The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari - part 3

Recap (click to show | hide)

From Part 1 of the series:

In lieu of a physical reunion bringing together past campers and staff, Canada’s Magic is hosting a virtual reunion of sorts.  We’ve reached out to the Sorcerers Safari community with a dozen or so questions to help bring us up to date on what everyone has been up to since our magic camp days.

If you completed our survey, keep your eyes peeled for your segment!  

If you would like to participate but haven’t filled out the survey, there’s still time.  The survey can be found here:  https://forms.gle/umg77yj9QxUzfpm76

Thank you to all that contributed!

 

Mike, Jen, Sorcerers Safari staff, and alumni, this series is for you.

 

<< part 2  |  part 4 >>

 

Part 3 features:  Brett Chrest, Dick Joiner, and Matt DiSero. 

 

  Brett Chrest  

Scientist.

Attended camp as a camper from 2011 to 2014.

Since his time at camp Brett has:

• Completed an undergraduate degree in biomedical science and moved from Canada to North Carolina to pursue a PhD as a cancer scientist.
  
  

In his own words:

• Attending camp greatly improved my public speaking ability and gave me the confidence I have now to speak with authority and give presentations up on a stage.
  
  
• Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
• Watching and sharing magic with our fellow roommates, counsellors, and our honoured guests later at night in our cabin before bed.
  
  
• Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
• The sense of community and belonging at a young age.

 

 

  Dick Joiner  

Professional magician,  DickJoiner.com

Attended camp for 18 years as staff from approximately 2001 to 2016.

In his own words:

• Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
• Seeing so many young adults arriving at the camp with a dream and leaving at the end of a week with that dream becoming a reality.
  
  
• Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
• The friends made.
• Seeing so many campers performing professional "entertainment" not only in Canada but around the world.
  
  

 Life is but a dream that can be magical...

 

 

  Matt DiSero 

Professional magician, MattDiSero.com

Attended camp the second or third year as a Special Guest.

Since his time at camp Matt has:

• Appeared on Penn and Teller:  Fool Us, worked The Magic Castle, and overcome his fear of dark wooded areas.
  

• Editor's note:  Matt was too modest to include his submission that he published the book “The Fog Machine of War: Observations, Stories and Advice from the Showbiz Trenches,” the proceeds of which are donated to a magic school for kids in Bolivia.
  
  

In his own words:

• Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
• Sharing the stage with Josh Jay.
  
  
• Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
• I noticed the relationship between kids and counsellors was very good and the atmosphere supporting new magicians was really great.

 

Mike’s done an incredible job with that camp. Professional magicians working today can draw a direct lineage to their success and the camp. I hear that often.

 

 Thank you Brett, Dick, and Matt, for sharing your memories!

 Check back throughout the month to read updates from other Sorcerers Safari alumni and staff!

 

 Previously featured 

• Ben Train - part 1
• Brad Bond - part 2 
• Byron Berry - part 1
• Cameron Dunlop - part 2
  
• James Carey Lauder - part 2
• Sam Pearce - part 1
  

 

Learn more about Sorcerers Safari.

part 1 | part 2  | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12

<< part 2  |  part 4 >>

 

 

20 amazing alumni from Sorcerers Safari

No matter how you slice it, camp just wouldn’t be camp without campers!  It shouldn’t surprise you that Neil Croswell (gold medal ‘Magic of China, International Magic Championships” 2015), Bill Cook (three-time award winner at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas), and Kelvin Kwong (first place Magi-Fest junior close-up, second place IBM junior close-up) have all attended.  Without a doubt, Sorcerers Safari attracts multi-talented and amazing youth.  To mark their upcoming 20th anniversary, flip to page 108 of the 26th edition of VANISH magazine and have a look at "20 amazing alumni from Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp."




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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit Sorcerers Safari

In the news: Holden Lumbard and Brett Chrest

Sorcerers Safari campers in the news!

From the Brandon Sun:

If it wasn’t for their youthful faces, you would think Holden Lumbard and Brett Chrest were seasoned magicians performing in a large amphitheatre to hundreds of stunned and astounded audience members.

Evolution Entertainer magicians and business partners, 14-year-old Lumbard and 15-year-old Chrest started their magic act up at the end of the year and are now the latest and the greatest on the event entertainment list, doing everything from birthday parties to corporate get-togethers.

Read more.