Bogalusa native Bruce Sampson has put together a team of directors/ instructors from Los Angeles composed of professionals in the entertainment industry who have performed and taught internationally, and he is bringing them to Louisiana to conduct a unique series of performing arts summer camps in June and July.

The experience will be presented as week-long summer day camps where students between third and 12th grades will have five days of classes, activities and games with Sampson’s ICON team and a group of local camp counselors. Sampson is looking for talented, college-aged locals to sign on as counselors/co-teachers for the camp.

During the week, students will learn songs, dance routines, skits and more that will be presented as a stage show for the community on the final evening of the camp week.

The students will be divided into three peer/ age groups for most of the camp, and their classes and activities will be age and grade appropriate.

Classes will take place between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a lunch break before or at noon each day. The culminating stage show will be open to the community and take place Friday at 7 p.m.

In an effort to make it affordable for all kids to participate, the registration fee is only $10 per day, payable in one payment of $50 when students register online.

Each student will receive a souvenir T-shirt that will also double as their performance shirt for the show.

Sampson has had a varied and successful career as an entertainer, director, educator, recording artist and producer. For the past four years, he has literally traveled the world teaching and directing with the internationally acclaimed group The Young Americans.

He has now written this special program and show specifically for the youth and communities of southeast Louisiana with a message of love, hope, respect and unity.

The camp is called Believe Summer Camp Experience and the show is titled “Believe: Live-Laugh-Love!”

Sampson and his team are excited to bring this special experience to southeast Louisiana, and they look forward to sharing it with the entire community.

“I’m coming home and I’m bringing some very talented friends! I’m beyond excited about this and we’ve got some incredible things planned for these kids and the community,” Sampson said.

The St. Tammany Parish camp will be hosted at Slidell High School from June 23-27, and the Washington Parish camp will take place July 7-11 at Bogalusa High School.

Students can find more information and register online at www.believe. iconarts.org.