Last week, the Believe Summer Camp Experience 2016 gave area youngsters the chance to learn fine arts, including drama, dance and singing, from seasoned professionals.

The camp is the brainchild of Bogalusa native Bruce Sampson, who wanted to give back to his community. Believe is in its third year and has produced camps and workshops in Louisiana, Mississippi, California and multiple cities in China.

The arts provide many opportunities for youngsters. They allow them an individual creative outlet, but also teach them to work together as a team to achieve the final production. Many young people are not interested in sports or other extracurricular pursuits, but they light up when they are on the stage. Believe is a wonderful way to provide an activity for those children.

We are sure that everyone who attended last Friday’s final show enjoyed the performance. It was an opportunity for those campers to show what they learned, and receive well-deserved rounds of applause.

Who knows, a future Oscar, Emmy or Tony winner might have been performing on that Bogalusa High School stage on Friday night. And that interest in the arts might have never been kindled without the Believe camp.

We again thank Bruce Sampson and his partners for bringing this first-class summer camp to our community, and hope that many more young people will participate in future camps.