across North America and as far away as Africa.

Dean Bareham is now the Artistic Director of Green Fools Theatre, he hand chooses his specialized team of instructors that are dedicated Circus Art Professionals who aim to inspire and enlighten students in a safe and nurturing atmosphere.

Green Fools Theatre Society Website

(2017) Sponsors:

Big Top Sponsors:

• British Columbia Arts Council – Youth Engagement Grant
• The Province of British Columbia
• The Peace River Regional District

Three Ring Circus Sponsors:

• School District 59 Peace River South
• The Dawson Creek Art Gallery

Ring Master Sponsors

• Rip’s Shoe Re-Nu
• Dawson Creek Cooperative Union
• Butcher Block
• Central Mountain Air

We acknowledge the (financial) support of the Peace River Regional District

(2016) Sponsors:

Big Top Sponsors:

• The British Columbia Arts Council
• Province of British Columbia

Three Ring Circus Sponsors:

• School District 59 Peace River South
• Dawson Creek Cooperative Union

Ring Master Sponsors

• Scotiabank
• Rip’s Shoe Re-Nu
• South Peace Chiropractic
• The Dawson Creek Art Gallery
• Dawson Creek Cooperative Union
• Elks Lodge – Dawson Creek Branch

This program was the recipient of the 2011 Northern Health IMAGINE Grant

We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia