Junior Players

Ages 5-8

Experience a Summer of Creativity and Fun!

We invite you to join us at Stages & Studios, where we explore distinct weekly themes through various creative components, including arts and crafts, music, and performing arts. In this comprehensive program, campers will rotate through these creative elements daily, collaborating on a unique showcase that combines all their artistic experiences. Each day, they’ll explore different creative components and work together to create a fantastic showcase that combines all their artistic adventures. Campers also participate in outdoor day camp activities to round out this immersive and fun experience.

Here’s what makes our program special:

Daily Adventures:

Your child will enjoy daily rotations through creative activities like arts & crafts, music, and performing arts. This hands-on approach keeps things fresh and exciting, allowing them to discover their creative talents.

Perfect Balance:

Our schedule is designed to balance indoor and outdoor activities, ensuring your child is engaged and having a blast in a safe and age-appropriate setting.

Tailored for Ages 5-8:

We’ve created this program specifically for children aged 5-8, providing a welcoming and nurturing environment for them to explore their creativity.

Expert Guidance:

Our dedicated team of counselors is passionate about youth development and leads every activity. Your child will be in safe hands and will receive the support they need to grow and learn.

Learn from the Best:

What sets our program apart is the opportunity for your child to work alongside professionals, including a choreographer, art director, and music director. They bring a wealth of knowledge and years of experience to enrich your child’s creative journey.

Full-Day Adventures:

Our program runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily, ensuring your child has plenty of time to immerse themselves in creativity and have a fantastic time.

Convenient Transportation:

We offer bus transportation options for your convenience, making it easier for your child to be a part of this incredible summer experience.

This summer, let your child explore their creativity, make new friends, and create wonderful memories at Brooks School. We can’t wait to inspire and nurture their artistic talents!

2025 Themed Weeks

Space Pirates! Blast off into a galaxy full of adventure during Space Pirates week! Junior Players will don their space helmets and pirate patches as they embark on an epic quest through the cosmos. Together, we’ll navigate star maps, discover hidden planets, and create our very own space-themed pirate gear. Through art, music, and imaginative play, participants will explore the mysteries of the universe while living the thrilling life of spacefaring swashbucklers. The week culminates in a creative showcase where our Junior Space Pirates transform the stage into a star-studded adventure for family and friends! See the daily schedule.

Heroes and Villains! Prepare for a week of epic showdowns during Heroes and Villains week! Junior Players will step into the shoes of their favorite superheroes and dastardly villains, creating costumes and masks that bring their characters to life. Through storytelling, dramatic play, and creative arts, participants will craft their own heroic tales and villainous schemes. Will they save the day or hatch the perfect plan? The excitement builds toward the final creative showcase, where our young heroes and villains take the stage for an unforgettable performance sharing their skills from the week as well as making an appearance in our production of Descendants Jr.! See the daily schedule.

Magical, Mystical Creatures! Enter a world of wonder and enchantment during Magical Mystical Creatures week! Junior Players will journey through enchanted forests, discover hidden castles, and meet fantastical creatures like dragons, unicorns, and fairies. Using their imaginations, they’ll create magical artwork, learn whimsical dances, and craft their own mystical creature costumes. The week concludes with a spellbinding creative showcase, where our young adventurers bring their magical world to life on stage, captivating family and friends with their mystical stories. See the daily schedule.

Wonka Week! Step into a world of pure imagination during Wonka Week! Junior Players will explore the whimsical wonders of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, creating sweet-themed artwork, singing catchy tunes, and dancing their way through candy-coated adventures. From inventing their own wacky candies to designing colorful costumes, participants will immerse themselves in the magical world of Roald Dahl’s classic story. The week ends with a showcase of the skills they learned during the week and an appearance in our production of Willy Wonka Jr.! See the daily schedule.

Ocean Explorers Club! Dive into an underwater adventure during Ocean Explorers Club week! Junior Players will put on their snorkels and flippers as they explore the deep blue sea, meeting friendly dolphins, curious sea turtles, and colorful coral reefs along the way. Through art, music, and dramatic play, participants will create ocean-themed crafts, learn about marine life, and imagine exciting underwater escapades. The week culminates in a vibrant creative showcase, where our young ocean explorers bring the wonders of the sea to life on stage, delighting family and friends with their aquatic adventures! See the daily schedule.

