Get ready to visit the colorful Isle of Skoo this summer with a plethora of puppet friends awaiting you — all without leaving Newtown.

Ben’s Lighthouse will present its annual Isle of Skoo day camp this July at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 85 Mt Pleasant Road.

The first session will take place from July 18 to 22. The second session will be from July 25 to 29. Both sessions run daily from 9 am to noon.

The Isle of Skoo gives children, ages 4 to 8, the opportunity to be paired with a high-school aged mentor for the week. Together, they will build social/emotional connections throughout the camp’s interactive lessons, music, and puppetry.

Ben’s Lighthouse Creative Director Francine Wheeler, and mother of the late Ben Wheeler whom the foundation honors, said, “This year we are going to have more kids than we used to. We are going to have 40 children each week: it will be 20 mentees (ages 4 to 8) and 20 teens, plus we will have some junior mentors in middle school. We’ll do that for two weeks in a row — 80 kids total. It’s something that I dreamed about. To have so many people be involved is so exciting.”

Mentors can even receive service hours by participating in the program.

“We’re going to have some new cast members, too,” Wheeler shared.

Beloved puppets such as Skoo the Lighthouse Keeper, Shelly the Clam, Sasha the Seahorse, Ralphy the Wave, and Freddy the Foghorn will be returning to engage with the campers, but there will be some new faces in the production.

“It will be directed by Twyla Hafermann and Ashley Raymond will be the host,” Wheeler said. “[Raymond] has been involved with the show and observed me for a couple years, so we are giving her an opportunity to host the shows this year and it will give me an opportunity to be an observer.”

There will also be new songs and instruments incorporated for the shows.

“It’s exciting because we now have a professional set, professional puppets, and professionals performing in the puppet show,” Wheeler said.

For administrative costs, mentees will have a registration fee of $100. There will be scholarships available for those in need.

Snacks and water will be provided, but campers are encouraged to bring their own water bottle.

The Isle of Skoo will continue to follow the latest state guidelines for COVID-19 precautions.

Registration opened March 1 and closes on May 15. Newtown residents get registration priority and it will be extended to other towns if there are spots still available.

To learn more about Ben’s Lighthouse, visit benslighthouse.org.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.