SENMC and Southeast New Mexico Homeschool Hub Partnership Bring Shannonogons Circus Camp to the Renaissance Festival

Meaningful community partnerships often begin with a single conversation. The partnership between Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) and the Southeast New Mexico Homeschool Hub grew out of a connection made through the Carlsbad Rotary Club.

There, Shannon Newton, Interim Director of Theater Partnerships and Productions at SENMC, met Angie Johnson, a mother with five students enrolled in the Homeschool Hub. Johnson introduced Newton to Taylor Storm, director of the Southeast New Mexico Homeschool Hub, and the relationship quickly grew into an opportunity for students to explore creativity, art, movement, and performance.

Last year, Newton taught Advanced Art classes through the Homeschool Hub, with as many as 21 students per class exploring puppet making, visualization journals, beginning sewing, and drawing from live models. Programming was held at the SENMC Workforce Training Center (the former Joe Stanley Smith Elementary), which gave students access to spacious facilities and a large playground.

“Circus camp has been a fun addition to the community,” said Storm. “There’s nothing else like it, and it’s a great way to mix physical activity with performance and creativity — exactly what my child desires. Shannon is fun, creative, and patient. All of the kids love her!”

The Homeschool Hub was also awarded a Catalyst Grant, supporting the organization’s work to expand educational opportunities for homeschool families.

From Community Education to Circus Camp

The first Shannonogons Circus Camp launched during the first week of July through SENMC Community Education, with the support of Maria Quintana. Eight students, ages eight to 13, took part in the inaugural camp—one of several offerings from a busy Community Education summer that also celebrated more than 35 graduates of its free community summer reading program.

Over three-hour sessions, students explored clowning, theatrical movement, balance, coordination, stage presence, teamwork, confidence building, and circus skills.

Newton—a teacher and director who also performs at the Renaissance Festival—saw the students’ potential immediately.

“These students have so much energy and so much talent,” said Newton. “I wanted to give them a place where they could turn that energy into performance, discipline, creativity, and confidence.”

Before the program could expand, Newton worked with SENMC President Dr. Kevin Beardmore to find a schedule that would accommodate Homeschool Hub students. His support made it possible for the program to move forward. The students gave their first performance at SENMC’s end-of-summer celebration in front of roughly 80 SENMC faculty and staff members.

“That’s quite a crowd for your first performance,” Newton said.

A New Generation Takes the Stage

The second season of Shannonogons Circus Camp has grown to 14 students, including 13 new participants and one returning student.

Among them, Charlie has shown exceptional attention to detail and determination, learning to balance a sword on her head and training on the lollipop lyra.

“I love it! It’s a great way to be active. I love Shannon,” Charlie said.

Leading the clowning portion of the camp is Benny Lumpkins Jr., an off-Broadway producer and clown coach, who has selected David—an early-college student at SENMC—as his lead clown.

Other young performers are showing tremendous natural potential: Becca attempted her first cartwheel, and Cadence demonstrated a natural ability on the lollipop lyra, a circus apparatus consisting of a suspended metal ring used for aerial dance.

The camp’s growth has also generated interest beyond its young participants, with parents and adults already asking about an adult circus camp. Community Education is considering additional programming, potentially including another camp in November. Adults interested in future circus opportunities can contact Maria Quintana through SENMC Community Education.

A Festival Debut

The students’ grand debut will take place at the Renaissance Festival, which drew more than 8,000 attendees last year—giving the young performers an exciting opportunity to share their work with a large community audience.

Shannonogons Circus Camp performs on Saturday, September 26, at 2 p.m. at the Bandshell Stage.

Festival visitors are also invited to stop by the SENMC Eddy Players Thespian Lounge, a comfortable backstage-style gathering space created for the college’s theater students. The lounge will serve as a home base for SENMC Theatre Club students throughout the festival, welcoming guests who want to meet the students, learn about theater at SENMC, and discover opportunities to get involved.

What began with a Rotary connection has grown into a partnership connecting homeschool families, community education, college students, theater, circus arts, and the broader Carlsbad community. On Saturday, the young performers get to do the most important part: they get to take the stage.