About the Space

Our program offers a unique blend of activities and facilities that set us apart from any other camp. With sprawling spaces that allow kids to run and play freely, from tennis courts and open fields to a dedicated archery range and a well-equipped gymnastics center, there’s no shortage of fun to be had.

But that’s not all! Campers will also get to splash and swim in style in our two outdoor swimming pools. The icing on the cake is our stunning 270-acre campus nestled on the shores of Lake Cochichewick, offering a breathtaking backdrop for memorable summer adventures.

Our state-of-the-art Center for the Arts building serves as the heart of this program. Here, campers will find comfortable classrooms fully stocked with all the supplies needed to bring their creative visions to life. It’s a space where imagination knows no bounds, and every camper’s artistic aspirations can flourish.

Children perform on stage, some wearing animal costumes, forming a circle around a girl pointing outward.

A young boy wearing blue swim goggles is smiling and splashing water with his arms raised while standing in a swimming pool.

A Typical Day

We’ve crafted a dynamic and ever-changing daily schedule that promises to keep your child eagerly anticipating each day’s adventures. Our approach encourages collaboration among campers, professional instructors, and our dedicated counselors.

Throughout the day, we’ve incorporated outdoor breaks to give students the opportunity to broaden their horizons and engage in physical activities that stimulate both their minds and bodies. These outdoor activities seamlessly complement and balance the creative components of our program, ensuring an all-encompassing, immersive, and joy-filled experience for your child.

8:30-9:00	Drop-Off
9:00-9:10	Morning Meeting
9:10-9:45	Creative Block 1
9:55-10:30	Creative Block 2
10:30-10:45	Snack
10:45-11:20	Free Swim
11:30-12:05	Gymnastics
12:15-12:35	Lunch
12:45-1:20	Creative Block 3
1:30-2:05	Tennis
2:05-2:20	Snack
2:20-2:55	Creative Block 4
3:05-3:40	Creative Block 5
3:40-3:50	Afternoon Meeting
4:00-4:30	Pick-Up

A group of children in costumes, including a dragon, princesses, and a pirate, pose outside near a cardboard castle on a grassy field under a blue sky.

Two young girls with blonde hair lie on grass, closely examining something with a magnifying glass.

Program Team

Meghan Hill

Producing Artistic Director

Meghan grew up training horses on a farm in southern Mississippi and graduated magna cum laude from Wheaton College in Norton, MA, with a BA in Theatre Studies and Dance, receiving recognition for Excellence in Acting and a Fulbright Scholarship. She also earned a Certificate in Performance Studies and Movement from the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia. As a freelance director, actress, and coach, Meghan spent years teaching communication and performance skills to young artists across the U.S. and managed the performing arts program at the Robert College Summer Program in Istanbul, Turkey, for five summers. Before joining the Brooks faculty, she was the producing artistic director at Watertown Children’s Theatre and the Mosesian Center for the Arts, where she developed educational theater programs and productions. Meghan is currently completing her Master of Social Work at Boston University, focusing on education policy and inclusive teaching practices.

Sarah Spollett

Art Technical Director

Sarah grew up in Andover, enjoying hobby carpentry with her dad and community theater with her mom. She combined these passions while attending Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Fine and Performing Arts, Music, and Theatre. Sarah worked as a freelance carpenter for regional theaters, including the Weston Playhouse, Barnstormers Theatre, Tufts University, and Watertown Children’s Theatre. She was also a carpenter and later shop foreperson at the Tony Award-winning Huntington Theatre Company in Boston before transitioning to education. Sarah taught technical theater carpentry at Emerson College before joining Brooks in 2019 as the Arts Technical Director. She now lives on campus with her family.

Annemarie Noe

Stages & Studios Coordinator

Annemarie joined the Brooks School Summer Programs staff in 2023. She holds an Honors B.A. in Business and Marketing, which she uses to create content for the summer programs’ social media. Annemarie currently works as a program coordinator for Stages and Studios and has always been passionate about youth development. During college, she traveled the country as a Youth Trainer for the Truth Initiative, America’s largest nonprofit public health organization advocating for a tobacco-free future. Outside of camp, Annemarie enjoys spending time outdoors, surfing, and going to the beach.

