Tuition: $480

Learn to make a video with Reel Grrls! Learn the basics of camera operation, shot composition, audio recording, lighting, and video editing on Final Cut Pro. Work in small teams to complete a short video.

Rain City Rock Camp for Girls takes over the Billings campus with classes and performances in all rock instrumentation – for girls only! This is a day camp for girls ages 9-16. Girls come for a week-long crash course in playing an instrument, songwriting, zine making, self-defense, and more! At the end of the week, campers get to perform their original song with their band at a local live music venue. Campers do not need to have any prior music experience and instruments will be provided.

Tuition: $180 ($350 for full day when combined with Lego Animation)

Construct a race track with jumps, and large variety of obstacles using duct tape, cardboard, pvc, cones, hoops, etc. Then decorate and race an R.C. car with other students on the track. Win daily prizes for progressing at your own pace.

Tuition: $180 ($350 for full day when combined with RC Car Racing)

Bring in LEGO® pieces from home or use the ones brought by the instructor to create your own stop-motion LEGO® movies.  Students will learn how to operate a digital camera, construct props and backgrounds, and add sound effects and voice-overs.  Animation classes incorporate skills in basic math, science, and language arts.

Tuition: $240

Do you like fashion? DIY Style is a fashion design camp using an eco-friendly approach of deconstruct and reconstructing your own garment. In addition to creating your own design you will learn fashion illustration and sketching techniques. A perfect way to have fun, develop your talents and design pieces for your fashion portfolio. Tuition includes supplies fee.

The Orca trip was created by Billings Teacher Jeff Hogan. Jeff will be our lead instructor.

Trip Description:

Johnstone Strait is part of the Inside Passage near the northern tip of Vancouver Island.  It is home to the northern resident orca pod, about 200 in number.  With much of the pod spending the summer feeding on returning salmon, it is an amazing place to see these magnificent animals.  Besides orcas, the Straits are home to porpoises as well as other whale species.  Plus, it is in a remote and very beautiful setting with snow-capped peaks off of mainland BC looming in the distance

The trip is designed to maximize our chances of seeing orcas.  We kayak directly to a base camp where we will spend the next four days on “whale time,” adjusting each day’s schedule according to tides, weather, and whales. Where we go on a certain day depends on where we are most likely to see orcas.  During the trip we will kayak to other islands and shores, hang out at the swimming beach and jump-off rock, and hopefully visit the “Eagle Eye” observation and research station.  We will also have the opportunity to collect data and participate in a research project run by The Cetus Society/Vancouver Aquarium.

It is 5 mile paddle to base camp, and we will be paddling anywhere from 2-6 miles each day we are at camp.  Students will be in double kayaks.

Required Pre-Trip Orientation:

All participants must attend a Pre-Trip Orientation which covers kayak safety (including exiting out of a tipped boat) and camping basics.  This will be held some time in July or early August.

Itinerary: (Actual times may vary)

Sunday 8/7 - 6:30 am arrive at Billings Middle School.  Depart for the Nanaimo ferry, arriving Telegraph Cove in the early evening for dinner and sleeping at an area campground.

Monday  8/8 -  Load and pack our rental kayaks and paddle toward base camp, arriving early afternoon.

Tuesday – Friday 8/9-12 – Whale Time!!  We head back to Telegraph Cove Friday afternoon and spend the night.

Saturday 8/13 – Drive back to Seattle, arriving at around 6 PM

Equipment and Food:

Kayaks and kayak accessories are provided.  We have the necessary cooking gear to handle meal preparation.  Billings will also provide tents for all participants.  There is not enough storage space to accommodate individual student tents!  Meals and snacks will be provided once the trip has begun.

What students need to bring:

Sleeping bag and pad, eating utensils, and outdoor clothing (a list will be provided).  Storage space is limited, so don’t expect to be able to bring a lot of stuff.

Border Crossing Materials:

Once signed up, you will receive more information on what students need to have to in order to cross the border.  In addition to school forms, each student will need to have a passport.

Trip cost: $800 (some financial aid is available).

*A non-refundable deposit of $200 will be required to hold a spot on the trip.

About the instructor

Jeff Hogan is the Executive Director of Killer Whale Tales a non-profit organization which has educated over 40,000 Puget Sound students about whales, marine habitats, and the importance of local conservation efforts. Learn more at www.killerwhaletales.org

Tuition: $500

In this fun workshop, students will build LEGO Mindstorms robots, such as a Mars rover and diverse robot animals. Students will program their robots to conduct tasks that include avoiding obstacles, following reflective light, and utilizing sound sensors.

Tuition: $220

Learn how to discover, enhance and develop your best singing voice. In this workshop students will learn:

• What their range is
• What genre of music their voice sings best
• What the singing language is and how to use it to develop their voice
• How to use their diaphragm

All of this is done using fun techniques, unique warm ups, and through songs chosen by each student.
This is not an ensemble class, but an individual development class in a group setting. Taught by Billings Vocal Music teacher Sabrina Brazier.

Tuition: $220

In partnership with Parkour Visions, participants will learn the physical skills and fun of Parkour. Parkour is the art of overcoming obstacles as swiftly and efficiently as possible using only your body. The fundamentals include running, jumping, and climbing, and we build on these fundamentals to improve our ability to pass over, under, around, and through obstacles with more complex movements. Workshop will take place at the Parkour Visions gym in Fremont.

Tuition: $220

This is a 5-day immersion class, open to players at all experience levels. Rather than say “Go practice!” we say “Go start a band!” The class will be conducted by a team of teachers from the Seattle Circle Guitar School, allowing us to learn songs, write and rehearse music, play together, and perform, whether we can play one note or hundreds. Grounded in the tradition of Guitar Craft, the SCGS staff has 25 years of experience working with what it takes for a group of guitarists to come together and make music. All work will be done on steel-stringed acoustic guitars.

Tuition: $220

In this workshop students will explore not only script writing but the act of writing itself.  Students will explore writing as something you must practice, just as you would practice a musical instrument or sport. Through writing exercises and theater games, students will discover the power of their own stories and learn how to use that power to create plays or screenplays, or any type of writing they like.  Whether they want to write scripts that take place on distant planets, far away lands, or plays that tell the story of what they did over the weekend, they will learn that all great writing starts with what is true about them.  It is that truth that creates great stories and great drama.  Taught by nationally published and produced playwright Wayne Rawley, 2010 Faith Broome Playwright-in-Residence at the University of Oklahoma.

image credit: Vancouver Film School