Cultivating Creativity All Summer
4/4/2025 12AM
"Miss Lisa" (aka "Groove Lady") leads the annual Jungle Jams day camp at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. Kids ages 5 to 7 have fun and reinforce positive character traits while learning basic musical concepts and experimenting with various instruments.
How Youth Can Stay Engaged in the Arts
Summer vacation offers a welcome break from exams and homework, but it doesn’t have to mean a pause in artistic growth. Maintaining involvement in music, dance, theater or visual art during these months can spark personal development, foster lifelong friendships, and set the stage for a dynamic return to academics in the fall. Below, you’ll discover why summer arts engagement matters, along with practical ways to weave creativity into the school break.
The Benefits of Arts Engagement During the Summer
Staying connected to the arts during the summer can enrich a young person’s life well beyond hot summer days. Artistic pursuits not only sharpen technical skills but also encourage essential qualities such as self-confidence and perseverance. Here’s a closer look at what youth gain from arts engagement over the summer break.
Increased Confidence and Self-Expression
Children and teens who dedicate time to creative activities learn to express themselves in unique ways. Whether they’re experimenting with watercolor painting or rehearsing for a play, they become more comfortable sharing their perspectives. This freedom to explore fosters individuality and can leave them feeling ready to voice their ideas when classes resume.
Strengthened Social Bonds
Summer arts programs bring together participants from diverse backgrounds who share a common love of creativity. Collaborating on group projects – whether it’s writing a short musical or learning choreography – helps students practice effective communication and compromise. As they bond over the highs and lows of the creative process, they forge friendships that often continue long after the session ends.
Life Skills Development
Engaging in artistic endeavors cultivates patience and resilience. A pianist who spends hours mastering a new piece or a visual artist perfecting a mural learns to appreciate the journey as much as the end result. These problem-solving skills carry over to the classroom, where students who have honed discipline and focus through the arts often adapt more readily to academic challenges.
Summer Arts Activities to Promote Creativity and Growth
Students and their families can find plenty of avenues to sustain artistic exploration during the summer – from formal camps to at-home projects. Here are a few popular and rewarding options here at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts:
Jungle Jams Summer Camp: Ages 5-7
Our Jungle Jams summer camp is a favorite for kids aged 5 to 7. This vibrant experience immerses campers in a world of music, movement and cultural discovery. Children delve into rhythmic exploration, experiment with new instruments, and dance to global beats.
Each daily session includes active music-making, creative movement, playing instruments and singing. Kids begin to build a sense of community and self-esteem as they contribute to the “group groove.” During the week, each camper will make three simple musical instruments to bring home. Family members are invited to join the Community Drum Circle Celebration for the last 30 minutes on Friday. No musical experience is required!
Volunteering for the Prism Project: High Schoolers and College Students
Older students can deepen their appreciation for the arts – and learn valuable leadership lessons – by volunteering with the Prism Project. Housed at Allied Solutions Center, the Prism Project day camp unites volunteer mentors and young people with disabilities to produce inspiring stage productions. The four-week camp culminates in a final performance, which this year will take place Sunday, June 22, in the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center.
The goal of the Prism Project is to provide an engaging performing arts program and close the gap in recreational activities for individuals with disabilities ages 6-25. Volunteers will make an extraordinary difference in the lives of campers, helping them to express themselves and engage with others while developing self-confidence, gaining creative arts experience, and building meaningful friendships. If you’re interested in volunteering, email Outreach@TheCenterPresents.org for more information!
Keep Creative at Home: Ideas for All Ages
For families who can’t commit to an extended camp or volunteer schedule, shorter activities can still feed a student’s creative fire. Try creative activities such as:
- Hosting a neighborhood talent night, allowing kids to perform songs, poetry or stand-up comedy.
- Setting aside a weekly art hour for drawing or painting – no screens allowed.
- Seeking out free performances at local libraries or community theaters for more exposure to a wide range of art forms.
Experience Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts
Beyond Jungle Jams and the Prism Project, Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts offers a robust lineup of events perfect for students and families eager to broaden their cultural horizons. Options include:
- Live concerts: From classical recitals to contemporary acts, these performances showcase diverse musical genres and can spark a passion for an instrument or style.
- Theater productions: Stage plays, musicals and dance recitals offer insight into professional stagecraft. Students often leave inspired to audition for local theater or join a dance class.
- Classes, camps, and clubs: From ukelele classes to vocal coaching and more, we have exciting learning opportunities for everyone.
See our upcoming events here!
Reap the Rewards of Summer Art Engagement
When students remain involved in the arts over the break, they carry more than a few hours of summer memories back into their classrooms. They return with stronger communication skills, a keener sense of self, and a well-developed knack for problem-solving. Immersion in music, dance, theater or visual art enriches their mindset and fosters a deeper empathy for the world around them.
Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization that aims to engage and inspire the Indiana community through enriching arts experiences. We are responsible for the operation and programming of a multidisciplinary performing arts campus in Carmel, Indiana, that presents hundreds of events each year and provides space and support services for six resident companies: Actors Theatre of Indiana, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, Civic Theatre, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre and Indiana Wind Symphony. Explore our upcoming events and experiences, or support our work and the expansion of the arts today!
