"Circus at Wise Fool is a combination of everything I love to do; spend time with really cool people, do crazy fun activities, and explore new things. I am infinitely happy I found Wise Fool."
- Youth Participant
“[The Wise Fool staff’s] gentle belief in all the kids' abilities resulted in all the kids being able to overcome their own personal challenges… and by the end the kids were all so incredibly proud of what they'd achieved.”
- Parent of Summer Camp Youth
“Nothing has boosted [my daughter’s] self-confidence the way her three days at Wise Fool did.”
- Parent of Winter Camp Participant
"The stretching, acrobatics, climbing, running, and laughing have all been positive influences on not just our child but for her younger sibling and her friends. She is eager to try new tricks, to help her friends learn new skills, and is more appreciative of creative movement."
-Parent of an Afterschool Fools Youth
"The camps were hands down one of the best summer experiences ...The atmosphere was always sweet and happy - time for play and learning amazing things from the amazing young and vibrant teaching staff. The role models for my daughter could not have been better."
- Kids Camp Parent
Afterschool Offerings - 2023
Wise Fool's programs allow your kids to run away with the circus, without leaving their home! We offer classes at 3:30 for kids from 5-13 Monday through Thursday.
Registration is open
Please email mail@wisefoolnm.org with questions about classes
Fall 2023 session runs August 28th - December 8th, with a break from November 20-24
Wise Fool has offered afterschool classes for local youth since 2004! Afterschool classes include instruction in aerial fabric, trapeze, stilt-walking, clowning, unicycling, juggling, acrobatics & more! Wee Kids 4-7, 7-12 for the other classes.
If you'd like to apply for a scholarship, please click on the button below to apply. Scholarship decisions are made at least one week before the start of the program.
Wee Kids
$220 for 14 week session (Monday OR Wednesday).
For kids ages 4-6, no experience necessary. Students will work on creative movement, aerial fabric, trapeze, obstacle courses, physical literacy, and have lots of fun jumping in, through, and on hoops!
Mondays 3:30-4:30pm
Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm
Circus Exploration
$320 for 14 week session, one day per week (Mondays OR Wednesdays).
Suitable for youth ages 7-12! We will teach to youth of all levels in this class who want to learn and play in circus. Youth get to try stilt-walking, aerial fabric, trapeze, acrobalance and clowning in a safe and supportive environment. They will show their skills to parents and friends on the last week of class, on Friday December 9.
Mondays 3:30-5pm
Wednesdays 3:30-5pm
Take it to the Stage
$640 for 14 week session.
For kids ages 8 to 12 who have taken at least two sessions of Circus Exploration, having completed their last class in the past year. The class focus is on act creation, culminating in a final show! Students should want to dedicate themselves more seriously to circus. Coaches support youth in creating something all their own, in a fun and supportive environment! The focus on show/act creation includes choosing a circus specialty, working independently and with a group to create multiple acts and participating in a theme brainstorming session. This class supports self-motivation and requires a desire to create! Class meets twice a week- attendance is crucial for participation in the show and irregular attendance may result in less show participation. The session will end with a performance on the Friday evening of the last week of class. Availability to be present the day of the show must be confirmed upon registration.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5pm
Circus Play for Families
Circus jam where parents and children play in the circus together! Families get to try stilt-walking, juggling, tumbling, partner acrobatics, hula hoops, aerial fabric, and trapeze in a safe and supportive environment. This class is an open studio format where Wise Fool coaches will be on hand to support family play and experimentation. No experience necessary! $18 drop in for one adult and one child. Additional children are $6 each class.
This class is currently on hold. If you are interested in joining please email kristen@wisefoolnm.org to get on the list of interested families.
Please email mail@wisefoolnm.org if you need ASL interpretation or another type of accommodation.
Costs for classes listed below. Scholarships and payment plans are available!
Please contact mail@wisefoolnm.org with any question or help with registration.
Kids Camps - 2023
Wise Fool spring, summer, and winter break camps allow your kiddos to run away with the circus, without leaving home! Students learn stilt-walking, unicycling, aerial fabric, trapeze, juggling, puppet-making, clowning and more! All in a safe, non-competitive environment. Camps fill up quickly, email kristen@wisefoolnm.org to get on our mailing list to find out about camp registration.
Please contact Kristen Woods, Youth Camps Coordinator, at kristen@wisefoolnm.org with any question or help with registration.
Kids Camps 2022-2023
Thank you for your interest in our Summer Camps! Unfortunately, all of our Camps are full.
Wee Kids Camp - FULL
June 19-23
9am to 12:30pm, Cost $280
Wee Kids camp is a half-day camp for youth 5-7 years old who want to learn to fly on the trapeze, walk tall on stilts, find their inner clown, make wearable art, and tumble their way into fun! No experience necessary. Tuition assistance available!
Teen Circus Camp
June 19-30
1:30-5pm, Cost $400
Wise Fool's newest camp for youth entering 7th - 12th grades. No experience necessary, but suitable for all levels! Students will get to explore all the circus arts and then pick a couple of disciplines to focus on to perform in a showcase for friends and family at the end of the two weeks. The camp will also include a focus on conditioning, flexibility and performance skills.
Summer Camp 1 - FULL
July 3-14
9am to 3:30pm, Cost $660
Youth learn amazing circus skills including stilt walking, trapeze, juggling, aerial fabric, clowning, acrobatics, and puppetry - culminating in a show and try! Parents come the last day of Camp and kids show them everything they learned, and then parents cant try it if they want!
