Looking for a summer camp for your budding fashionista? Want to see a show without heading to the city? These Fairfield County classes, camps and community theater are sure to leave the whole family feeling inspired.
To see more of our Fairfield County Favorites, see our other Living the Good Life guides.
GET CRAFTY
Make-Modern’s sweet space offers sewing and crafting classes for kids and adults, plus a summer camp—from remaking your bedroom in “Interior Designers” to channeling the Italian greats in “Pucci to Gucci: Italian Fashion Week.”
1985 Post Road, Darien
220 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich
make-modern.com
ENQUIRING MINDS
Curious Jane Camp is for girls who like to make things. Campers pick a theme each week, like Spy Science, Kitchen Chemistry, Room Makeover or Toy Design. Projects revolve around science, engineering and design. Sessions are for K–1, 2–3, and 4–6. Rising 7–9 graders participate in the CIT program. August 12–16, Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East, Westport curiousjane.fun
ACTING OUT
Get behind the scenes and on- screen in one of triple threat academy’s award-winning short films directed by Golden Globe–nominee and Westport native Cynthia Gibb. Cast members from previous summers have traveled to Hollywood and New York City to see themselves on the big screen at major film festivals. 58 Post Rd. E, Westport, triplethreat.us
KITCHEN KIDS
Pass on the joy of cooking to your children with Sur la Table’s fun cooking and baking classes for kids and teens. 106 Heights Road #R102, Darien surlatable.com
NATURAL SELECTION
Earthplace is not just for kids! Adults can enjoy Craft and Sip: Natural Dyeing on June 13, 6 to 8 p.m. and Earthplace Book Club: May 22, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (free). The group will discuss Eager by Ben Goldfard. Reserve a copy at your local library. Look for fun family events, too, like Themed Campfires and Group Canoe Paddles. 10 Woodside Lane, Westport earthplace.org
FASHION PLATES
Ellen Gang Design Studio Fashion campers have fun as they learn fashion design skills through projects, lessons, style challenges and games. Completed projects might include skirts, tops, shorts, bags, decorating and dip dyeing–with a special focus on upcycling, reusing, recycling and reinventing.
Rising 4th to 7th Grades
Mon.–Fri. 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
July 15–July 19
July 22–July 26
July 29–August 2
August 12–August 16
Westport; ellengangdesignstudio.com
SPEAKING UP
Jill Jaysen’s mission is: “Helping teens find their voice to stand up and speak for themselves and others and lead us into a better world.” She has coached kids on public speaking, standing out in the college admissions pool and achieving dreams on stage and screen, as well as bolstering confidence and self-esteem. Free, 10-minute parent phone consultation. Email: info@admissionaccomplished.com
TO BE OR NOT TO BE
At Shakespeare on the Sound Summer Camp campers learn about performing Shakespeare’s text and work as an ensemble as they discover character and develop their very own play. For new and seasoned actors alike. No Shakespeare experience necessary. Ages 8 to 15; June 17– 21 and 24–28 (performance on June 28); 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Rowayton shakespeareonthesound.org/summer-camps
RETRO CAMPOUT
Camping Under the Stars Night at the New Canaan Nature Center is an event your kids will remember forever with camp tunes, an animal show, a night hike and—of course—s’mores. The Great American Campout: June 22, 3:30 p.m.– June 23, 9:30 a.m. 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan newcanaannature.org
GETTING GROUNDED
Check out tai chi, knitting, cooking and yoga for adults and Little Farmhands and Little Chefs programs for the kiddos at Lachat Town Farm, an educational and cultural facility dedicated to fostering a connection with community and the land. Westonites can rent a bed in the community garden. 106 Godfrey Road West, Weston lachattownfarm.org
WHAT’S NEW ON STAGE
There are so many wonderful open-air summer stage events to consider as temperatures rise: New Canaan Summer Theatre, Waveny Park Concert Series (New Canaan), Levitt Pavilion concerts (Westport), Shakespeare on the Sound (at Pinkney Park in Rowayton), events at Grace Farms (New Canaan), Alive at 5 concert series at Mill River Park (Stamford), performances at the Hartford Health Care Amphitheater (Bridgeport), shows at Binney Park and Roger Sherman Baldwin Park (Greenwich), to name a few. We won’t elaborate on those out-in-plain-sight gems, but we do have the scoop on a few new developments on the theater scene.
Westport Country Playhouse has all kinds of new programming, including “Barnstormers”—a series of small events from cabarets to play readings—in the Lucille Lortel White Barn adjacent to the theater, which provide an opportunity for local artists to exercise their creative muscle in a cozy and intimate setting.
“From the Page to the Stage” Playhouse tours led by Playhouse archivist Bruce Miller are available to the public by reservation. The 90-minute guided tours explore backstage, the green room, dressing rooms, scene shop, costume designs and set models. Participants will stand on the same stage where Gene Wilder, James Earl Jones, Jane Fonda, Eartha Kitt, Paul Newman and, more recently, Jonathan Groff, Kelli O’Hara and Patti LuPone have performed
Historic anecdotes reveal how the Playhouse, originally a cow barn, provided inspiration for the creation of Oklahoma! and My Fair Lady and moved 42 plays to Broadway.
25 Powers Court (off Route 1), Westport westportplayhouse.org
Connecticut Stage Company launched last fall with its debut production Into the Woods. The staged reading at New Canaan Library brought out Broadway stars Jacob Keith Watson (Merrily We Roll Along), Nicole Ferguson (Days of Wine and Roses), Nick Rehberger and Eric Chambliss (both Fiddler on the Roof) to wow audiences with their powerhouse voices, alongside local talent.
CSC, an artistic haven for creators, storytellers and supporters of the arts, is “dedicated to producing quality theatrical performances with and for our community.” 26 Forest Street, New Canaan connecticutstagecompany.org