A summer's worth of effort culminated on Saturday, August 13, as students gathered under the band shell at Dickinson Memorial Park. For rising Newtown High School senior Calista Giroux it was also a special moment in her efforts to complete her Girl Scout Gold Award.

Calista began overseeing a Kidprov Improv summer class through Newtown Parks & Recreation at the end of June, and met with the children once a week, for one hour, to hone their acting skills.

"It was to boost self-esteem in elementary school children," said Calista, following the group's final performance August 13.

Calista said she had her first taste of performing as an eighth grade student at Newtown Middle School. She was in the March 2013 production of Wizard of Oz.

"I remember learning that everybody who is also doing theater really enjoys it, and they are also really helpful. Being able to work as a team is just a joy to be a part of," said Calista.

She wanted to share that feeling with elementary children, and had the idea in February of offering some sort of class for younger children; by the time summer began Calista had organized her Kidprov Improv class through Newtown Parks & Recreation. Cat Fedorchek was Calista's adult mentor for her project.

Calista said she had help from friends throughout the summer, including Kylie Giroux, Sarah Grant, Arianna Dellacourte, Capri Agresta, Sarah MacMullan, Megan Nahmias, Natalie Young, Katherine Mickewich, and Amy Chicaiza.

To start, Calista said she taught the students improv games.

"And they really enjoyed it," said Calista, "and I saw a few kids who hadn't talked at the beginning begin to talk and be comfortable in their own skin, which was really nice."

By the end of the summer program, Calista said all of the students were comfortable with one another and themselves.

"It was a wonderful experience, just seeing these kids blossom," Calista said.

For the final performance on August 13 Calista said she spoke with the students to learn about characters and movies that are familiar to them. She then wrote a script with her friends and fellow rising NHS seniors Capri Agresta and Megan Nahmias. Calista said she wanted the students to perform something that would be familiar and comfortable for them, and the students shared interested in Peter Pan and Ghost Busters.

Family and friends were on blankets beneath a tree nearby to watch the performance during the warm summer day and witnessed a story featuring Captain Hook, a ghost, and a treasure hunt.

Calista said she is thinking about plans for offering the program again next summer.