The Cupertino Courier

Cover Story

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer

Ron Hasson, 8, practices hanging upside down from a trapeze at Trapeze Arts thanks to SunnyvaleÕs Venture Camps program.

Trapeze, Please

Youngsters get to hang out at this summer camp

By Erin Hussey

The days of sing-alongs, finger painting and poison oak are giving way to a new type of summer camping. Children today can choose from science camps, acting camps and even circus camps.

"There is a trend these days to send children to specialty types of camps, such as volleyball, that are very skill-specific," says Silvia Martins, a supervisor with the Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Department. "But there are still families and children who want to attend the general day camp."

In an effort to spruce up the traditional arts and crafts camp, Sunnyvale parks and recreation created Venture Camps--week-long theme-based camps that revolve around indoor and outdoor games, contests, arts and crafts, a swim day and a unique field trip.

This summer more than 100 students from Sunnyvale and the surrounding cities of Cupertino and San Jose signed up.

"We had a big increase from the last two summers--33 percent in general camp enrollment," says Martins.

Unlike a traditional day camp, the Venture series is broken up by age group. Li'l Ventures for ages 5 and 6, Junior Ventures for 7- to 9-year-olds, and Super Ventures for children ages 10 and 11.

In addition to traveling to Logitech Ice, the Morgan Hill Aquatics Center and Fenton's Creamery and Fairyland, the children had the opportunity to learn how to fly through the air with the greatest of ease at Trapeze Arts, Inc. in Oakland.

"We have a lot of students who do this because it's a new, fun way to exercise," says Lili Gaudreau, co-owner of Trapeze Arts. "They are tired of the gym and tired of the mindless Stair Master. It's a lot of upper body, abs and arm work, but your legs are also involved."

Lili and her husband, Stephan Gaudreau, opened Trapeze Arts in 1994 with a mission to give any individual the chance to experience and learn aerial and other circus arts in a supportive, non-competitive environment.

The school currently offers classes, camps and birthday parties for all ages and levels. Some of its students have gone on to perform in Cirque du Soleil, Cirque de la Mer and Velocity Circus.

"Unlike bungee jumping or something that's just a thrill ride, where you do it and it's done, this has that same element of adrenaline and thrill but there is also skill involved. So as you get better, the more there is too learn," says Lili.

Stephan, who was first introduced to circus arts while working as a chef at Club Med, is one of the few professional trapeze artists who have accomplished the triple somersault. He continues to do performances and was most recently appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

"You can do it," says Stephan to a timid Sunnyvale camper. "I've seen 3-year-olds and 70-year-olds do it. All you have to do is hang on."

Jules Léotard invented the flying trapeze in the late 19th century in France. The word trapeze specifically refers to the horizontal crossbar.

"There are all sorts of different trapeze acts, just like there are different types of dance," Lili explains. At Trapeze Arts, students can learn to fly as well as how to master the other two most common trapeze arts: static and swinging.

"It's 45 percent fun, 55 percent scary," says Sunnyvale camper Ben Meiri after taking his first swing. Others, such as Ron Hasson, were more enthusiastic about climbing back up the 25-foot ladder to try different positions.

"Hooking your knees is tiring," says Ron, who was the first student to master lifting his legs up above the bar to hang upside down by his knees. "But it's so fun."

When asked to rate flying on a scale from one to 10, Ron shouted, "15!"

Trapeze Arts is one of only a handful of full-time circus schools open year round. During the summers it sets up portable trapezes in Squaw Valley and Santa Cruz.

"There are really a lot of benefits to participating in a camp program," says Martins. "Aside from the health and wellness benefits, we try to expose the children to different opportunities that they might not usually have in hopes that perhaps they will find something that will become a lifelong leisure pursuit for them."

For more information on other Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation programs, visit recreation.insunnyvale.com or call 408.730.7350.

For more information on Trapeze Arts, Inc., located at 1822 9th Street in Oakland, visit www.trapezearts.com or call 510.419.0700.