Children show off their dancing talent at a past summer camp.

Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) is once again offering an affordable summer camp for children with a focus on the arts and culture. For two weeks children can explore the arts and the traditions of Cayman.

This year’s theme is “Pass It Down” with activities covering traditional arts, theatre, dance, and creative writing. The arts camp takes place at the F.J Harquail Cultural Centre from 20-31 July and runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Parents can sign children up for one or two weeks at a cost of $75 per week.

As the theme implies, one of the objectives of the camp is to pass down to the next generation traditional Caymanian arts such as thatching, quadrille dancing and kite making. Other aspects of the camp include arts in general such as drama. Even this will have a Caymanian cultural connection as the youngsters take a short story from Roy Bodden’s “Stories My Grandfather Never Told Me” and adapt it for the stage.

The campers will have experienced, and in some cases, award-winning tutors. Actress Rita Estevanovich teaches the theatre portion of the camp. The Caymanian tradition of thatching is passed down by Rose Mae Ebanks. Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette is teaching creative writing. The campers learn traditional arts of crocheting and hand sewing from Nurse Josie Solomon and Agnes McCoy. Damian Thaxter passes down the rhythm of the drum and Norma Ferryman teaches quadrille dancing and maypole. Gerri Ann Foster and Dalaica Wright teach Art and Craft.

At the end of the two weeks the youngsters display their art and craft items and perform in a lunch concert for their parents at the Harquail Theatre. For more information call 949-5477. Registration forms are available at the CNCF office at the F. J Harquail Centre or online at artscayman.org. The deadline for registration is 15 July.