Children's Arts Center (Ages 5-12)

The Children’s Center provides an opportunity for students 5–12 years of age to be intensely involved in the process of exploring, creating and performing. Children enroll in one course per session through which they are exposed to the necessary steps and processes required for the completion of a finished product, be it a painting, a poem, a theatre production or dance recital.

Skilled and experienced artist-educators use age appropriate materials and methods to convey the excitement and discipline necessary for achievement in the arts. Students are given technical instruction mixed with strong encouragement to come up with creative solutions posed by artistic challenges. Instructors are chosen for their ability to work in a focused and supportive atmosphere with students of all backgrounds.

Children’s Center students work hard yet never lose sight of the fun involved in their personal pursuit of artistic goals. Small classes and a low student to teacher ratio—approximately 9:1—ensure that students receive a great deal of individual attention and support. An important goal of the Children’s Center is for students to gain an enthusiasm and excitement for the arts as well as a basic foundation of technical knowledge.

Daily Schedule-Resident Students
Children’s Center classes run from 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with special interdisciplinary workshops on Saturday mornings, 9 a.m.–Noon. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are filled with recreational activities created by the Student Services Staff. Students may sleep in and rest on Sunday mornings. Students meet at 8:30 a.m. at Bowman Arts Center for announcements, and walk with their counselors to the Children’s Center for 9 a.m. classes. Students have a one-hour lunch break, from 11:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m., plus a morning and afternoon snack break. Healthy snacks are provided by the school.

The afternoon class session ends at 3:30 p.m. Students have the option of returning to the dormitory area for relaxation and play or may go to the swimming pool for more vigorous exercise. Students choosing to swim are escorted in a group by a counselor. The counselor and lifeguards are always on duty at the pool when children are present.

Daily Schedule-Day Students
As above. Parents are requested to drop off their children by 8:30 a.m. at Bowman Arts Center Monday through Friday for Multi-Arts and Monday through Saturday for Specialized Programs. Counselors walk the students to the Children’s Center, to lunch and to the swimming pool. Counselors supervise the children during the entire lunch hour. Lunch in the Dining Hall is included in the day student tuition. Students may bring their own lunches if they wish.

Day students who wish to swim in the afternoons should bring a bathing suit and towel. Parents may pick up their children at 3:30 p.m. at the Children’s Center or by 5 p.m. at the pool. Idyllwild Arts cannot supervise day students after 5 p.m.

Student Pick-Up and Check-Out
Students are free to be picked up by their parents at the conclusion of their final performance or culmination, and after they have been checked out of their dormitory rooms by their counselors In general, room cleanup and checkout occurs on the final Friday night before the end of the session. Most students depart on Saturday. Students whose final performance/culmination takes place on Friday evening are welcome to stay until Saturday, and should be picked up no later than 11 a.m. Students whose final performance takes place on Saturday are requested to leave on Saturday.

Recreational Activities
All residential students participate in an extensive program of recreational activities organized and run by the counselors. Game nights, short hikes, pool parties and dances are just some of the activities offered each evening from 7–9 p.m. On weekends, longer more extensive activities including art projects, informal drama productions, and field games are scheduled for Children Center students. Day students are welcome to return to the campus in the evenings or on weekends to participate in recreational activities.

Supervision
Students are supervised in the dormitories by counselors. Most counselors are college students or recent graduates with a major or strong interest in the arts. Counselors are rigorously screened and interviewed before being hired. The Summer Program receives approximately ten applications for every open position. Counselors are selected by the Director of the Summer Program and the Dean of Students based on their experience and interest in working with young people, their character references and their interpersonal communication skills.

The Dean of Students organizes a comprehensive 11-day training and orientation session for all counselors prior to the beginning of the Summer Program. Topics covered during orientation include first aid, responsible counseling, conflict mediation, and campus safety.

In the Children’s Center students are supervised closely. They are escorted by counselors when walking across the campus. All resident students eat meals with their counselors and participate in evening activities. Counselors are the primary link between students and the Summer Program. Students can feel free to approach their counselors with questions, concerns, problems or just plain homesickness. Every effort is made to provide as much individual student-counselor contact as possible.

Housing
There are four Children’s Center dormitories, three girls dorms with four student rooms, one counselor room and shared bathrooms. Students are housed by sex and age. Girls are housed four or five to a room. The boys’ dorm is divided into two large rooms each with twelve beds. Two or three counselors live in each dorm. There are three girls’ dorms and one boys’ dorm. Supervised by their counselors, students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms and the common bathrooms. Cleaning supplies and vacuum cleaners are supplied by the school. Students are responsible for damages to facilities and property. Idyllwild Arts reserves the right to bill students for repair and/or replacement costs.

Policy On Phoning/Contacting Home
Children’s Center and Junior Artist students are encouraged to contact their families via letter while they are in residence at the Summer Program. The daily schedule contains a letter-writing/quiet time supervised by the counselors from 12:15 to 12:50 p.m. Counselors will be available to assist as necessary.

Students may use campus pay phones to call home Saturdays and Sundays. Calls must be completed by 9 p.m. Students are not permitted to call home at any time from check-in on Sunday through Friday evenings. Parents are requested to refrain from calling their children during this period as the children will not be permitted to talk on the telephone.

Meals
Meals are included in the fees for resident students. Idyllwild Arts contracts with SACCO food service. Meals are served cafeteria-style in the dining hall. Food is wholesome and prepared for the general taste. There are vegetarian options at every meal including a hot entree at every lunch and dinner. In addition, an extensive salad bar featuring fresh fruits and vegetables is available at all lunches and dinners.

At lunch, Children Center students eat a simplified (fewer choices) version of the regular lunch. Lunch is included in the day student fee. Day students may purchase breakfast or dinner at the door, if desired.

The school also offers a snack bar which operates on a cash basis. Sandwiches, snacks and soft beverages are available from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.

General Information
Please visit the Registration and Student Life sections for additional information about campus location, transportation, suggestions for items to bring, discounts, credits, scholarships and the school’s Standards of Behavior.