CORNWALL, Ontario – The Cornwall Public Library is holding a Puppet Camp from July 19 to 23 hosted vritually by Mike Harding of Applefun Puppetry.
The camp will teach kids to create their own puppets from crafts materials as well as a stage and how to do a puppet show.
Harding has been a puppeteer for 25 years and performs pretty much everywhere including schools, daycares, libraries, fairs, festivals, museums, and birthday parties.
Each session of Puppet Camp includes a 30 minute show by Harding in addition to the 40 minute puppet workshop.
Harding says that his shows will feature a whole cast of characters.
“Each day during Puppet Camp we will start with a different puppet show. Some of the characters that campers will meet are The Purple Pirate, Robin Hood, King Moose, Captain Moustache, Yeddi the Yeti, Princess Penelope, and many more,” Harding wrote in an email to Seaway News.
Harding’s shows are his own creations, with positive messages, something he hopes he will be able to teach the kids who attend the Library’s Puppet Camp.
“I make my own puppets and write all of the puppet shows. Sometimes I base my puppet shows on other well-known stories. I addition to making puppets and a puppet stage, where to find stories is one of the things that we will talk about during Puppet Camp,” he wrote.
Harding said that even though the camp is virtual it is still exciting and fun.
“I love performing and doing workshops online! I miss the in-person audience but Puppet Camp is really fun over Zoom,” wrote Harding.
To learn more about the Puppet Camp, email Sarah Mills at the Cornwall Public Library at smills@library.cornwall.on.ca
