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Free Summer Renaissance Adventure Arts Camp for Youth
to be Held in Lowville
Published: May 15, 2026 at
07:00 p.m.
By: Press Release from Youth of Lewis County/Tug Hill
Artist Network
Free Summer Renaissance Adventure Arts Camp for Rural
Youth
 Lowville, NY — The Youth of
Lewis County, in partnership with the Tug Hill Artist Network, is excited
to announce a free, intensive summer Renaissance Adventure Arts Camp for
youth ages 12–17, offering hands‑on instruction in music and dance,
theatrical movement, character development, costume design, and
improvisational acting. This program creates a space where youth can think
creatively, dream up a character, and bring that character to life for the
Lewis County Renaissance Faire where they will be immersed into the crowd
and entertain with their new-found theatrical skills.
Throughout July
and August at the Lowville Town Hall Theater, the camp will offer two three‑hour
sessions per week led by a team of professional working and teaching
artists. The program culminates in a student‑designed, interactive
performance presented during both days of the Lewis County Renaissance
Faire, giving youth a public platform to showcase their creativity,
collaboration, and artistic growth. The program emphasizes the full
creative process—from concept to public performance—while giving students
meaningful agency over their artistic choices, including choosing
a name for the ensemble.
A key component
of the camp is its three‑part character development sequence, which
guides students from historical understanding to imaginative creation. In
Character Quest, youth step into the world of the Renaissance, exploring
daily life, social roles, values, and struggles while comparing them to
their own experiences. They examine Renaissance archetypes—merchants,
nobles, artisans, healers, travelers—and consider how magical or
fantastical elements might fit into a Renaissance‑inspired setting.
By the end of this session, each student selects an archetype and begins
shaping their character’s identity.
In Persona
Playhouse, students transform their early ideas into fully realized
personas. They learn how writers and performers use motivations, flaws,
hooks, and internal conflicts to make characters feel human and compelling.
Students craft backstories that explore relationships, challenges, dreams,
and emotional depth, and they participate in peer feedback sessions that
help refine their characters and bring them to life.
Then, in Heraldry
Hall, students explore the visual language of identity through Renaissance
heraldry. They learn how coats of arms communicated lineage, values, and
personal symbolism, then design their own coat of arms to represent their
character. Once conceptualized, students create and assemble character
cards to carry with them the day of the event—including their character’s
name, title, backstory summary, key traits,
symbolic imagery and full dress
photo—creating a complete Renaissance persona ready for performance.
In Garb & Gear,
students learn how Renaissance clothing, colors, and accessories
communicate identity and status. Using upcycled and donated materials, they
design and construct costume pieces that reflect their character’s role,
personality, and backstory. They also explore how props, symbols, and
visual details help performers quickly communicate who they are to an
audience—an essential skill for interactive Renaissance Faire performance.
These character‑building and costume creation sessions support the
camp’s broader curriculum, which is organized into four modules: character
development, costume design, Renaissance music and dance, theatrical
combat, and improvisation. The final module is The Players’ Roundtable:
Buskers, Bards & Barbs, where students bring their characters to life
through a three‑session, pod‑based performance-style workshop.
They rotate
through music and dance, storytelling, and safe theatrical combat, learning
how to engage an audience with movement, voice, humor, and choreographed
“swordplay.” As Buskers, they explore music, dance, and physical comedy; as
Bards, they practice storytelling and crowd interaction; and as Barbs, they
learn witty banter and playful, exaggerated combat. Through collaboration
and improvisation, students develop the agility, confidence, and theatrical
instincts needed to interact with Renaissance Faire visitors in real time.
Their chosen ensemble name will debut at the Faire as they perform as a
roaming improv troupe throughout the weekend.
The instructors
include: Travis Widrick, a singer/songwriter, poet, and dance instructor
teaching Renaissance‑inspired music and dance; Tanya Roy, a
professional teacher, writer, poet, and improv performer with HarmoNNY Performing Arts Community, leading
improvisation and character embodiment; Jim Goodenberry, an award‑winning
actor and director teaching theatrical combat, creative movement, and safe
stage‑fighting techniques; and Kelley Martin, a writer, teacher, and
program administrator teaching character creation and supporting youth‑envisioned
costume design.
Students of all
experience levels are welcome, and youth advocates will be available for
support. While not all students may choose to perform, every participant
will contribute meaningfully through design, prop creation, or behind‑the‑scenes
roles.
This program is
not just about performance—it is about collaboration, leadership, problem‑solving,
and giving young people ownership of a creative project from start to
finish. The Renaissance Faire audience will see the final product, but the
real transformation happens in the weeks leading up to it.
The Youth of
Lewis County invites families, educators, and community partners to help
spread the word. Class and registration
information will be released next week on both the Youth of Lewis
County, Lewis County
Renaissance Faire, and Tug Hill Artist
Network web pages.
This project is
made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program of
the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Office of the
Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the St.
Lawrence County Arts Council.
About Youth of
Lewis County:
The Youth of Lewis County is dedicated to creating accessible, youth‑centered
arts and leadership opportunities that strengthen community, foster
creativity, and support the well‑being of young people across the
region.
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