The popular Thalia Kids’ Book Club at Symphony Space launches a summer camp!

For ages 9-12

August 3-7 (Week One is Full) 

August 10-14, 2009  (Limited Space Available) 
9 am – 3 pm ($600)
9 am – 6 pm ($750)
Download the registration form.

Drop-off time for both sessions is between 8:30 and 9 am. Camp fees include: books, galleys for review, all field trip transportation costs, materials, and a Camp T-shirt.

Thalia Kids’ Book Club just completed our third season of lively discussions between children’s book authors and their fans ages 9-12.

This summer, we’re launching a Thalia Kids’ Book Club Camp, geared for 20 avid readers and writers ages 9-12.  They will meet with children’s book authors to discuss their published work and work in progress,  be part of a writing workshop, put together a writing portfolio, participate in drama activities,  go on book-related field trips, and more. The camp will conclude with an informal performance of actors reading  kids’ writing. 

Week One-August 3-7

• John Rocco (cover artist for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series)
• Brian Selznick (author/illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret)
• Matthew Cody (we will get a sneak preview of his first book, Powerless, coming out this fall)
• Katherine Marsh (author of The Night Tourist and Twilight Prisoner, will take us on a tour of sites in Grand Central featured in her first book)
• Rebecca Stead (First Light and When You Reach Me)   
• Michael Buckley (The Sisters Grimm series)

Week Two-August 10-14

• Michael Winerip (NY Times reporter and author of the Adam Canfield adventures)
• Gail Carson Levine (author of Writing Magic and many novels, including Dave at Night, will talk about her research process)
• Wendy Mass (author of A Mango-Shaped Space and Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life)
• Kirsten Miller (author of the Kiki Strike books, will take us on a Kiki -related walking tour of Lower Manhattan)
• Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier (husband and wife cartoonists and book illustrators will lead a cartooning workshop)

Fun activities include:

• meetings with authors      
• workshops on writing stories, poems, plays, and journals
• a chance to read your work to peers
• book discussion groups         
• lunch in the park
• book-related field trips led by authors

The camp will be based in the Thalia Studio at Symphony Space.  Mornings will be spent on indoor activities, followed by a picnic lunch in the park, and an afternoon field trip.

Comments from Kids on Thalia Kids’ Book Club

• “My favorite part was everything!”
• “I liked writing and talking to the author.”

Comments from Parents on Thalia Kids’ Book Club

• “It’s magical, perfect, inspiring.  We love it!”
• “I was really blown away by how excellent the program was.”

For more information, please contact Jennifer Brennan.

Where will the camp take place?
Can campers attend more than one session?
Can campers attend both the Thalia Kids' Book Club Camp and the Global Arts Camps?
What are the appropriate ages for the Thalia Kids' Book Club Camp?
What if my child is younger/older?
How large is the camp?
What time can campers be dropped off?
What is a typical day at the Thalia Kids' Book Club Camp?
What happens between 3:00 and 6:00?
How will campers travel to field trips?
Who are the camp staff members?
Is there an option to have lunch provided?
Is financial aid available?

Where will the camp take place?
Morning activities will take place at Symphony Space in the Thalia Studio.  We will go on daily field trips.  Weather permitting, we will eat lunch in Riverside Park. (return to questions)

Can campers attend more than one session?
Yes. (return to questions)

What are the appropriate ages for the Thalia Kids' Book Club Camp?
The Thalia Kid’s Book Club Camp is intended for children ages 9-12. (return to questions)

What if my child is younger/older?
If your child is just below or above the intended age, please call to discuss: 212-864-1414 x206. (return to questions)

How large is the camp?
The Thalia Kid’s Book Club Camp is only able to accommodate 20 campers for each session. (return to questions)

What time can campers be dropped off?
Camper can be dropped off between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM.  Campers may NOT be dropped off earlier than 8:30 AM. (return to questions)

What is a typical day at the Thalia Kids' Book Club Camp?
A typical day will include a chance to write stories, poems, plays or journals, share work with peers, participate in a book discussion group, a meeting with an author, lunch in the park (weather permitting) and a book related adventure field trip (two or three a week). (return to questions)

What happens between 3:00 and 6:00?
If you would like your child to stay at Symphony Space until 6 pm, this extension of the camp day will feature a calm segue from the earlier activities of the day.  Kids can read, watch and discuss films related to books, work on writing and art projects, write in their journals, all supervised by Symphony Space staff. (return to questions)

How will campers travel to field trips?
Campers and staff will take public transportation (subway or bus) to travel to various locations around the city.  Metro cards will be provided. (return to questions)

Who are the camp staff members?
The Thalia Kid’s Book Club will be run by Katherine Minton, Director of Literary Programs, Madeline Cohen, Education Director, and Jennifer Brennan, Production Coordinator for Literary Program. Several Symphony Space interns will also help supervise activities.  There will be at least one adult per ten children at all times.  (return to questions)

Is there an option to have lunch provided?
No, all food will be provided by the camper’s parent or guardian.  Symphony Space will be a nut-free environment.  Please see the application form regarding appropriate food to provide for your child. (return to questions)

Is financial aid available?
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer financial aid at this time, but hope to in the future. (return to questions)

Katherine Minton
Jennifer Brennan
Madeline Cohen

Katherine Minton has always loved to read and talk about books.  She has been Producer of Literary Programs at Symphony Space since 1990, producing Selected Shorts:  A Celebration of the Short Story, in New York and on tour around the country, and the Thalia Book Club book discussion series.  She was inspired to launch the Thalia Kids’ Book Club three years ago by her now 12 -year- old son’s enthusiasm for books and authors.  He was the first member of the Kids’ Advisory Committee to the club.   She also produces Symphony Space’s annual Bloomsday on Broadway marathon of readings from Ulysses and other literary events at the theatre such as The Book That Changed My Life marathon event and a tenth anniversary celebration of Poetry in Motion.

Jennifer Brennan hails from Amherst, Massachusetts, where she earned her Degree in Early Childhood Education.  She spent more than six years working in classrooms with children from infancy to adolescence.  After relocating to NYC, Jennifer spent nearly a decade working Bank Street Bookstore as the Assistant Manager and Events Planner where she developed extensive knowledge of current and classic children’s titles and enjoyed matching readers with the right books.  As a producer of literary events, she has worked with many venues, from Bryant Park’s summer reading room, to former independent mainstay Coliseum Books’ author series.

A lifelong advocate for the inclusion of the arts in every child’s education, Madeline Cohen, Education Director at Symphony Space, has been creating and implementing arts education programs as a teaching artist, arts education administrator, and consultant since 1978.  Her work includes being the Vice-Chair of the New York City Arts-in-Education Roundtable, a Lead Teacher in Hofstra University’s model for an arts-infused middle-school curriculum, and the author of curriculum guides for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Nashville Institute for the Arts in Education and Symphony Space. She is also a costume designer.