Sylmar : Idyllwild Forest Camp Sharpens Young Talent

At a forested camp hidden high in the mountains, Rigoberto Tolentino and Sika Ametu stand in a circle formed by two dozen children, learning the magic of the mask.

Each child takes a turn wearing a white plastic mask and entering the center of the circle, up to three at a time. Some run. Some crouch. Some jump. The only rule is to not be seen donning or removing the masks.

Rigo enters, strolling nonchalantly and tilting his head. The mask shields his facial expressions, but his body language brims with curiosity.

“When I went inside the circle, I felt like I could do anything,” said Rigo, moments after the theatrical exercise. “I felt like a different person.”

Such freedom is what organizers hope Sika, Rigo, Militza Cummings and Diego Martinez are enjoying during two-week workshops in progress at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts. The four Sylmar Elementary School youths, ages 10 to 12, are among 26 Los Angeles-area youths attending the arts school via scholarships awarded through L.A.’s Best, a partnership of public and private agencies that provides after-school activities for children in areas prone to gangs, drugs and crime.

The concrete and asphalt of urban schools are replaced by grass and trees at the 205-acre Idyllwild campus, set deep in the San Jacinto Mountains east of San Bernardino.

Traditional assignments in science and history are replaced with activities in theater, music and art.

“You never know what’s going to be at the camp,” said Militza, who is attending a music workshop.

“The teachers here have different ideas.”

Future thespians sharpen their observation skills by passing around a cantaloupe-sized ball as an observer guesses who has it.

Burgeoning musicians practice their instruments, working one-on-one with instructors in private practice rooms. Fledgling artists sketch self-portraits and create their own multicolored masks out of construction paper.

“Ours is a messy study,” said theater instructor Bill Purkiss. “There’s a lot of things [students] are going to learn you don’t expect them to pick up. It’s a lot more flexible than math. You can’t have the same kind of [established] objectives.”

The workshops began July 23 and will conclude Tuesday.

The program combines instruction with traditional camping activities, including swimming, playing and singing by the fire.

“There are so many things to do,” said Diego. “It’s a lot of fun.”