I was very fortunate to partner with Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium to put on a summer ZOO MAGIC CAMP (summer 2021). It was a lot of fun being able to teach magic in one of my family's favorite spots to visit.
From the Omaha Zoo:
Did you know? Animals are magicians, too! Learn the secrets behind their unique disappearing acts (camouflage), wild transformations (metamorphosis) and crazy impersonations (mimicry) at our all-new Zoo Magic Camp for 9- to 14-year-olds.
CAMPERS:
Participants will receive a black waterproof bag to hold props. Inside the bag will include fake money, paperclips, rubber bands, a deck of cards, and a special link where they can learn some bonus magic tricks.
CAN I LEARN:I get asked now and then, "How do you learn magic?" My answer is, "All it takes is for one to be interested." That's how I got started. I was simply... interested. Whatever sincerely interests you, you can learn.
ROAD BLOCKS: I remember attempting to read some pages out of a magic book, but the words and descriptions were too difficult to follow. There was no YouTube back in those days. In fact, the internet was just beginning, which is way different than today. Now you can learn a lot by just clicking around online. The problem is there's a lot of "stuff," so how do you sift through and decide what's worth your time? You could get a magic kit. However, if you don't know how to use the props, they become junk. (I guess that goes to show one's junk is another's treasure.)
OPTIONS: One option I suggest is joining a local magic club (just search for a SAM or IBM ring in your area.) For instance, the city I live in has The Omaha Magical Society: https://theomahamagicalsociety.org
TEACHER: Another route would be to find a mentor or someone to teach you. That's why we have the ZOO MAGIC CAMP. I have put together the tricks I think are worth learning. This is material that has served me well over the years and continues to do so to this day. It's magic you can do and enjoy learning.