Art keeps kids busy at summer camp
We’ve heard a lot of announcements from organisations putting on summer camps to help kids avoid boredom during their vacation from school. Today News 5 visited one such effort at the House of Culture and found that even on a rainy day, there are plenty of fun things to do.
Jose Sanchez
Because of bad weather, the youth camp at the House of Culture moved it’s activities from the spacious grounds to indoors. But not to worry, the venue gave the children the opportunity to have fun and also explore their artistic side.
Danalee Dawson
“Since school closed, I have been to summer school and things like that.”
Jose Sanchez
“And what kind of stuff have you been doing over the holidays.”
Danalee Dawson
“Well, I play, draw, I play school and so.”
Kristin Chun
“I have a rainbow, sun, tree and a heart, flowers, and a house.”
Jose Sanchez
“Who will you give that to, your mother or sister?”
Kristin Chun
“My sister, mom and the whole of my family.”
Kayla Arnold
“I go to St. John’s Vianney School and this made my summer less boring because you don’t have to sit down home and do nothing and just get away from the chores a little bit. But it’s so exciting because I can play, I can paint like we do right now. I can almost do anything because it’s a free place to learn and co-operate with other people.”
The activities are being supervised by members of the Young Artist Association, most of who are students themselves turned teacher for the summer.
Melissa Forman, Camp Instructor
“Today we are dealing with tie dye T-shirts. We already played sports for today, and I’m meeting with group three. Here we’re playing with different colours and I’m letting the kids know mixing the colours so that they could specify or being identified what colours go with what and what other colours will come out of it. So right now we just finished with the tying of the shirts and putting on the rubber bands and stuff like that and they are very co-operative right now. I just finished a T-shirt and they see how much enjoyment it is and they are ready for it.”
In addition to tie-dye, they are also learning to make collages by cutting and pasting pictures from old magazines.
Tanya Longsworth, Camp Instructor
“We’re doing art, and everybody has their own idea of what art is. We’re doing collages. We ask them to take from the magazines, whatever they like to do. Whatever they think represents themselves, if they swim, they find a swimmer and stick it on the paper or whatever they like. The girls like make up, they go for clothes, and the boys go for army and sports.”
Genae Lewis
“I like clothes, and I like perfume and I like jewelry. I like purses, make up and everything.”
Jose Sanchez
“Will you put this on your wall?”
Genae Lewis
“I don’t know.”
Alex Francis
“A lady, next lady, two ladies and a man singing.”
Whatever these youths do, they are having fun and passing the summer in a safe environment. Reporting for News 5, Jose Sanchez.
The Camp lasts until August ninth, and the House of Culture will be accepting new students until Friday.
