Children’s Summer Theater Camps
First Congregational UCC, 45 Downtown Plaza, Fairmont, MN 56031
About
Children’s Summer Theater Camps offers youth theater camps that include fun theater games, learning how to put on a show, and building performance skills. Camp options include a K–2 grade camp based on “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” and a 3–6 grade camp based on “Law and Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit.” Participants work on learning comedy techniques, character development, and creating and building their own costumes and set props over the course of a week.
• Ages: 5–12 years old
• Schedule: Sessions run for a week
The program is part of the Fairmont Opera House, which was established in 1901 and is the oldest operating theater in the state of Minnesota. The theater building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1980 and has just over 500 seats, and it is described as having some of the most incredible acoustics in the area. Fairmont Area Community Theater joined forces with Fairmont Opera House in 1983, and youth theater camps have been hosted at First Congregational UCC, Grace Lutheran Church, and Fairmont High School. The Fairmont Opera House impacts roughly 8,000 people in the region, including about 1,200 youth, and has had an economic impact on the region of over $500,000 for multiple years in a row. Fairmont Opera House Inc. states that its mission is to advance cultural experience and community involvement by providing high-quality arts and entertainment within the historic Fairmont Opera House facility and throughout the region.
The K–2 camp “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” is directed by Megan Potthoff, and the 3–6 camp “Law and Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit” is directed by Ellen Germain. Directors and contributors mentioned in connection with the youth theater camps include Megan Potthoff, Ellen Germain, Katelyn Langwith, Kyler Wolters, and Vanessa Schultze. One director, Megan Potthoff, described the youth theater experience by saying, “All I can say is ‘wow’! These kids were hard workers and put together an amazing show! They came in ready to work, full of ideas and full of smiles each and every day. This is my fifth time directing Youth Theater and it is not lost on me the passion and creativity our young people have. I feel so incredibly blessed to give them an avenue to express these attributes. I can’t wait for next summer!” Director Ellen Germain stated, “It’s fun to see the kids find a talent they didn’t know they had!”
Last updated July 26, 2026.
• Ages: 5–12 years old
• Schedule: Sessions run for a week
The program is part of the Fairmont Opera House, which was established in 1901 and is the oldest operating theater in the state of Minnesota. The theater building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1980 and has just over 500 seats, and it is described as having some of the most incredible acoustics in the area. Fairmont Area Community Theater joined forces with Fairmont Opera House in 1983, and youth theater camps have been hosted at First Congregational UCC, Grace Lutheran Church, and Fairmont High School. The Fairmont Opera House impacts roughly 8,000 people in the region, including about 1,200 youth, and has had an economic impact on the region of over $500,000 for multiple years in a row. Fairmont Opera House Inc. states that its mission is to advance cultural experience and community involvement by providing high-quality arts and entertainment within the historic Fairmont Opera House facility and throughout the region.
The K–2 camp “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” is directed by Megan Potthoff, and the 3–6 camp “Law and Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit” is directed by Ellen Germain. Directors and contributors mentioned in connection with the youth theater camps include Megan Potthoff, Ellen Germain, Katelyn Langwith, Kyler Wolters, and Vanessa Schultze. One director, Megan Potthoff, described the youth theater experience by saying, “All I can say is ‘wow’! These kids were hard workers and put together an amazing show! They came in ready to work, full of ideas and full of smiles each and every day. This is my fifth time directing Youth Theater and it is not lost on me the passion and creativity our young people have. I feel so incredibly blessed to give them an avenue to express these attributes. I can’t wait for next summer!” Director Ellen Germain stated, “It’s fun to see the kids find a talent they didn’t know they had!”
Last updated July 26, 2026.
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