by Sam Smadella, CNIBLakeJoe@Home, Virtual Music Specialist
Improv skills are as beneficial off stage as they are on stage. Acting is all about the art of communication, expression, teamwork, body awareness, and critical thinking. Theatre is a controlled environment where encounters can be planned and responses are practiced, changed and mastered. Many people join an acting class to gain confidence and make new friends. Often, a person can really find themself by acting like someone else.
On Thursdays, I host a virtual Improv Club with CNIBLakeJoe@Home. I was excited to launch this program in summer 2023 as I have been teaching acting classes for years. Modifying games to rely only on voice was a fun challenge and an excellent personal learning experience.
At first, we started off small, using a few simple games and activities. A class favourite is a game called, “My Grandma’s Underpants”, where participants respond to questions with the phrase, “My Grandma’s underpants”. The challenge, however, is responding in a creative way, without laughing or smiling. It may seem like a silly idea, but the game actually teaches many important life skills. Controlling your emotions and responses helps participants to work on self-regulation, impulse control, creativity and flexible thinking.
Another game, “Count to 10”, challenges the group to count to ten, one at a time, without having two people say a number at the same time. It is quite tricky to do! This is a great exercise in active listening, reasoning, patience and taking turns.
We also act out different scenarios in small groups. These hilarious sketches also help participants develop skills in collaborative communication, teamwork, staying on topic and sharing ideas.
Of course, nobody is actually thinking about these details during the session. We are too busy laughing and having fun together!
The CNIBLakeJoe@Home Improv Club meets every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. EST. Everyone is welcome to join, and registration is required. Register for the CNIBLakeJoe@Home Improv Club . You don’t need to have previous experience, and you can participate as much or as little as you like. We hope you can join us!
CNIBLakeJoe@Home Virtual Program Spotlight!
For those unfamiliar, CNIBLakeJoe@Home virtual programs were originally created in response to CNIB Lake Joe’s mandatory closure back in 2020 due to COVID-19. The goal was to unite the CNIB Lake Joe community despite the inability to attend camp in person. Now, in 2024 we are incredibly excited and proud to share that CNIBLakeJoe@Home virtual programs will be entering its fourth year of operation!
In 2023, we introduced a full program schedule with a wide variety of virtual program options for the community to enjoy. Our program roster included (but was not limited to) Active Living, Camp in-a-Box, Song Writing, and Improv Club! Here are some of the highlights from our 2023 program offerings:
- Sports and Active Living Coordinator Emilee Schevers spearheaded our Active Living virtual program offerings which featured two programs: “Active Essentials” and “Get Active”. In Active Essentials, participants learned about four different sports (paddling, hiking, rock climbing and water sports), how they are adapted at CNIB Lake Joe for those who are blind or have low vision, and how participants can adapt and pursue these sports in their lives outside of camp. The Get Active program is an ongoing exercise-based program. Each week, Emilee guides the group through a different workout such as chair fitness and dance workouts!
- We also offered six separate Camp-in-a-Box opportunities! Participants who registered for the virtual program session were sent a box of goodies that corresponded with the program session, all curated by our Virtual Music Specialist Sam Smadella. These sessions included pre and post-camp activities for children and youth attending camp on-site, an end-of-summer celebration, a Halloween Spooktacular and Grinchmas Holiday Hoopla! The boxes include activities which give participants the opportunity to use their senses beyond sight and hearing. These Camp-in-a-Box programs are adored by the community and are our way to help make them feel extra special!
For more information about our virtual programs, contact Taylor Gaudon, Virtual Program Facilitator at taylor.gaudon@cnib.ca and 705 408 0745.