Amelia Finley, Giana Silcox and Anna Smith, all senior-level Girl Scouts from Troop 24205, led the innovative camp that ended with a holiday performance.
The Medford Methodist Church was filled with Christmas cheer last month as three members of Girl Scout Troop 24205 led an innovative mini-theater camp they dubbed a “holiday spectacular.”
Amelia Finley, Giana Silcox and Anna Smith – all senior-level Girl Scouts and high-school sophomores – dedicated four weeks to mentoring and inspiring a group of 11 younger girls, teaching them the art of performance and sharing holiday cheer.
The camp was a whirlwind of creativity and camaraderie that offered participants the opportunity to learn a short repertoire of holiday hits – including “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman” – as well as skits. Each young performer was encouraged to step outside her comfort zone and express herself through public speaking, singing and stage presence.
A highlight of the sessions was the opportunity for each girl to recite a heartfelt holiday poem, fostering a love for literature and the spoken word. The camp was held weekly from Nov. 18 to Dec. 9, with a performance on the last day.
“The whole purpose of the theater camp was to involve girls in the arts and allow them to be more confident when performing,” Smith explained. “All of us had so much fun with the girls and we hope we taught them important skills for the future.”
Silcox enjoyed “getting to help the girls learn dances and songs.”
“I love seeing them grow throughout learning the performance and their smiles when everything comes together,” she enthused calling the experience “amazing.”
Finley noted that the art of performing “doesn’t really get enough attention.”
“…We thought it would be great to show young girls what singing, dancing, and acting in front of an audience is really like,” she noted. “Speaking in front of others can often be an intimidating task, so we hoped that this camp would help to show them how capable and successful they can be when performing for a group.
“We had so much fun working with all the girls, and it was such an amazing thing to see how much their confidence grew throughout the rehearsal process.”
The culmination of the camp – an energetic holiday show for family and friends on Dec. 9 – was a testament to the hard work and dedication of both the young performers and their talented mentors. The girls’ confidence and stage presence were truly inspiring, leaving the audience captivated and filled with holiday spirit, said Becca Finley and Lacey Smith, who lead Troop 24205.
The camp not only showcased talent but also highlighted the positive impact Girl Scouts can have on their communities by empowering young women to pursue their passions and develop essential life skills, making a difference one performance at a time.
