Our Mission, Our Ghostlights
Ghostlight Theater Camp has a lasting impact on campers’ lives. This is a result of our focus on ensemble theater-making, paired with the values of a positive camp experience. Our mission is to support each campers’ individual growth and for them to leave camp more confident, communicative, and connected to their communities and families back home.
We are dedicated to fostering a community of young artists that will support each other year-round and throughout their lives. This mission is realized through our summer programs and by continuing to support and inspire our campers, staff, alumni, and families throughout the year.
As a community we value self-expression, inclusivity, community engagement, participation, and immediacy. We are continually growing by supporting the work of our campers and staff through our Four Ghostlights. We know that we are joining families in preparing our campers to be leaders and empathetic, kindhearted citizens of their communities in and outside of camp.
Our History
Over the years, Ghostlight Theater Camp has maintained its commitment to creating an exceptionally strong community for campers to take great artistic leaps and shape their personal growth through the practice of making theater.
The camp was founded in 2003 as Acting Manitou and was held at Camp Manitou for Boys in Oakland, ME. Originally a small operation, with just 12 campers during the initial summer, the program grew quickly, and in 2008 relocated to the property next door, eventually choosing our own name: Ghostlight Theater Camp. The new facility, with a flexible theater space as well as numerous performance spaces on the grounds, has been home to countless performances and life-changing summers.
The tradition of the "ghostlight" in the theater comes from the practice of leaving a single light always lit in a darkened theater. Whether it's for practical purposes (safety in a dark theater) or spiritual (keeping the ghosts of the theater alive while there isn't a performance), the ghostlight epitomizes what we strive to be as a camp. Our four ghostlights, our guiding principles, are: JOY, CREATIVITY, GRATITUDE, and COMMUNITY.
Ghostlight Theater Camp remains dedicated to providing high-caliber theater training in a traditional camp setting. Ghostlight continues to build on the traditions of joy, creativity, gratitude, and community to connect with a new generation of campers, families, and staff who will lead Ghostlight Theater Camp into the future.
Step On Stage at Our Sleepaway Acting Camp
If our mission sparks your interest, we would love to invite you to our sleepaway acting camp. Over the years, we have welcomed campers from New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Boston, MA; Miami, FL; Providence, RI; Portland, ME; and beyond. When the curtain rises, make sure you are on our stage and contact our performing arts summer camp today!