Smarten Up Camp gives Manatee County students advanced arts opportunities

By Madison Bierl
| 11:45 a.m. June 4, 2026

Isabella Cz, a rising sixth grader at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, and Skylar Flandreau, a rising sixth grader at Martha B. King Middle School, take turns playing the ukulele during the Manatee Arts Education Council smARTen Up Camp.

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Before being cast in a lead role of Benchwarmer for the musical "Kick It" during the Smarten Up Camp at Braden River Elemetary June 1-4, rising fourth grader Isabella Cz didn't think theater was her thing.

However, the Dr. Mona Jain Middle School student found that she was comfortable singing and acting, and she didn't have, as she feared, any trouble memorizing lines. The camp, no doubt, expanded her artistic horizons.

Before, drawing was her forte.

"You can draw whatever you imagine," Cz said. "You can create anything — a dinosaur, a teacher or something like that. It's a fun thing and it just helps you expose your imagination."

But that imagination can also allow her to put her own personal stamp on a character while acting.

The Manatee Arts Education Council Smarten Up Camp took place at Braden River Elementary School June 1-4. Seventy-five campers from various schools around the county were able to participate in activities revolving around the arts including music (strings), art, dance and musical theater. Many of the students found they have talent they didn't know exists.

Kristy Isaacs, the camp coordinator and a music teacher at Palma Sola Elementary, has served in the role since the camp began in 2018 and has watched as each year the camp has grown in size. She has taught music in Manatee County for 27 years.

Isaacs is grateful for how much the camp has grown and that they are able to strengthen music education for local students beyond the traditional art and music classes they have during a regular school day.

"By the fourth day, they're dancing on stage and singing with their partners," Isaacs said. "They're laughing and giggling with each other. They tell their parents they can go now, I got this. They're developing friendships so quick with people from all over the county."

Twenty-two of the campers were able to participate on full scholarship and eight on half scholarship with the help of grants from the Manatee Community Foundation and the Hecht Foundation.

Jeramiah Bowman, the director of educational programs for the Manatee Education Foundation, said on behalf of The Manatee Education Foundation and the Manatee Arts Education Council that he is thankful for the continued partnership with the School District of Manatee County.

"MAEC is committed to supporting, promoting and celebrating the arts in Manatee County and providing all students access to meaningful arts experiences," Bowman said.

Teagan Judy, a rising fourth grader at Braden River Elementary, says she loves trying new things like dancing and musical theater, but has always had a love for art.

Henry Michaels, a rising fourth grader at Freedom Elementary School, follows choreography as Marisol Rosas, dance teacher from Rowlett Elementary Academy, gives direction.

Isaac Grapentine, a rising third grader at Palma Sola Elementary, took inspiration from video games, specifically Roblox, to choose his colors and design for his project.

Liam Kane, a rising third grader at Braden River Elementary, dances along to "You're All," a song from the musical "Kick It," which tells the story of a soccer team preparing for their season.

Skylar Flandreau, a rising sixth grader at Martha B. King Middle School, and Arianna Medina, a rising fifth grader at Braden River Elementary School, sing the song "John Kanaka" in the strings music class.

Tinsley Heston, a rising third grader at Braden River Elementary, strikes a pose at the end of the dance class warmup.

Matthew Servetz, a rising third grader at Tara Elementary School, matches his art project with his shirt using the color green.

Braden River Elementary's Tyler Shomo, Freedom Elementary's Henry Michaels and Tillman Elementary's Isaiah Dunbar, who are all rising fourth graders, take a brief break from dancing.

Carlee Hernandez, a rising third grader at Gene Witt Elementary School, creates an art project inspired by graffiti with the help of Braden River Elementary Art Teacher Rebecca Misla.

Evelyn Colley and Hollie Miesner, both rising third graders at Palma Sola Elementary, are happy to show off their art projects which are to resemble fences with graffiti art.

Rising third graders Tessa Barcelona of Willis Elementary and Isla Cz of Braden River Elementary dance along to "You're All" a song from the musical "Kick It" in the musical theater class.

author

Madison Bierl

Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.