Virginia Hastings Production Blog

'Video Camp' at Starshine is in full swing!

 One of the coolest aspects of my work life is what I have gained over the years by being involved in the community. ‘Community’ is a great word, and building it into your life is so important. For some a sense of community comes from church, for others it is their neighborhood, cottage friends from the lake, or summer camp friends.   Being as fortunate as I am to live in Muskoka as a year-round resident, for me Muskoka is my ‘community.’ Over the years I have had the privilege to serve my community in many ways; first and foremost as a Board Director at YWCA Muskoka for nine years, and through municipal committees, local Chamber of Commerce groups, and many other local ad hoc committees. 

This past spring I was asked to teach a two-week course to a group of fantastic youngsters from Gravenhurst Public School as part of an initiative aimed at introducing these grade seven and eight students to different art forms.  During the course several local artists went into the school to teach their craft.  I was asked to take on a select few students who had an interest in learning about video and media arts.  Our objective together was to document the experience of their peers throughout the workshop.  I was given a group of six kids - two girls and four boys.  Not having taught anything before, especially in a formal school setting, I was feeling quite anxious to get started and really did not have any idea of how things were going to go. Quite frankly, I was worried they were going to eat me alive! 

As it turned out, these kids were the best.  They were eager, excited to learn, and right away I felt that we connected.  Every day when I arrived to teach they were waiting eagerly for me to get started on the day ahead.  At the end of the third day I went to my car to leave, and one of the girls was waiting nearby for her bus.  She waived goodbye and told me how much fun she was having.  I got into my car and shed a tear; at this point I was really starting to wonder who was inspiring who more.  Yet again I thought to myself, “I have the best job… I’m actually getting paid to have fun with these great kids.” 

When I was a kid about their age someone close to me gave me my first experience with editing equipment and cameras and I knew then that this was what I wanted to do when I grew up.  At the time it was a very unique opportunity to have access to such equipment; this opportunity changed my life because it really allowed me to see the possibilities for a future career.   It was a true privilege to work with these GPS kids, and to see in them what I felt so many years ago: that absolute rush of holding a real camera, and learning how to edit on professional software.  These kids were keen, excited and so curious.  It is a joy to share your craft with anyone who is interested, particularly youth who have their whole life ahead of them. 

When the course came to a wrap, one of the youngsters said to me, “So, is that it? Are we going to see you again?”  These were words that tore at my heart a little bit and also surprised me; I knew they were enjoying it, but I didn't realize that they would want to carry on.  As I got in my car that day and drove away I thought to myself, “Why does this have to be the end? I could do more. What could I do? What about a summer camp?”  It just so happened that his summer I had planned to start taking three-day weekends, taking fridays off work.  By the time I got home to Huntsville, I had planned an entire 8 week ‘Video Camp,' something that we could do on fridays throughout the summer.  

All I kept thinking was, it would take hardly any effort on my part to organize such a camp; I have so many connections around Muskoka I was sure that I could pull this off.  I spent the weekend making phone calls to local Gravenhurst friends who own or manage different businesses and by the following week I presented the idea to the kids who were all very open to the idea.   From the first moment I thought of it, I had no intention of charging a fee for this service.  I was already going to take the time off; it was just my time and the gas money.  And I knew that a fee would be a barrier for some in the group, and for me the pay was knowing that I had something to give these kids that they found interesting, fun, and could quite possibly (as it had in my earlier years) spark a real interest in a potential future career.  

We now meet on fridays at a local coffee shop in the morning and set out for our day's adventure.  Our weeks have been structured in such a way that each week we film a different ‘genre’ of media.  Our first week we visited the Muskoka Wildlife Centre and filmed nature and animals.  Next we went to the Bethune House to film ‘history’ and create a story around this.  We will ride the Segwun steamship, and film a hip-hop class at a local dance school to cut together a ‘music video.’  This entire camp has taken hardly any effort on my part, and yet I know it means a lot to these kids. 

They are amazing, talented, respectful, and eager to learn.  It makes me wonder why more business owners aren't doing the same sort of thing.  A lot of people I talk to about this are surprised at what I'm doing.  I think that as business owners we are some of the luckiest people to have the opportunity to control our own schedules.  And if time allows, I would encourage all business owners to think about doing what I am doing.  It costs nothing but a little bit of time, and it may inspire our youth in Muskoka.   When I was a child, and even still, I often find myself listening to what someone does for a living and saying to him or her, “I didn’t even know that was a job.  I didn't realize that you could get paid to do that. How fun!” 

As children we aren't very aware of the possibilities that are out there.  I think if more of us were proactive and took it upon ourselves to open our offices, studios and lives up to our youth we could really help to spark an interest in them.  Regardless of whether you are an insurance broker, zoologist, writer, or retail store owner, everyone has something to offer and everyone has the potential to be a mentor to someone.  

Life’s moments that happen outside of the arena of formal education are so very important, and often most influential.  The way I see it, we all have a wealth of knowledge to impart on anyone who is interested in learning, particularly our youth.  And in many ways, as business owners, I think we have an obligation to do so.  

What I have gained in the first few weeks of working with these kids has meant the world to me.  And I think - I hope - to them too.  I will never forget the first time I held a camera in my hands.  It changed my life.  It is a memory as clear as day, and I often wonder where I would be had I not had that opportunity.