This summer, your kids have the opportunity to learn puppetry skills at an exciting day camp led by puppeteer Kevin Long who has been building and performing with puppets for 20 years. In Mudcat Puppet Camp, campers ages 6 & up will work with disciplines including sculpture, music, math, design, painting, woodworking, problem solving, acting, public speaking and more. Choose from 5 weeks of hand puppet making for ages 6 & up or two sessions of giant puppet-making for ages 10 & up.
Besides being a fun summer activity, puppetry encourages collaboration as well as individual expression and it’s a great opportunity for kids to hone skills in design, sculpture and problem solving.
Kids will learn from expert puppeteer, Kevin Long. During Long’s 20 year career, he has worked with several different puppet theaters throughout the United States including the world-renowned Bread and Puppet Theater (VT) and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (MN). Here in Austin, in addition to starting the Mudcat Puppet Theater, he has worked with Glass Half Full Theatre, Trouble Puppet Theatre Company, among others. For even more info about Kevin Long’s passion for puppet making, view this story from KVUE News.
All Mudcat Puppet Camps will be held at Paragon Prep Middle School (2001 Koenig Lane, Austin, TX 78756) and run Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Before and after care is also available.) The cost for 5 days of puppet camp is $300. To register please click here to fill out the online form.

You can choose from these two camps offered, based on your child’s age:

— Hand Puppet Camp, ages 6 & up
Each camper will create an original hand puppet of their own design, learn the basics of hand puppet performance, and work with other campers to create an original hand puppet show. This camp is offered on the following weeks:

  • June 4-8
  • June 25-29
  • July 9-13
  • July 16-20
  • August 6-10

–> Giant Puppet Camp, Ages 10 & Up
At these sessions for older kids, each camper will build their own large puppet! They will learn the basics of large puppet performance, and work together with Kevin to create one GIANT puppet inspired by that week’s theme, and end the week with a presentation of their work. Choose from the following dates/themes for this camp:

  • July 23 – July 27 – Dragons & Monsters
  • July 30 – August 3 – Aliens & Robots

To learn more, you can visit Mudcat Puppet Theatre on Facebook. For questions about camp, please email [email protected] or call 512-975-0082.

*Header image: Giant tiger puppet co-built and operated by Kevin Long for the 2010 Mayday Festival by In The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater in Minneapolis, MN.