Parsippany acting camp builds social skills, confidence

PARSIPPANY – Some rising Parsippany Hills High School sophomores brightened the summer for children with special needs by running a week-long Silver Star Acting Camp at Elks Lodge 2078 this month.

Last summer, Brittani Vecchia, Jackie Pascale, and Sarah Pascale put together the program—an alternative to the typical sports program offered to kids with special needs—to earn their Girl Scout Silver Awards.

This season, they brought it back on their own and with the help of some classmates— Amanda Rovner, Ramy Ahmad, Janna Belfiore, Alyssa Borino, and Stephanie Pascale. Together, the 15-year-olds organized and oversaw the program as counselors.

Vecchia’s goal was to prod the 9- to 18-year-olds out of their comfort zones and help them work on their social skills.

“It’s nice to see kids go home with smiles,” she said, “and have their parents email us saying how much fun they had today.”

The five-day camp, which ran 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., started daily with a game. The rest of the time was filled with learning the ins and outs of acting—running through scripts, learning expression, working on stage presence, or practicing skits in groups.

According to the counselors, when campers enter on Monday, they often are shy and apprehensive. By Wednesday, though, they are interacting with each other, all the while gaining acting skills.

Fifteen-year-old Tara, who attended the camp last year, is a Silver Star Acting Camp success story. Last fall, she earned a part in her school’s fall drama. Tara credits the camp with helping her gain the confidence necessary to pursue her interest in acting.

Parents also noted the progression of their children throughout the week.

Regina Cioffi made the daily commute from Passaic County so her 13-year-old son, Thomas, could participate. The camp gave him the opportunity to interact with the public, a chance he otherwise would not get, she said. It also prevented his social skills from regressing, as they could during a period of limited social interaction.

Daniel Morra, 14, attended the camp for his second year. His mother, Lisa Morra, signed him up again because he constantly talked about his past experience all year long and could not wait to return.

“They’re not just sitting at the table coloring,” Lisa Morra said. “They’re interacting with each other, and they’re so happy about it.”

Even the counselors benefited from the experience. Stephanie Pascale, for instance, enjoyed seeing her autistic brother play freeze tag with a big smile on his face instead of playing video games at home.

Some counselors say their involvement in the camp has opened up a possible career option for them in the realm of special needs, though they have a long way to go before they cross that bridge. For now, they just want to keep the program’s momentum going and recruit more help so they can accept more kids.

At the end of the week, on Friday, the program concluded with the campers putting on a performance, each participating in two or three skits, to an audience of their friends and family members.

Each participant pays $40 to attend Silver Star Acting Camp, all of which is used to purchase T-shirts, props, and snacks.