Encore Excellence: Volunteer Opportunities

Parker Nelson • December 17, 2024

Happy #TechTuesday everyone! Today I will be highlighting a few of the ways that you can participate in Encore Excellence through volunteering. Because we make theatre “by kids, for kids,” we need our older students to help us lead and teach. While we offer the opportunity to volunteer at our holiday mini-camps year round, positions like Camp Counselor in Training or Encore Ambassador give students 13+ the opportunity to be a part of mentoring our younger students over the summer!

Whether you have been involved in Encore for years or you are completely new to us, all are encouraged to consider spending part of their summer at our programs. As a Camp Counselor in Training, you will help maintain a safe and supportive camp environment by paying attention to students who may be struggling throughout the day and offering them a helping hand. You also are an important part of camp bonding by leading warm ups or games before the Teaching Artists begin their lessons. 

These summer volunteer opportunities are also a great place to start if you are considering coming back as a Camp Counselor. Our Camp Counselors in Training and Ambassadors get to be a part of the summer fun at Encore while still being led by our fantastic Teaching Artists, making it a great experience for students wanting to practice leadership skills and learn from professionals. Strong candidates for these positions bring a creative and enthusiastic attitude to our teaching teams, while being flexible for the different needs of our campers. 

If you aren’t quite sure yet, we have interviews from past volunteers that may give you a clearer vision of what summer will look like. Alums Bryce, Ryely, and Lauren were kind enough to share their experiences with us on the blog a few years back! Check out those interviews as well as our opportunities page to learn more about our volunteer opportunities and to get involved. 

For students who are not interested in volunteering, summer camp registration opens December 22, so keep an eye on our website for upcoming camp dates and titles!

Photos by Cindy Kane and Aileen Christian. Blog contribution by Parker Nelson.

By Encore Stage Team May 21, 2026
Today we are highlighting our stage manager of The Addams Family , Josie Funk , who is also an Encore alum! You may remember them as our stage manager for last year’s summer musical, Footloose . Josie is currently a college student at VCU Arts, studying stage management. Read along to learn more abo
By Encore Stage Team April 16, 2026
The last director we had the privilege of speaking to in our Directors Assemble! series, is Abigial H.! She’s directing The Edge of Noir by Gary Peterson and has been with Encore Stage & Studio for five years! Last year, you may have seen Abigail direct A Murdered Mystery by Karl Garner in our first
By Encore Stage Team April 10, 2026
The next director we are featuring on Directors Assemble! Is Imogen B.! They’re directing The Knave of Hearts and have taken on several roles at Encore between cast and crew. We are excited to see her shine in her directorial debut! Stick around to learn more about all things Student Directed One-Ac
By Encore Stage Team April 7, 2026
Next up on the Directors Assemble! interview series, highlighting the student directors of Encore Stage & Studio’s 2026 Student Directed One-Act Plays, we have Ajan G. This will be Ajan’s 20th show with Encore, and we are excited to share with you all the details of the production he will be directi
By Encore Stage Team April 2, 2026
Next up on the Directors Assemble! series, we have Zach R ., director of Spy School by D. M. Larson. This is his second year as a student director with Encore Stage & Studio, and we are excited to welcome him back. Before directing, he played many roles at Encore, including but not limited to: Fritz
By Encore Stage Team March 27, 2026
Next up on our “Directors Assemble” series, Jazz B. takes center stage. After spending years at Encore Stage & Studio both on stage and behind the scenes, Jazz makes zis debut as a director with Jackie and the Potato Stalk by D. M. Larson. We got to interview zim and get insight on a new take on a c
By Encore Stage Team March 18, 2026
Today, we’re thrilled to launch our new “Directors Assemble” series on the Front Row Blog with a spotlight on Divya K. , director of Excuse Me by Amir Razavi. Divya has been a familiar face at Encore in so many roles, from cast member and backstage crew to front of house, stage management, and even
By Encore Stage Team February 28, 2026
From the moment she first experienced the magic of Annie on Broadway, Madaline knew she wanted to be part of a world where stories move people and possibility feels tangible. Her journey has taken her from the electric wings of Macbeth to performing original work at the Maryland Renaissance Festival
By Encore Stage Team February 27, 2026
As we celebrate Black History Month on the Encore blog, we’d like to introduce Aaliyah Dade! Aaliyah, how are you involved at Encore Stage & Studio? I am a teaching artist and Flip The Script actor! What was the first show you ever did, what do you remember most about it? The first show I ever did w
By Encore Stage Team February 20, 2026
There are moments in every artist’s journey when the curtain lifts and something inside clicks into place. For Curtis, that spark came through powerful storytelling, meaningful representation, and the electric glow of stage lights that turned strangers into family. We continue to celebrate Black His
Show More