The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: March first, learning to be a clown.

Most of the year, Koinonia Retreat Center is a quintessential lakeside church camp tucked into the Minnesota woods 50 miles west of Minneapolis. Its motel-like dormitory buildings surround a main lodge bustling with rosy-cheeked kids and festive wedding parties. But for two weeks each summer, Koinonia becomes ground zero for zaniness.

In the six years since it was founded, Mooseburger Camp has attracted people of varied backgrounds and motivation to study the serious art of clowning. Some come to learn how to be birthday-party clowns, others to deliver humor to hospitals and nursing homes. If you want to perfect your pratfall, take up pie-tossing or learn to ride a unicycle, Mooseburger's the place to be.

Campers can choose from a full slate of courses taught by professional masters of mirth and merriment. In addition to Clowning 101, there's Comedy Magic, Mime and Movement, Hospital Clowning, Advanced Balloon Twisting and a dozen other specialties. It starts with grease paint, make-up, self-analysis sessions, as campers peer into mirrors searching for their own special inner Doofus. There are three classic types. There's the white-faced, straight clown who never gets a pie in the face, the Bozo-like clown with exaggerated features and who's the brunt of slapstick abuse, and the character clown, from sad eyed-tramps to Kadiddlehopper comics.

Though training's always a laughing matter, this is serious study. Camp culminates in actual public performances, which brings the week's lessons to life. Mooseburger Camp, fun for all, and all for fun.

This issue of National Geographic Traveler, a supporter of our program, includes a Mooseburger visit.

FMI For information, Mooseburger Camp, Box 700 Maple Lake, MN 55358, 800-973-6277 or www.mooseburger.com

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