Media contact: Noelle Lemoine, communications assistant; tele: (413) 597-4277; email: [email protected]
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., July 13, 2007 – Williamstown has, for years, been a popular place to hold summer events and conferences. The summer of 2007 will be no different, as a host of educational, cultural, and athletic program participants descend on the area, drawing thousands of people and providing a boost to the local economy.
“Williamstown offers a diverse range of activities in the summer,” said Marjorie Wylde, director of the conference office at Williams College and long-time Williamstown resident. “We have people coming for everything from golf to writing. They’ll be experiencing not only the weather and the scenery but also the local establishments.”
Approximately 6,000 people will participate in one of the summer programs.
The Williamstown Theatre Festival will bring approximately 500 apprentices, staff, and Equity actors for a ten-week session in which young people have the opportunity to work with theatre art professionals from across the country. Held at Williams College since 1955, the festival will celebrate its third season of performances at the new ’62 Center for Theater and Dance.
Other programs that will celebrate the arts include the Summer Harp Conference, a two-week course (through July 15) by acclaimed harp soloist Alice Giles, and the first-ever Overland Summer Writing Program, which offers four one-week sessions throughout July involving the mechanics and process of writing as well as afternoon outdoor activities.
Nearly 600 teachers from the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) will take courses ranging from negotiations to professional development as part of the 34th annual MTA Summer Leadership Conference, Aug. 6-9.
Also scheduled are the National Science Foundation Chemistry program, led by professor Larry Kaplan and focusing on forensic science, the Williams College Undergraduate Research Colloquium, which for the tenth year is hosting and training students who wish to pursue research and academic careers, the Catalyst Project, a summit which brings together highly gifted adolescents with advanced scholars from a wide range of fields, and Urban Scholars, a college enrichment program involving high school students from New York City and run by Professor Gail Newman.
Many athletic programs will make good use of the Williams College sports facilities throughout the summer. The Nike Tennis Camp, which brings 600 participants ages 9-18, will be held through early August. Directed by the Williams tennis coach Dave Johnson, the camp will host players for one or two week sessions. Williams squash coach Zafi Levy will bring over 50 teens to his Squash and Beyond camp, which will run mid-July through mid-August.
Williams basketball coaches Pat Manning (women’s team) and Dave Paulsen (men’s team) will be hosting multiple basketball camps and day programs during the summer, drawing some 300 basketball players between them. Mike Russo, head soccer coach at Williams, will provide soccer camps for approximately 300 boys and girls through late July, and some 400 more campers will come for the Nike Golf camp, run late June through early August and hosted by U.S. Sports Development, Inc.
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Published July 13, 2007
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