Summer Camp | Handbook

Camps are held at ImaginOn, 300 E 7th St. Charlotte, NC 28202 | MAP
and CPCC Levine Campus, Levine Building III; 2800 Campus Ridge Rd Suite 1113, Matthews, NC 28105 | MAP

Education Team

EG Engle, Director of Education
Mary Katherine Smith, Camps & Community Programs Manager
Cat Koski, Education Operations & Administrative Manager
Karen Steele, Resident Teaching Artist
Breana Venablé, Resident Teaching Artist

Early Childhood Camp Orientation

Early Childhood parents and guardians are asked to attend the first 15 minutes of the first day of camp for a brief orientation. NOTE: Early Childhood campers must be 3 by the first day of camp, and be fully-potty trained. Parking will be available underneath ImaginOn and can be accessed on 6th St.
*There are no orientations for all other Summer Camp programs.

  Friday Sharings & Showcases

All camps have a performance on Fridays. 
Camp Age / Grade Sharing Time
Early Childhood Camps Ages 3-5 Friday, 11:30 AM
Primary Camps K-2nd Grade Friday, 2 PM
Performance Camps 3rd-6th Grade Friday, 3 PM
One-week Teen Acting & BTS* 7th-12th Grade Friday, 4 PM
Two-week Teen Acting & BTS*
at ImaginOn
7th-12th Grade Friday, 7 PM
& Saturday, 2 PM
Two-week Teen Acting & BTS*
at CPCC Levine (Matthews)
7th-12th Grade Friday, 5 PM
*BTS - Behind the Scenes

  Communication With Families

We are committed to providing you with all the information needed to be prepared and have a wonderful camp experience!
  • Three weeks prior to the first day of camp you will receive a reminder email with brief information about your camp and a reminder about our cancellation policy. This reminder is sent to the email address you used at registration.
  • Wednesday prior to the first day of camp you will receive an email with important information about camp. If you do not receive this email, please contact the Education Department.
  • Wednesday during the week of your child’s camp, you will receive an email with important information regarding your child’s Sharing/Showcase that Friday.

  Policies and Other Information

Click on a heading to learn more...
Summer Staff
Children's Theatre of Charlotte is proud to employ theatre arts educators who hold personal creative drive and professionalism in our classrooms to inspire young people to excel on stage, and in life. All Summer Staff are required to complete a minimum of 40 training hours including, but not limited to: First-Aid, CPR, and AED. We take pride in the expectations we set for our Summer Staff and hold them to the highest standard.

Inclusive Classrooms
All classes and camps at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte are inclusive. Open communication with families helps us create a successful environment for every student. The Education Staff will note any allergies, chronic illness, or medical conditions that were listed on your registration form. This information is only shared with Education Staff as necessary.
Contact Mary Katherine Smith if you want to discuss your child's needs further or have any tips or strategies to help them be successful.

Lunch / Snack Policy
Snacks (all camps) and lunches (full-day camps only) should be packed with campers daily. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is a nut-free facility, so no nut products of any kind should be packed with campers in snacks or lunches. If campers have nut products packed, they will be isolated from the other campers during snack/lunch time that day and the administration will make a call home to parents/guardians.

Absence Policy
Students should plan to attend the entire week(s) of camp. Each camp day builds on activities from the previous day, and absences affect preparation for the Sharings and Showcases on Friday. There are no refunds or make-up sessions for missed camps. For illnesses or other sudden unavoidable absences notify the Education Department.

Discipline Policy
Our goal is that every child will have a wonderful experience during their camp week, and we encourage positive reinforcement and conflict management and resolution. In the case that we encounter behavior that negatively impacts the camp environment, the following incremental course of action will be taken:
1. Teaching Artist/Summer Staff will talk with the child individually.
2. Camper is asked to step away from the camp activity until the Teaching Artist/Summer Staff invites the camper to return.
3. Teaching Artist/Summer Staff will speak with the parent/guardian after camp and/or send an email.
4. If the behavior continues, Education Staff contacts the parent/guardian and further action is determined. Grounds for immediate suspension or removal include but are not limited to causing physical harm, putting him/herself or other students in danger, and harmful behaviors towards staff.

Inclement Weather & Building Closings
If the ImaginOn building is closed due to severe weather or some other emergency, we will not hold camps. We will send out a text alert through EZ Text. Please make sure your account has your current cell number listed as the preferred number. Text alerts will be sent to the preferred number. You may also check the ctcharlotte.org homepage for updated information.

Illness & Emergencies
Please do not bring students to camp if they are showing any of the symptoms listed below. Symptoms include:
♦ Fever - Defined as having a temperature of 100.5°F or higher.
♦ Vomiting - Students must be vomit-free for a minimum of 12 hours. 
♦ Rash or Spots - Defined as frequent scratching of the body or scalp, lice, rash, or any other spots that resemble childhood diseases, including ringworm.
Any campers who are visibly ill at drop-off will not be permitted to enter camp that day. If a camper becomes ill during camp, the parent/guardian will be contacted to pick them up. If they cannot be reached, the staff will call the emergency contact listed on the registration form. In the event of a serious emergency, 911 will be called first.

Medication
We will never administer a drug of any type, even with parental consent. This includes Tylenol, Advil, etc. Therefore, all medication must be self-administered by the student. *The exception to this would be emergency administrating of an EpiPen by trained staff members. If the medicine must be administered by a parent/guardian, we are happy to make any arrangements. Please enter any important allergies, chronic illness, or medical conditions during the registration process. If you have already registered and would like to add this information, please contact our Education Department.

Refund, Transfer, & Denial of Camp Services
Refunds: Full refunds are available for cancellations two weeks prior to the camp start date. Transfers can be made for emergency circumstances following that time, if available. As of the first day of camp, all sales are final.
Refund / Transfer Request

Denial of Service: Refunds will not be granted for denial of services. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte reserves the right to deny camp services if one or more of the following conditions exist:
  • The camper refuses to participate in the program.
  • The camper causes physical harm to another child or staff member.
  • The staff cannot provide adequate or safe care to other campers due to the behaviors of the camper.

  Videography & Photography

Videography and photography are permitted for most Sharings and Showcases except when prohibited by copyright law. Recordings are for at home, personal use only. Please don’t post these on social media. We ask you to avoid flash photography of any kind during the performance. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte does not produce or sell videotapes. Photographs of students in camp taken by Education Staff may be used in promotional materials.
CAMP VIDEO PHOTO
Early Childhood Camps (ages 3-5) Yes Yes
Primary Camps (rising K-2nd Grade) Yes Yes
Performance Camps (rising 3rd-6th Grade)
The Legends of Grimm No Yes
Disney's The Lion King KIDS Yes Yes
Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. Yes Yes
Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, Jr. Yes Yes  
Teen Studios (rising 7th-12th Grade)
ALL 1-week Teen Studios Yes Yes  
Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream Yes Yes
Disney's The Descendants Yes Yes
Cyrano de BurgerShack JV No Yes

Have Any Questions?

Box Office / Customer Service
Email | 704-973-2828 (12-5 PM, M-F)
Education Operations & Administrative Manager
Cat Koski | 704-973-2837
Camps & Community Programs Manager
Mary Katherine Smith | 704-973-2835
ImaginOn
Website | 704-416-4600

Summer Camp Office Hours
Mon - Fri 8:15-5:15 PM
Sat & Sun - Closed
Summer Camp offices will be closed the week of July 3-7
Tax Information
Our Tax ID number is 56-1028031.
Thank you for participating in the education programs at Children's Theatre of Charlotte!