Courtesy photos From left, Adan Jimenez and Kirsten Snyder work with instructor Donald McConnell at Camp CAPS. The new digital video camp is offered by the Ventura Family YMCA and Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura.

Sixth- through eighth-graders can create a televised public service announcement in a new weeklong digital video camp offered by the Ventura Family YMCA and Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura, also known as CAPS-TV.

Youngsters attending Camp CAPS will hone skills to start creating their own digital video productions, including techniques in scriptwriting, camera operation, lighting, audio, editing and DVD authoring.

"Kids will learn not only the basics of digital filmmaking but how they can create their own short movies, music videos or whatever else they can dream up for school projects, Web placement or just for fun," said Anthony Unchangco of Camarillo, senior program director for the Ventura Family YMCA.

Once they learn the basics, campers will be placed in teams to create a short media project — from script to screen — to premiere on CAPS-TV Channel 6, available to cable subscribers in the city of Ventura.

Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura is a private, nonprofit access center that manages the public, educational and government access television channels in Ventura. CAPS was formed in 2000 as an outcome of the cable franchise negotiations among the city of Ventura, Avenue TV Cable (now Wave Broadband) and Adelphia Cable (now Time Warner). It was designed to ensure that the operation of a media center for community service is managed independently and without discrimination.

This is the first year that CAPS-TV has put on the camp and partnered with the Ventura Family YMCA, said Rich Burlingham, marketing and development manager for CAPS-TV.

"Because this is the first time we've put on this camp, we wanted to concentrate on an age group, grades sixth through eighth, that would directly benefit the most and who still attend camps of this type," Burlingham said. "In the future we want to expand with additional camps for younger kids."

The camp is open to all levels, from those who have never picked up a digital camera to those who may have already made short films and want to gain greater knowledge and skills.

"Our goal is that each kid will be able to create their own digital video projects when they're done with the camp," Burlingham said.

Youths will be divided into small groups to create a short film of their choice within a specified time frame. They will produce and edit projects using equipment and materials provided by the CAPS-TV media resource center at 65 Day Road in Ventura.

"We are not aware of any other (camps) offered through the city or other organizations in the greater Ventura area, making our camp unique," said Burlingham, adding that the camp is an extension of the CAPS mission to provide members with the resources to produce media that can be aired on CAPS-TV Channel 6 in Ventura.

"We think kids will have a great time, plus learn how to make their own short movies, music videos, documentaries or whatever else their creative minds can dream up," Burlingham said.

The camp is unique because participants become part of a crew and together use their new skills to create their own public service announcement, Unchango added.

Camp CAPS will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Aug. 3. The cost is $220 per camper, and reservations and payments are to be made through the Ventura Family YMCA.

Parents have the option of dropping off their child at the YMCA Camp Site at 7 a.m., with a 6 p.m. pickup. Campers will be taken to CAPS Studio at 9 a.m. from the Ventura Family YMCA Elmhurst Childcare Site and return at 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.ciymca.org or www.capstv.org; or call 642-2131.