The first session of Summer Camp is suitable for students ages 7-12, of all levels, no experience necessary.
Camp runs 9am-3:30pm. Snacks are provided, but students are expected to bring a bag lunch.
Tuition assistance available!
Summer Camp 2 - FULL
July 17-28
9am to 3:30pm, Cost $660
The second session of Summer Camp is suitable for students ages 8-13 who have taken at least one session of summer camp or a session of Afterschool classes, or have other previous circus experience. Camp runs from 9am to 3:30pm, and before and after care options are available. Snacks are provided, but students are expected to bring a bag lunch. This camp culminates in a fantastic youth-lead show!
Registration is open!
Winter Break Camp 2023 - Winter Break December 2023
9am to 3:30pm, Cost $325
We are offering two-one-week circus camps that are for youth ages 7-12 with any level of experience. Youth learn amazing circus skills including stilt walking, trapeze, juggling, aerial fabric, clowning, acrobatics, and puppetry - culminating in a show and try! Parents come the last day of Camp and kids show them everything they learned, and then parents can try it if they want! $325 each week.
The first session of Winter Camp is suitable for students ages 7-12, of all levels, no experience necessary.
Camp runs 9am-3:30pm. Snacks are provided, but students are expected to bring a bag lunch.
Spring Break Camp -
Coming in 2024
9am-3:30pm, Cost $360
Youth learn amazing circus skills including stilt walking, trapeze, juggling, aerial fabric, clowning, acrobatics, and puppetry - culminating in a show and try! Parents come the last day of Camp and kids show them everything they learned, and then parents cant try it if they want!
The camp for students ages 7-12, of all levels, no experience necessary.
Camp runs 9am-3:30pm. Snacks are provided, but students are expected to bring a bag lunch.
Drop-In Youth and Tween/Teen Aerials
Youth Aerials
Youth Aerial is happening in-studio! We are wearing masks and social distancing while have fun and learning aerial acrobatics!
Saturdays: 10am - 11:15 am, ages 7 - 12 runs on an ongoing basis. Please check the studio calendar to see if class is on this week.
A great chance for kids with a passion for aerials to try or develop further skills in trapeze and aerial fabric. Suitable for kids ages 7 - 12 of all experience levels. Drop-ins allowed! Please email kristen@wisefoolnm.org or text 505-206-0160 if you are planning to drop in.
Tween/Teen Aerials
Join us for teen Tween Aerials!
Mondays 5:30 - 7pm, ages 11 - 15. Suitable for all levels, youth may choose from trapeze, lyra, fabric and rope. Session cost is $112. Drop-ins allowed.
Circus for Tweens & Teens
General Tween/Teen Offerings
Youth ages 12 - 16 are invited to take a number of our ongoing classes. See below for the current schedule. Youth ages 16 + are invited to take any of our drop-in studio classes. Please see the full schedule here. Please contact kristen@wisefoolnm.org before attending your first class.
Teen Troupe
Wise Fool is now offering our Teen Troupe on an ongoing basis! This class is for older students ages 13-18 who have done a minimum of one year of programming with Wise Fool. When teens sign up for Teen Troupe, they commit to taking one adult class in the discipline of their choice (i.e. fabric, trapeze, acrobalance, unicycling, etc.) each week. During the summer, students can also take a conditioning, flexibility or acro class, and practice their skills in open studio. During the school year, students meet on Tuesdays 5:15-7:15pm as a group to explore performance skills, develop strength and flexibility. Cost is a sliding scale based on income from $15 - $125 per month. If your youth is interested in Teen Troupe please email kristen@wisefoolnm.org or call 505-992-2588.
TeenBUST
May 30-June 3(By nomination only, please contact shayla@wisefoolnm.org if interested)
TeenBUST brings middle school girls together in a community that supports taking risks, pushing boundaries, and becoming physically bold.
Mornings, the girls work with professional instructors of circus techniques, learning to articulate their unique voices and bodies. Afternoons, the girls journal their experiences and workshop with visiting organization to further their growing repertoire of skills in self-advocacy, community and leadership. With Teen BUST, girls are challenged, have fun, and explore new ideas as they become bolder and stronger versions of themselves, ready to support each other as they navigate and impact their complex worlds.
Our Approach
Learning circus skills and puppetry is not only fun, it helps youth to develop self confidence, learn and practice teamwork and mutual respect, develop trust in themselves and others, explore their unique self-expression, and develop belief in their ability as artists and performers. It also provides non-competitive physical activity and helps youth develop a positive relationship with their bodies through balance, physical strength, and healthy risk-taking. And did we mention that it's fun?! In addition to our on-site programs listed below, Wise Fool works extensively in area schools.
For more information, please contact our Youth Outreach Coordinator, Alishiya Kapoor at alishiya@wisefoolnm.org.
Wise Fool teachers, all of whom attend annual unlearning oppression trainings, create a safe and supportive environment for students of all ages to take risks, connect with one another, and exceed their perceived personal limits. Wise Fool teachers lead trust-building and group-negotiation games as part of every program, and urge students to break free, tell their stories, and celebrate their unique self-expression through performance, often with profound, moving, and hilarious results.
Staff and Teacher bios can be found on our Wise Fool People page!
Our Youth Programs Policies
All participants in Wise Fool's Youth Programs are asked to follow these policies (download here) to keep our programs safe, positive, supportive, and beneficial for everyone involved! Parents sign an acknowledgement of these policies when enrolling their youth in our programs. Contact Oriana Lee, Education and Outreach Director at 505-992-2588 or oriana@wisefoolnm.org for more information!
