Center For The Arts: Performance Camp (3rd-6th)

If your third through sixth grader has been bitten by the theater bug, this week-long camp at the Center For The Arts in Murfreesboro is worth a close look. It's a creative drama experience built around the basics of being onstage — campers develop acting skills through a themed stage production rather than classroom-style instruction. The whole week builds toward a performance for family at the end, which gives kids a real goal to work toward and parents a chance to see what they've been up to. It runs July 13–17, 9am to 3pm each day — a full six-hour day, which makes it substantive without being overnight. The location is 110 W College St in downtown Murfreesboro, convenient for families in that part of the metro. Cost is $275 for the week. Families also explore Center For The Arts: Performance Camp (6th-9th) for kids moving into middle school, as well as Auditioning 101 and Character Creation Camp for those ready to take their stage skills further.