Like all Michiganders, Detroit’s youth have spent the summer months navigating social distancing measures and grappling with a “new normal” that has completely upended their plans.

Precautions to protect against the coronavirus pandemic — which hit Detroit and Wayne County particularly hard this spring — have closed camps and cancelled nearly all traditional summertime activities. This is especially true for groups who focus on arts opportunities for youth. While pre-pandemic life may have called for group singing lessons, dance troupe practices, and rousing large-scale performances, the current reality is forcing programs online. Employees of these organizations have had to leverage their own creativity to serve their youth this summer.

“Going to a virtual program environment was a steep learning curve. We are still finding out how students and parents are responding to the environment, learning what works and what doesn’t,” Nicole Wilson, Executive Director of The Yunion, said in an email interview.

The Yunion’s “Keys 2 Life” performing arts summer camp has shifted to a virtual experience after years of successful in-person programming. Keys 2 Life campers will enjoy a robust curriculum in acting, beat making, song writing, orchestral string instruments and dance, all without leaving the house. But content that makes for enriching experiences in real life might not translate easily to a digital platform.

“We honestly were not sure if a ‘virtual camp’ would really work. However, our team presented some wonderfully creative ideas that really taps into the fun of ‘camp culture’ that we believe kids are going to really enjoy,” Wilson explained.

For many Fisher Foundation grant partners, digital offerings were simply not part of their plans, even a few short months ago. But the pace at which the COVID-19 pandemic escalated left little time for employees to learn to recreate their experiences in a digital and socially-distanced format.

“It was our desire to provide a safe in-person camp experience. However, as the number of confirmed cases increased it became painfully clear that would not be possible,” Charlene McNary of Mosaic Youth Theatre wrote in an email interview. Concern for the students and families served became the primary motivation for switching to the online format, McNary wrote. “It was important that we continued to provide the families that depended upon us for arts enrichment [with] access to quality arts education.”

The “Mosaic@Home” summer experience features two tracks: DISCOVER (ages 7-10) and EXPLORE (ages 11-14), both of which feature virtual lessons in vocal music, movement/dance, and acting. A video showcase opportunity is available for all campers, and participants in the EXPLORE track receive one additional day of coaching.

Like many groups, The Yunion and Mosaic Youth Theatre are using their previous experience with digital offerings – no matter how limited – to improve their summer camp programs. Student and parent feedback have provided essential tips for making the most of their virtual summer experiences. Still, this same feedback also highlighted concerns regarding equitable internet access and inadequate numbers of available devices inside the home, factors that arts & culture groups have to contend with daily.

But despite the many inherent challenges this summer has presented, arts organizations seem to be making the most of the warm weather months, as individual employees within these organizations blend their natural creativity with a passion for serving youth.

“I have been impressed by how quickly and creatively our grant partners have been able to pivot in this challenging time,” said Chelsea Landry, program partner at the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. “It all comes down to the incredible staff within these organizations. Our arts partners are some of the most creative and innovative professionals anywhere in the field. We are so grateful for their hard work and determination to continue serving Detroit’s youth even in the midst of this pandemic.”

The Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation has been working to remain responsive to its partners in this unprecedented time. For more on the Foundation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit: https://mmfisher.org/fisher-foundation-commits-1-6-million/.