If your youngster is looking to immerse themselves in the digital world over the summer months, the Richmond Media Lab can provide a roadmap that can take them in a multitude of directions.
"We do everything from performing to animation," said Lauren Burrows Backhouse, the city's media arts leader.
Located at the Richmond Cultural Centre (7700 Minoru Gate), the media lab was founded in 2011 with the main focus being the Richmond Youth Media Program which is available year-round to teens.
During the summer months, camps also use the space where creativity is the buzz word.
One of those camps tapping into that is the acting on camera program for kids which is divided into two streams - one for those aged six to seven, and the other for eight to 12 year olds.
"It's for children who are perhaps interested in an acting career, so they are able to prepare for auditions, as well as getting the dramatic coaching with an instructor," Burrows Backhouse said. "They also end up with a DVD at the end of the class with examples of what they've done at the camp."
That allows them to go and market themselves to talent and casting agents.
"The kids just love this program because they also get to act out scenes from some of
their favourite movies and TV shows," she added.
This is one of the most popular programs on offer at the media lab during the summer months, and last year there was a wait list. Because of that it is being run for two full weeks.
For the young gamers out there who are keen on creating their own digital worlds and challenges, there is a Flash video game camp.
"That's run by Byte Camps who do camps all over the Lower Mainland, but since it's a really nice fit with the technology here, we try to offer some Byte Camp classes over the summer," Burrows Backhouse said.
One brand new camp this summer is one focusing on 2D animation on computer tablets.
"They'll be bringing in 14 tablets for all of the students to start making cartoons on," she said, adding that equipment for all of the programs is supplied.
If it's old school animation using the stop motion technique there is a camp for that, too, which runs in August.
Harnessing the creative juices of the youngsters is the Digital Storytelling camp which has a multimedia approach.
And those wanting to establish a presence on the Internet, there's a Build Your Own Website camp.
But if you're youngster is keen on immersing themselves in technology, yet undecided where they should focus their efforts, there's a digital photography, halfday camp that's often referred to as the "media lab test drive."
"So, if you're not entirely sure what you like to do, the test drive is designed to let you sample a variety of different activities or media arts," Burrows Backhouse said.
Whatever your child chooses, the media lab represents a whole new approach to the traditional summer camp environment their parents likely did not experience.
"Often what I say is technology has developed to where it's much easier, affordable and accessible to create your own content," Burrows Backhouse said.
"And I find that to be very empowering to become an active creator of media as opposed to a passive consumer."
And the youth of today are quick to embrace the technology.
"They're pretty savvy," Burrows Backhouse said. "I think the thing that always shocks me is just how completely comfortable and confident they are to dive into something brand new.
"Whereas adults tend to be thinking more about the complexity and expense of new digital equipment, the kids are saying, 'How do you do it, let's try.'" For more information about the Richmond Media Lab's offerings this summer, visit richmond.ca/culture/cultural-centre and click on the "programs" tab under the Media Lab heading.