Peter Moccia

Aquatics Supervisor

Peter Moccia, originally from Haverhill, studied chemistry at the University of Connecticut and has been a science teacher at Brooks School for seven years. He lives on campus with his family and oversees the aquatics programs during the summer. With extensive experience in swimming pools and lifeguarding, Peter has been involved in pool operations since he was 16. He is lifeguard certified and a Certified Pool Operator (CPO), working closely with the facilities team to ensure pool safety. Peter loves seeing the campus transform into a vibrant camp community and has been part of the camp staff for three summers.

Kenya Jones

Activities Supervisor

Kenya leads the sixteen activity teams at Brooks School Summer Programs, fostering a welcoming, positive camp environment that encourages independence, leadership, and healthy risk-taking. Kenya has been involved with the program for over twenty years, serving as an activity counselor and LIT Coordinator. He joined the Brooks School faculty in 2007 and has held roles including form dean, psychology teacher, coach, and now Associate Director of Admission and first team boys basketball coach. Kenya earned his B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, cooking, playing trivia, and cheering for New York sports teams.

Nicole Belisle

Logistics Supervisor

Nicole is passionate about the food service industry and plays a key role in the Brooks School Summer Programs, where she supervises the logistics team to ensure compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and North Andover Board of Health regulations. With nearly twenty years of experience in school-based nutritional services, Nicole holds certifications in ServSafe, Allergy Awareness, CPR, and First Aid. During the school year, she works as a teaching assistant and leads a team of youth development professionals in North Andover’s after-school program. In her free time, Nicole enjoys softball, tennis, and gaming. She lives in North Andover with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.

Renae Cerri

Activities Coordinator

Renae Cerri joined the Brooks School Summer Programs team in 2017. She graduated from Salem State University with a double major in elementary education and geological sciences. A former gymnast and volleyball player, Renae has a passion for sports and active living. She loves spending time outdoors and going on trips with friends and family. After serving as the gymnastics head at Brooks, Renae now co-leads the activities team, where she oversees the daily planning, implementation, and operation of sixteen camp activity areas and co-manages camp-wide special events.

A woman with long light brown hair and a wide smile is standing outdoors with greenery and mountains in the background.

Melissa Donais

Health Care Consultant

Melissa Donais, RN, FNP-BC, joined Brooks in the fall of 2021 as the Director of Health and Wellness. She is also an assistant coach for the Brooks boys and girls cross country teams. She is a 2002 graduate of Phillips Academy Andover and 2006 graduate with distinction from Yale University, where she was awarded the Lily Rosen Prize in Women’s Health for her senior thesis on the Female Athlete Triad, now known as RED-S syndrome. In 2010, Donais obtained her master’s degree in nursing at Boston College. For eleven years, she worked as a primary care family nurse practitioner at North Reading Medical Associates, affiliated with Winchester Hospital. An accomplished runner, she competed in cross country and track in high school and college, and continues to enjoy competing in local and regional events. Donais lives in North Andover, Mass., with her husband Nate, two young children Brennan and Audrey, and her brittany spaniel Uta.

Alison Cambridge

Health Services Supervisor

Alison directs all aspects of the health center’s operation in accordance with state and local regulations and collaborates with our Health Care Consultant. Alsion strives to ensure that all participants have a healthy and safe experience. She is committed to community health and health care equity. Alison has worked as a pediatric nurse for 17 years and has been a member of the Brooks School Summer Programs since 2018. During the school year, she works with local pediatrician’s offices and as a school nurse. Alison is the mother of three children who enjoy the outdoors. Her family is passionate about camping and boating in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter.

Juli Morse

Camp Nurse

Juli Morse has ten years of experience in healthcare administration. After graduating from Providence College in 2011, she worked in the field before returning to school to pursue a degree in Nursing. She is now a medical-surgical RN at a local community hospital and Brooks School. At camp, Juli focuses on creating a welcoming environment that prioritizes wellness and safety. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband, two kids, and golden retriever, with a special love for swimming, playing tennis, and camping.

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