Photos courtesy of Interlochen Center for the Arts

"The best summer of my life!"

Those were the exact words of Emily Mannheimer after spending six weeks as a camper at Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. Emily was in the High School Repertory Theater program. Campers in third through 12th grade can choose from one of the many programs offered at Interlochen: creative writing, dance, general arts, motion picture arts, music, music theater, theater arts, and visual arts.

Interlochen Arts Camp is located between two lakes in beautiful northern Michigan. Kids, faculty, and staff from all 50 states and more than 40 countries flock here for a summer of art programs. Campers work with well-known instructors to produce public performances and presentations in the many different programs.

As a repertory theater camper, Emily woke up at 7 a.m. to get dressed and have breakfast. Then it was off to acting class from 8 to 9 a.m., followed by two hours of rehearsals. She had two hours for lunch and to rest before returning for three hours of rehearsals in the afternoon. After dinner Emily relaxed with friends and would often go to see one of the many theater, music, or art presentations put on by fellow campers or famous performers, such as former Interlochen students Jewel and Norah Jones. At the end of Emily’s six-week session, her repertory theater group performed their own production of the play The Ice Wolf.

Emily said that one of the best parts about spending a summer at Interlochen was that “there were so many people there who are as passionate about what they love as you are. … I am still in touch with many of the friends that I made because you meet people that you have so much in common with. You don’t always have people at home who have the same passion and focus as the people you meet at Interlochen.”

For more information about Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, go to www.interlochen.org.