Summer Camps 2023


Your favorite summer youth classes are coming back. Sign up now! In all of our camps, students work together to create videos, photos, or audio recordings, which are broadcast on our various channels. Camps give students the skills to create their own projects.

Our Camps:
Studio Production Summer Camp

 

Make TV in our Professional Studio!

Our one-week Intro to Video Production Camp provides a hands-on opportunity to learn the ins and outs of creating television in our professional studio from concept to completed show. Together, we’ll practice

  • Designing sets
  • Operating cameras
  • Controlling sound
  • Creating live graphics
  • Directing a team of peers to bring your ideas to life

Previous classes have produced game shows, sitcoms, talent and variety shows, and discussions about local youth-related issues. Once having completed this training, students are encouraged to come back and participate throughout the school year in real television productions – both of their own design and under the direction of local influential producers.

 

By the end of the week, students will produce segments of TV-show all by themselves, which will be broadcast on public access TV and online.

Selected shows will be submitted for film festivals!

 

Ages: 9-13

Session 1:
Session Dates: June 5-9
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 2:
Session Dates: June 12-16
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 3:
Session Dates: June 26-30
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 4:
Session Dates: July 10-14
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 5:
Session Dates: July 24-28
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

 

 

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News & Journalism Summer Camp

 

Tell local stories in our Youth Newsroom

“If your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon.” -Tom Stoppard, American Playwright

In today’s atmosphere of misinformation, “fake news” accusations, and limitless access to worldwide research and communication, investigative and journalistic skills have never been more crucial to the health and well-being of our communities.

Midpen Media strives to amplify local voices and empower local activists through media-making education and opportunities.

This summer we are launching our Youth Journalism Institute – a hands-on summer camp experience where teens will learn to ask questions and tell stories with the power to change the world. Students will be trained in all forms of news media communications, including news writing, journalistic podcasting, photojournalism, and short documentary video production. They’ll come away with a researched, polished, and published story reflecting issues relevant to their communities – and with the tools to continue finding and reporting the stories that need to be told.

Ages 9-15

Selected films will be submitted for the festivals!

Please, enjoy our former campers’ videos here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7mxJElF4vghoaUD9Bi8d9P2k9UuWpnN7

Session 1:
Session Dates: June 5-9
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 2:
Session Dates: June 12-16
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 3:
Session Dates: June 26-30
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 4:
Session Dates: July 10-14
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 5:
Session Dates: July 31-Aug 4
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Sign up on Activity Hero


Sports Broadcasting Summer Camp

 

Live coverage of sporting events!

Ages: 9 – 13

Channel your inner sports announcer with our Sports Broadcasting Summer Camp. Watch a game from the perspective of a professional sports television crew, and learn to tell the story of a live game as it happens. In our mobile TV production truck, you’ll learn every crew position: play-by-play and color commentators, director, camera operator, graphics engineer, and audio engineer.

Graduates of this camp are also invited to join our Sports Broadcasting Team. Throughout the school year, we cover local school sporting events for cable television and online live stream presentation. Crew members receive Community Service hours, a free meal each game, and the chance to work with industry professionals.

Session 1:
canceled

Session 2:
Dates: June 12 – 16
Time: 10AM – 4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 3:
Session Dates: June 26-30
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 4:
Session Dates: July 10-14
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

 

Sign up on Activity Hero


Filmmaking Summer Camp

 

Write and Direct a Short Film!

Ages 9-13

Lights! Camera! Action! 

The Midpen Media Center, Palo Alto’s premier video production house for students of all ages, is celebrating the launch of our Filmmaking summer day camp. This 5-day educational experience is an opportunity for visionary students aged 9-13 to produce a film of their own design for the big screen. Through this one-week experience, students will learn a wide range of technical and storytelling skills, including

  • Digital Camera Operation
  • Professional Light & Sound Design
  • Scriptwriting
  • Storyboarding
  • Film Production
  • Video Editing

Filmmaking Camp Students will work closely with our Acting for the Camera Camp students to produce their final film projects. All films will be screened for parents on the last day of camp and broadcast on local television throughout the Bay Area.

 

Selected short films will be submitted for film festivals!

Please, enjoy our former campers’ films here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7mxJElF4vghoaUD9Bi8d9P2k9UuWpnN7

Session 1:
Dates: June 19 – 12
Time: 10AM – 4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 2:
Dates: July 17 – 21
Time: 10AM – 4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 3:
Dates: July 31 – August 4
Time: 10AM – 4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

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Acting for the Camera Summer Camp

 

Create a Character. Star in a Film!

Ages 9 – 13

Your moment in the spotlight has finally arrived! The Midpen Media Center, Palo Alto’s premier video production house for students of all ages, is celebrating the launch of our brand new Acting for the Camera summer day camp. This camp, suitable for ages 11 – 18, will examine the basics of on-camera performance and help students understand what to expect when pursuing a career or hobby in film acting.

This camp will include improv exercises, character work, “creative choice” skill development, a professional headshot photoshoot, and plenty of opportunities to perform in films produced by our Filmmaking Summer Camp students.

Acting for the Camera Camp students will work closely with our Filmmaking Camp students to produce their final film projects. All films will be screened for parents on the last day of camp and broadcast on local television throughout the Bay Area.

 

Selected short films will be submitted for film festivals!

Please, enjoy our former campers films here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7mxJElF4vghoaUD9Bi8d9P2k9UuWpnN7

 

Session 1:
Session Dates: June 19-23
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 2:
Session Dates: July 17-21
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

Session 3:
Session Dates: July 31-August 4
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

 

Sign up on Activity Hero


Digital Animation Summer Camp

Ages 9 – 15

This camp is for those dreaming of making their own animations. Our highly experienced instructors will help you learn the process of animating on iPad in the popular Procreate app.

You’ll learn basic animation principles through various exercises and then move on to the exciting group and individual projects.

You will explore different styles of drawing, learn how to portray the physics of movement in a realistic yet expressive way, work with music and sound, and touch on storytelling principles and character design, all to unleash kids’ creativity.

Selected animation films will be submitted for the festivals!

Materials to bring for this camp: iPad with a stylus and installed app “Procreate”

Procreate is supported by the following iPad models: 

  • 12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation)
  • 11-inch iPad Pro.
  • 10.5-inch iPad Pro.
  • 9.7-inch iPad Pro. iPad (5th, 6th, and 7th generation)
  • iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 3.
  • iPad mini 4 / iPad mini 5.

Session Dates: July 31-August 4
Time: 10AM-4PM, Mon – Fri
Enrollment: $450

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More Information

All camps are held at the Midpen Media Center: 900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto. Students should pack a lunch and a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt. Sports Broadcasting Campers should also bring a hat, sunglasses, water bottle, and sunscreen.

Healthy morning snacks will be provided.

Midpen Media is not responsible for any lost, damaged or stolen personal belongings.

For information or to register, use the links in the individual classes above. Questions can be directed toward Emily Parent.

Summer Camp Cancellation & Refund Policy

No refund will be given for cancellations less than two weeks prior to the camp session’s start date. Cancellations between 2 and 4 weeks prior to the camp session’s start date will result in a 50% refund. Cancellations made earlier than 4 weeks prior to the camp’s start date will result in an 85% refund.

Midpen Media reserves the right to cancel a session if enrollment is insufficient. In such an instance, fees paid will be refunded in full.