Summer is a magical time for kids to learn magic

Do your children want to learn magic this summer?  Then you've come to the right place!  We've highlighted the magic programs for children offered through Canada this summer.

Sorcerers Safari

When talking about summer, magic and children, the first name that always comes to my mind is Sorcerers Safari Summer Camp.  Sorcerers Safari is a sleep-away camp in the Haliburton Highlands about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto. This year's camp runs from Tuesday August 30th to Sunday Sept 4th, 2011. The camp is coordinated by Mike Segal and boasts an amazingly talented and experienced staff!

To register or for more information, visit SorcersSafari.ca.

Take a peek at the highlights from last year's camp!



Oh, Magic Camp from Rotten Pictures on Vimeo.

Not interested in a sleep-away experience?

Mega Magic Camp, Calgary 

If you're looking for something in Western Canada, check out Mega Magic Camp with Sean Watson and Brent Smith in Calgary from August 22nd to August 26th, 2011.

To register or for more information, visit MegaMagicCamp.com.

Ottawa 

In the Ottawa area, Eric Leclerc runs English and French language magic classes during the summer. His 2011 dates haven't been posted yet. Keep checking his website for more information.

Halton Magic Camp  [added October 1, 2011]

Scott Dietrich is offering the chance of a lifetime to 20 lucky Halton children (ages 8 – 12).   Halton Magic Camp is not your ordinary summer camp, over one week your child will be immersed in the magical arts while their confidence and creativity explode; something Scott is proud to have witnessed over and over again at his camps. 

Greater Toronto Area 

Some of the Sorcerers Safari Summer Camp crew will also be teaching magic in Toronto area day camps.  Some of these day camps are offering an introductory magic classes for the entire camp summer and some of the camps also offer a 'Magic Course/Specialty' that run on particular dates. 

At present, the participating day camps are:

• Bayview Glen: offers a general magic activity 3 days a week for the full summer
• Zodiac: offers a specialty magic program (a 2 week program, twice over their 8 week summer course)
• Crestwood (warning, website autostarts a video with sound): offers a general program 4 days a week for the entire summer

For more information about the magic taught at the day camps, contact Sorcerers Safari Summer Camp.  For more information about the camps in general, or to register, contact the day camps directly.

We hope your summer is magical!

(If you run a magic course for children and want to be included, leave a comment or send me an e-mail with your details!)

Arshad Khan: Order of Merlin - Shield Award

Congratulations to Arshad Khan who has been awareded the Order of Merlin - Shield Award. This honour is awarded for thirty-five years of continuous membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians.  According to The Caesar Hat and Wand Magic Circle website, he has been invited to personally recieve it in Nashville, USA.

Congratulations Arshad!

Links for 31-May-2011

• From Jay Sankey:
  - Differences between bending and performing magic 
• From Magicana:
  - A quick overview of the MCW, "whew!"
  - Rememberi ng Challenge Week Magic Camp at The York School in "Magic + Film = Challenge Week"
    
• From Perfect Magic:
  - Evelyn shares wonderful observations of her grandchildren's relationship to magic in "When is the best age for starting magic?"
   
• From Andrew Musgrave at Ye Olde Magick Blogge:
  - Andrew's focus for May was "specific magicians who’ve inspired me" and added Richard Sanders to his list (which also includes Dai Vernon and Jay Sankey).
          
• Lecleric Show episodes on YouTube (I haven't been able to keep up with viewing, but here are links to the last two week's videos):
  134. The Lecleric Show Official Trailer 135. Interactive Card Trick! TRY IT!! IT WORKS!! - Day 135 of 365 136. Blister Card Trick- DAY 136 of 365
  137. SICK Colour Change- DAY 137 of 365
  138. Self-finding Aces - Day 138 of 365
  139. Spankalicious Card Trick Tutorial - Day 139 of 365
  140. Lego Jail Cell Trick - Day 140 of 365
  141. The Accident - Day 141 of 365
  142. Making Playing Cards - Day 142 of 365
  143. Ripping Other People's Money - DAY 143 of 365 144. The Switch - DAY 144 of 365
  145. My Magic Room - Day 145 of 365
  146. EPIC Royal Flush Card Trick - Day 146
  147. Quickie with Rubbers - Day 147 of 365
  148. The Pom Pom Trick - Day 148 of 365
  149. World's Messiest Coin Trick - Day 149 of 365
  150. Anakin's Video DAY 150 of 365

Ryan Pilling: Play Big

From Ryan Pilling's new blog, Playing Big:

This blog is about the important half of the old saying “pack small, play big”. I begin with a statement of where I stand, and what I think it takes to play big as a performing magician.

Welcome to the blogosphere Ryan!  I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts.



[h/t: @magicassistant]

Broken wand: Les Brockelsby

From the Globe and Mail on Thursday May 5th:

DECEMBER 8, 1923 ­to  APRIL 30, 2011 Leslie 'Les' George Brockelsby of Calgary passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the age of 87 years.

...

He also had a passion for magic from a very young age, performing his first magic show at age seven as 'The Wonder Boy of Plymouth'. Once retired, his interest in magic returned when he helped organize a local magic club, Calgary Magic Circle - Ring 66 which is now known as the 'Les Brockelsby Ring'. Les spent much of his time mentoring aspiring young magicians.

Read the complete obituary or visit the online guestbook.

Rounding the Western rings in June

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City	Club	Event(s)
Calgary, AB	Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)	- Doc Eason lecture - Jr. Magic Club - Garden Variety Show (Arc Fire, Kinkonauts, Top Secret Bluegrass Band)
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- MasterMind private workshop - James Biss lecture TBD
Saskatoon, SK		- Bill Abbott lecture
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- N/A
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- Children's Magician of the Year public show at the Shadbolt Theatre in Burnaby - Doc Eason lecture - Special General Meeting
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- Doc Eason lecture - Business Mtg   - Teach a Trick:  Alex Day - Refreshments:  Eric Bedard - Mini Lecture:  Shayne King - Showtime Activity(SA):     Rob Brown

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Ontario rings in June

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Awards Night: Winner reprise performance
London, ON	London Magician's Guild	- Jay Sankey lecture
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- annual BBQ / picnic
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Year End Party - Magician of the Year Award Presentation - New Member(s) Induction - Games and Magic Trivia (09-10 Champ Doug R.) - Bring your magic too!
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Aldo & Rachel Colombini Farewell Tour lecture - Year end banquet
Woodstock, ON	CAM 1 (Friendly City Mystics)	- N/A

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.