The kids wait anxiously and excitedly off to the side. In just a moment, they will take the stage — to sing, to dance, to become their character. Lines and dance moves tumble through their minds. And then, it is time. Time for the past three weeks of camp to come to fruition.

This isn’t your average camp. Although many find acting a form of escape, for these kids, the camp itself is an escape.

For one reason or another, these kids were brought to Kathi Marin-Bemm and her “Reach for the Sky July” camp.

Started in 1996 by Marin-Bemm, Reach for the Sky July, gives kids the opportunity to attend camp. All the students receive full scholarships.

“Back then, very little was done for prevention,” Marin-Bemm said. “Then it was too late by the time they were teenagers.”

Marin-Bemm’s studio was on Front Street until this year when she moved out to Preston, allowing her to take in some campers from the Snoqualmie Valley shelter as well. Campers from all over Issaquah take a bus each morning from the Community Center.

This year, the camp was attended by 32 kids of all ages.

“This is home for a lot of these kids,” Marin-Bemm said.

School counselors from area school districts recommend students to Marin-Bemm.

The camp is supported partly by the Friends of Youth and the Issaquah Arts Committee, although most of the funding comes from donations. Lunches are brought in by churches, and Costco sponsors a pizza day.

“It’s really a labor of love,” Marin-Bemm said.

During the three-week camp, the kids involved create their own show, including the costumes, characters and set.

This year, it was all about color.

The kids came up with an idea about three separate worlds. Red, blue and yellow. In each of these worlds, only that color exists. That is, until a few from each world venture out and find another, mixing their colors. At first others are afraid to mix and leave, but eventually they discover the merit of diversity.

“There’s some social implications,” Marin-Bemm said.

Issaquah resident Mitchell Tant, 16, was a counselor this year but he’s been attending the camp for seven years, along with Kevin Cormier, 12, both of whom now dance full time at Marin-Bemm’s studio.

“It’s a fun and fair environment,” Mitchell said. “Everyone gets a chance to participate.”

For Issaquah resident Chris McDonnell, 13, who has come for the last four years, the camp is a safe haven.

“You’re able to do whatever you want and don’t have no one say mean things or judge you,” Chris said.

The camp brings back the kids year after year.

“It’s not an option,” Kevin said. “It’s come back — or, come back.”

“You start coming and it’s just a part of you,” added Sally Tibbetts, 12, of Issaquah.

At the beginning of the camp, the kids are split into three groups. This year these groups became the red, yellow and blue groups. The groups rotate through the aspects of the camp together and become close friends. Each day, the kids spend some time in dance, some in acting and some in art.

Part of the reason for the camp’s success, Marin-Bemm said, is the consistency of her leaders. Laura Peterson leads dance, Cris Coffing leads drama and Brin Hamilton leads the art and costumes.

This year, the kids tie-dyed their own shirts, in their group color, then accented to create their own unique character.

“I am Angel Angelina,” 10-year-old North Bend resident Miracle Barswell said. “I am obsessed with my hair. I am sweet, but sour.”

Once the kids had created their own character and personality, Coffing wrote the play based on the kids’ ideas.

The camp culminates with a play for the parents and community members. Then it is back to the daily routine — that is until they are all back together next July.

“This is a labor of love that became a family,” Marin-Bemm said.