Sing at Morningstar Farm this July 19-24

Kids enjoying Caryn Simmons' Singing Camp, to be held at Morningstar Farm July 19-24. Photo courtesy of Mimi Anderson.

By Caryn Simmons

Kids ages 6-13 will have fun singing, dancing and creating in a loving and supportive environment at beautiful Morningstar Farm for a week in July, from Monday July 19 to Saturday, July 24.

Singing Camp (our 4th annual day camp) is great for building self confidence and learning to share one’s creative self. Through song, dance, laughter, theater improv, song writing, costumes, art, swimming and playing together, exploring nature and performing.. .we learn to have a great time being open, expressive and creative! We also learn to support each others creativity. Most importantly we have FUN!

A beautiful, inspiring setting amidst acres of organic gardens, a lovely swimming pond, lots of animals and a beautiful barn that is our studio when we’re not outside. There will be a lot of personal attention from the instructor, Caryn Simmons in this very intimate small group setting. (Maximum enrollment is 15.)

Improve singing skills while having a great time! Get exposed to dozens of songs of many genres and eras: jazz, swing, Motown, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, classical, world music, and show tunes. Kids will learn to harmonize, or to sing solos (whoever wants to), to choreograph, to write songs and to use a microphone. Everyone who wants to can also participate in the final performance in front of a live audience in the big barn.

Instructor Caryn Simmons has fifteen years experience as a music teacher and the founder/director of various children’s choirs on Orcas Island and in Bellingham. She has conducted workshops and worked as a visiting artist in many schools in Washington state and has been directing summer camps for five years. Caryn has performed at many festivals and venues as a singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. She has a degree in ethnomusicology from the U.W. Caryn has played lead and supporting roles in theatre and musical theater on many stages and has also worked professionally as a costume designer.

This year’s visiting artists are Afro Cuban percussionist and dancer Antonio Diaz and dancer Heather Haugland. They will be teaching a workshop in Latin drumming and dancing. They are highly skilled facilitators who have taught hundreds of people to drum and dance, most recently running a school in Juneau Alaska. They have spent many years studying, playing and dancing in Cuba. I am thrilled to have them!

The schedule is Monday, July 19 through Thursday, July 22 –  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday, camp will run 3 hours (to be announced), including the performance finale.

Cost is $300, with a discount for siblings.  Registration is first come, first served. Community members interested in sponsoring a student are asked to contact Caryn Simmons.

To reserve a spot send a $75 deposit to the following address:
Caryn Simmons
2700 Kulshan
Bellingham, WA 98225

Contact Caryn Simmons at  360-820-2292 or
carynsimmons@hotmail.com