I’ve been aware of Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts for several years. It’s an amazing two week immersive experience for economically disadvantaged children. I’ve seen video clips (there was a featured piece on MTV some time ago) and it’s incredible what children can accomplish if they are inspired. Two colleagues from the Creative Problem Solving Institute are involved, Donna Luther is the founder of the camp, and Siri Lynn is an active board member.

The second reason for this posting is to make the simple point that this camp (and other camps like it) are not just about training entertainers.  Most of these kids will never become stars on Broadway or in Hollywood. And it just doesn’t matter — they become stars in a different realm.  If you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s recent book, “Outliers, the Story of Success”, you get an appreciation for how much these types of experiences matter in later life. What kids learn at Summer Stars are skills they can use in any profession, skills that grow them as creative people, as leaders, innovators, and good-old-fashioned stable citizens. Confidence, working with others, the ability to communicate are all skills enhanced by two weeks under the guidance of highly skilled facilitators.  These kids are in the capable hands of two of the finest creativity trainers I know. Donna and Siri have positively impacted the lives of countless children who’ve come through Summer Stars (as well as the countless adults they’ve creatively trained at CPSI). Hopefully they and the rest of the Summer Stars team will be positively impacting many young lives in the years to come.

The arts are an access path to success in life. Help Summer Stars please.  For more information write to Summer Stars at: donna@summerstars.org.