Theater Summer Camp for Ages 5–9 in Arlington, VA — It's Elementary
A full week of story drama, character creation, movement, and theater games — built for rising 1st through 4th graders, with a unique theme every session and a Final Share performance for families at the end.
10 weeks of summer. 10 unique themes. One Final Share performance per session for families to attend.
It's Elementary runs all summer long at both Encore locations, with a fresh creative world for campers to explore each week. No two sessions are the same — the theme changes, the story changes, and the characters change. A camper who attends multiple sessions across the summer is never covering the same ground twice.
North Arlington location: Cherrydale United Methodist Church, 3601 36th St. N., Arlington, VA 22207 South Arlington/Alexandria location: Fairlington Presbyterian Church, 3846 King St., Alexandria, VA 22302
How Campers Spend Their Day
Each session is built around a themed world — time travel, medieval adventures, futuristic cities, mythological realms — and campers spend the week inhabiting that world through theater. Daily activities include story drama, character creation, movement exercises, theater games, and crafts tied to the session theme. Every activity serves the production that takes shape over the course of the week.
By Friday, campers have built something together. The Final Share is a performance for families — not a polished production, but a genuine, joyful showing of what the group created. For many kids, it is their first time performing for an audience. For returning campers, it is the moment they have been building toward all week.
How the Camp Works for Different Ages Within the 5–9 Group
Not all rising 1st graders are in the same place as rising 4th graders, and It's Elementary accounts for that!
Campers ages 6 and up work with scripted drama — reading and performing scenes, building characters through text, and developing the fundamentals of working with a script. This gives more experienced or academically ready students a real creative challenge rather than a repeat of material they have already encountered.
Campers age 5 engage with the same themes and stories through movement, games, and character-based play — a developmentally appropriate path to the same creative outcomes. The week is structured so both groups are working at their level while building toward the same Final Share.
Parents enrolling a 5-year-old for the first time can expect an active, play-based experience with a clear creative arc. Parents enrolling a rising 4th grader can expect scripted work, ensemble collaboration, and a more structured performance process.
What Families Ask About It's Elementary
What is available for theater summer camp for a 6-year-old in Arlington, VA?
It's Elementary is designed for rising 1st through 4th graders, making it the right fit for most 6-year-olds. Campers ages 6 and up work with scripted drama alongside movement, games, and character work. No prior theater experience is required. Sessions run all summer across both Encore locations — check the schedule above for dates and availability.
Is theater camp appropriate for a rising 2nd grader with no experience?
Yes. It's Elementary is built for first-timers and experienced campers alike. The themed format and play-based structure make it welcoming for kids who have never set foot on a stage, and the scripted drama component gives more experienced students something to stretch into. Every camper participates in the Final Share performance at the end of the week.
What themes do It's Elementary sessions cover?
Each of the 10 summer sessions features a unique theme — past examples include time travel adventures, medieval worlds, futuristic settings, and mythological stories. Specific themes for the current summer are listed in the session schedule above. Families who want to choose a session based on theme can use the schedule to find the week that matches their child's interests.
What is the Final Share at the end of camp?
The Final Share is a closing performance on the last day of each session, open to families. Campers perform the story and scenes they built over the course of the week. It is not a polished production — it is a genuine showing of what the group created together, and for many kids it is their first experience performing for an audience.
Are drama camps for ages 9–12 available after this program?
Yes. Campers who complete It's Elementary and are ready for a more advanced challenge move into Scenes for Tweens, Encore's summer camp for rising 4th through 7th graders. The two programs are designed as a progression — It's Elementary builds the foundation that Scenes for Tweens builds on.
Encore Stage & Studio has offered summer theater camp in Arlington for over 15 years. It's Elementary is where most Encore campers begin — and where many of them come back, session after session, because the theme is always new and the teaching artists always make it worth returning for. Scholarships are available. Spots fill quickly across all 10 summer sessions.