Centrum Offers Freedom and Arts Exploration

By GEORGIA GEMPLER
DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL
Fort Worden is an old military establishment in Port Townsend, Wash.
Set in a breathtaking location, the fort features beautiful beaches along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, historical buildings, military bunkers, trails and The Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
Imagine camping there for a whole week.
I’ve had the opportunity two times now. And I can assure you: Centrum is not just a camp; it is an experience.
The car trip from Yakima to Port Townsend is about five hours. So you might be wondering why would someone want to go to a camp so far away.
Between classes, hanging out with friends, or checking out the bunkers, concrete tunnels and fortifications from when the fort was first built, I was busy and happy for the duration of the camp. Both times.
The thing about Centrum that really allowed me to expand was the freedom. It granted me the power to decide how I wanted to spend my time instead of being influenced by other people’s schedules and wants.
During free time, students are allowed to hang out in the dorms, go to the beach or the bunkers, talk with friends, play games outside — in short, just about whatever we feel like doing — as long as it’s safe and within the rules — for about two and a half hours.
The fort was originally established to prevent enemy fleets from getting to places like the Puget Sound Naval Yard in Bremerton and cities along Puget Sound.
I went for the first time two years ago, in seventh grade, for the “Whatever! Middle School Workshops.” I went again this year as an eighth grader for “Middle School Arts Exploration.”
While there are a variety of classes at Centrum, I chose dance as my main focus both years.
Last year, I did African gumboot dancing, which involved stomping, clapping and moving in different ways to create a rhythm. This was a new experience for me because I really got to branch out of my more classical training of ballet, jazz and tap. I have been a dancer for 10 years now, and looking back, it was good for me to learn a new style.
This year, I took a dance and videography combination class from two artists who created a wonderful way of mixing dance and pictures. Our task was to create a slideshow of pictures of ourselves performing our own choreography. I thought it was fantastic because I love dance, and I was really interested to see how the instructors would incorporate the new, technological side of dance and movement.
Centrum was my first opportunity to structure my time according to what I wanted to do and be in charge of those decisions. It further developed my awareness of different art forms and taught me about opportunities in the artistic world.
Centrum not only deepened my education, it also expanded my independence.

For more information, visit www.centrum.org.