For creative and ambitious teens, it can be challenging to decide how to spend your summer vacation. With high school graduation on the horizon, many students may be considering college or professional development in the film, media, and performing arts. While the answer will be different for everyone, NYFA offers a range of immersive summer programs for teens in disciplines such as filmmaking, acting for film, game design, 3D animation, and more.
Summer Programs for Teens: 8 Reasons to Attend NYFA Camps
Are you interested in making your own films and/or TV shows? Do you love to sing and dance on stage? Do you spend all of your free time playing video games, and interested in creating one? Look no further than New York Film Academy – the place to explore the world of visual storytelling through mediums such as film, television, webisodes, podcasts, musical theatre, video games, 3D animation, and much more!
Here are the top reasons that teens choose summer programs at NYFA to pursue their interests in film, media, and the performing arts.
Skill Development
If you already have a natural talent for storytelling, summer camps can provide a structured environment to polish your skills. In our filmmaking camps, for example, students tackle immersive exercises and projects, learning the content creation process. Students collaborate with their peers, exploring various roles such as acting, directing, scriptwriting, cinematography, editing, and more.
Hands-on Experience
One of the most advantageous reasons to attend a NYFA summer camp is the access to professional-grade equipment and software. For areas of study that require sophisticated tools, such as our 3D animation and game design camps, students gain practical knowledge and confidence in their craft while mastering this technology.
Networking Opportunities
Summer camp is a great opportunity to meet and collaborate with peers who share similar interests, forming friendships that can last beyond the duration of the camp. For collaborative mediums such as documentary filmmaking and musical theatre, these connections can lead to lasting creative partnerships.
Guidance from Industry Professionals
One of the most significant differences between learning new visual storytelling skills on your own versus attending a camp is the chance to work with experienced instructors. NYFA’s programs are run by seasoned professionals from the film, media, and performing arts industries. Guidance and mentorship during our photography camps, for example, can help students with natural talent hone their craft and improve their technical skills.
Portfolio Building
NYFA’s summer camps are project-centered, and students spend the majority of their time creating their own content. This content can help build up their portfolios, whether for college admissions or their personal reels. In our acting for film camps, for example, students may tape scenes, while musical theatre performers may receive a recording of the end-of-camp showcase. No matter the program, teens leave NYFA’s summer camps with something tangible to showcase their talent and accomplishments.
Development of Critical Communication Skills
NYFA’s summer camps, such as our broadcast journalism programs for teens, are designed to teach essential critical thinking, communication, storytelling, and media literacy skills. As with many of NYFA’s programs, the skills learned in these camps are transferable, meaning that they are valuable not only in journalism but also in many other professions and areas of life.
Personal Growth
Immersing oneself in a creative environment can foster essential personal growth, helping teens develop confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills as they navigate various challenges and collaborate with others. In an atmosphere of budding visual storytellers, students can focus on their specific area of study and develop their unique artistic voice. Our screenwriting camps are a great example of this, as students will receive direct feedback on their work from peers and faculty.
Exploration of Creative Paths
If you’re creative and know you want to tell visual stories, but not sure which discipline is the right fit for you, NYFA’s summer camps offer teens the opportunity to explore different roles within the entertainment industry. Our filmmaking camps, for example, help students gain an understanding of potential paths (screenwriting, cinematography, directing, editing, etc.) they may want to pursue in the future.
College Preparation
For students planning on attending college after high school graduation, time spent on NYFA’s campus can be a great way to prepare. In an interview with NJ.com, Director of Youth Admissions John Sagona emphasized the importance of an on-campus experience.
“The kids and teen programs definitely prepare them for the college experience. Those who continue on are coming in with a leg up because they already know NYFA’s approach and campuses,” John said.
Explore NYFA’s Summer Programs for Teens
At NYFA, teens can immerse themselves in their chosen field, completing hands-on exercises, projects, and assignments under the mentorship of seasoned industry professionals. These programs are a great match for students with an affinity for storytelling and creativity, as our summer camps allow them to build upon their natural talents and learn new skills.
Ready to learn more about our summer programs? Explore our camps today!