This week marks the end of another school year in Sedona. Many of us have children who will find their way out of school doors and once again released into the free world. What havoc will they wreak in the upcoming months? What fun will be had? There are programs across the nation encouraging the arts when school is out and Sedona is no stranger to the arts! Here are a few things happening and some ideas on how to keep those creative souls creating.
Summer art camps!
Sedona Arts Center in collaboration with Art For Kids is holding two week art camps for kids from July 18-29, 2011. Kids can see how much fun it can be to sculpt, paint, draw art projects using clay, oil pastels, colored pencils, acrylics and more!
Camp Bear Wallow is featuring “The Art Kamp For Kids!” where children ages 6-11 can create new art projects such as lego sculptures, mural paintings, balloon sculptures, mechanical puzzles, bubble art, clay sculptures, art journaling and more. The camp is at the Creative Life Center through June and July, 2011.
For music, head on over to Sedona Public Library for the Sedona Kiwanis International sponsored music series where teens can learn and record their own music.
And don’t forget Film Boot Camp! Write, film and learn to tell a good story this summer at the Sedona Arts Center Film Boot Camp in conjunction with Yavapai Center for Arts and Technology. Kids can tell their story as an Experimental Film, Film Noir, Music Video, Silent film or even a Western! Twelve sessions from July 11-22, 2011.
Camps are not the only way to get creative this summer, though. You can most certainly share creative time without sending them off somewhere, too. Check out programs at the Sedona Public Library.
The library is a great source for books and ideas on many creative topics for those whose budget is limited. Create a summer camp at home, with friends and neighbors, getting together not just for play-dates for the children, but with some creative purpose. Do searches on the internet for projects and ideas. Two sites worth looking at: “Creativity Portal’s Summer Crafts” (check out the site for other ideas, including poetry and writing projects and contests) – there’s even tabs for adult crafts and projects; and this “All Free Crafts for Kids” site (“Hundreds of free kid’s crafts for children using inexpensive craft ideas, plus arts and crafts projects using recycled materials.”).
I guarantee you will enjoy your summer more when the children are busy creating instead of being bored or telling you…”There’s nothing to do.” In fact, join the children and do some creating with them. And if you don’t have children around, form a group of friends and have fun re-creating fun projects just as you did when you were young and free to explore.
Remember: grow; learn; conserve; preserve; create; question; educate; change; and free your mind.
About: Kelli Klymenko is an artist, a faculty member and the Marketing & Events Coordinator at Sedona Arts Center: a gathering place where artists can learn, teach, and exhibit their works at the center’s School of the Arts and Fine Art Gallery in uptown Sedona.
