Camp staff member Will White talks to campers as they eat lunch during Teen Extreme Camp presented by Arts Alive on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at The Connexion. (Austin Anthony / photo@bgdailynews.com)

Knife fights, shootouts and robberies were all acted out Tuesday by students in Arts Alive!’s Teen Extreme Camp at The Connexion.

The 11-day camp is one of several the nonprofit offers for children to promote teamwork and leadership and build confidence through group Bible studies, team challenges, theatrical exercises and performance and outreach events. The camp this week was for 13- to 17-year-olds.

“We had been doing shows with all ages including adults, but we have a passion for children … so we started there and now it has grown to something from 3 years old to adult. We have programs for all ages,” Arts Alive! Executive Director Heather Bitterling said. “Really the core is that we’re utilizing the arts specifically. … The arts are so powerful. They’re powerful communication tools and so they’re able to speak to people in a way that nothing else can.”

Drama teacher Brandi Pearce said each day of the camp offers a different theme, with students putting together skits and participating in other activities surrounding that specific theme. She said the camp isn’t just about theater, but to help the students discover, increase and apply their talents for the greater glory of God.

“What we’re trying to do is build their confidence so that they can go on and they can have a voice for Christ and they can lead tomorrow’s generations,” Pearce said. “So, we do that through kind of a process of team-building games … because in their careers … they will need to be able to have a voice and lead in whatever career they’re doing.”

For 16 years, Arts Alive!, a Christian, nonprofit arts organization in Bowling Green, has provided workshops, camps, classes and productions. It offers a training ground for aspiring artists and a source of family-friendly entertainment for the community.

Joseph Pate, 17, of Bowxling Green, who has been involved in the camp for four years, said it has really pushed him outside his bubble.

“When I first started coming I was all shy and it kind of helped me get past that and now I’m that annoying extrovert guy,” Pate said. “When I come here it feels like family. When you got somebody backing you, you do stuff that you would never think you do any other time.”

Alvaton resident Sarah Bergamini, 15, is involved in the Arts Alive! youth touring drama ministry called Siloam. She got involved in the group at the beginning of the year to find a youth group that would help her grow closer to Christ, and she believes she’s found that with Siloam.

“It’s a good place to come and you can have fun,” Sarah said of camp. “It’s just a perfect mixture of silly and serious and you grow a lot spiritually, but it’s a good place to relax and just be a kid.”

During camp, the 20 students have 10 days to put together an entire production and will perform it for the public at the Russell Miller Theatre at Western Kentucky University. The show will be an original play written by Bitterling and her husband called “Action,” which is an overview of the Bible as a fast-paced comedy. The show times will be 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the last day of camp and is free to the public.

Bitterling said they try to keep their programs small because they tailor them to the students participating. Also, by putting a cap on enrollment it allows them to give individual attention.

“It’s another thing that sets us apart from other programs. We don’t say we’re doing the story of Robin Hood, we say what students do we have and what will challenge and train them the best,” Bitterling said.

— Arts Alive! is still offering camps for the summer, for more information, visit www.artsaliveky.com or call 270-535-3212.

— Follow faith/general assignments reporter Simone C. Payne on Twitter@SimonePayne or visit bgdailynews.com.