So today we went to Lincoln Park Zoo for our “Wild Things” camp field trip.
I gathered all of my happy campers onto the bus and we head off to the zoo.

When we got there, my kids were given a “scavenger hunt” assignment to gently
“encourage” them to be interactive and actually learn & see the Zoo instead of
just walking around all day. They were great – and worked so hard on the worksheet.
They even had several great conversations with the docents & zoo keepers to get answers
to some of their questions. Sure there were animals. And we saw a LOT of them!!!

For lunch, we all gathered at the central patio area. After the finished eating, they all worked
on watercolor paintings of their favorite animals. It’s always fun to see the kids making artwork
while they’re at the Zoo. Putting their new “animal enthusiasm” to good use!

However, the same every year, the kids really love the crazy fountain at the Children’s Zoo
with the water “popping out” of the sidewalk at sporadic moments. Who needs animals???
They were hot, tired and ready to play! The squeals of glee & excitement were contagious.
Okay, so I had some soaking wet kids on the bus headed back to Lillstreet… okay, so some
of the kids were still wet when they were picked up… okay, so they had a great time!!!

And I must admit… my campers this week are adorable!
So much fun to play with… err, I mean teach… and here are some of their smiling faces!!!

Knowing that I will be returning to the Zoo in just a few hours,
I stopped by anyway for a quick preview. Then home for a quick shower
and off to camp… onto the bus & back to the zoo with my summer campers!

Back to camp, and a room full of fun, creativity, craziness & energy.
This week I have fourteen campers focusing all week on “all things animals.”
Today we got to know each other and then set out to make clay animal masks.
This being our only “clay” day, they all had to finish our terra cotta masks, paint
them with underglaze and set them to drying overnight. Tomorrow we’ll put on a
layer of clear glaze… and then head out for a fun-filled day at Lincoln Park Zoo!!!

So first I did a little “clay basics bootcamp” discussing some of the basic skills &
techniques they all need to do. And the huge importance of scoring & slipping.
Or “scratch & attach” as I sometimes call it with the kids. Plus slabs, coils, air bubbles,
and all of the other important things to the success of their project. And the fun began!

Once we had the basic creatures assembled… then we added
color underglazes to bring them to life!

So my campers are working fast & furious to finish their totem poles!
After kicking off camp Monday with large terra cotta planters, we moved on
top large mosaic totem poles. With some basic plans, acrylic paint, some tile
breaking, a lot of adhesive and more grout tomorrow… they’re almost done!
Each kid came up with their own theme, and have designed their own totem
creation… each on their own course, each on their own path… all coming
to the same conclusion – hopefully by the end of camp tomorrow?!!!

So here they are… stacking, connecting, gluing, making plans & sketches…
We have totem themed flowers, weather, pets, treasures, emotions and so much more!

And breaking up their own tiles… safety goggles required!!!
A lot of focus, a little determination, some muscles… and some occasional assistance.

Then the fun of gluing them all onto their totem poles…
Trying to keep the adhesive on the tiles & totems – and not their fingers!!!

And by the end of today… we were close to finishing!!!

At this point… we need some finishing grout work, a little touch-up paint, some
finishing touches and some drying time. Then they’re off to their new homes & gardens!
And it appears as though they’re still having a lot of fun!!!

Today was my first day of Summer Camp 2011 at Lillstreet Art Center.
My “campers’ were so quiet & so focused all day long as we were all working on
large terra cotta planters… Yes, I said they were “quiet”!!! I’m sure they’ll warm-up
as the week continues and they get to know each other better! This week is called
“Garden Camp” where everything we make this week is for their garden. Large
planters today, glazing them tomorrow – then moving on to mosaic totem poles!!!

Okay… it seems like Summer must be SO far away as we’re still waiting for the warmth
of Spring to get here?! Go figure. But in reality, Lillstreet Summer Camps are starting
again in just a few weeks. It’s not too late to start planning your summer and enroll your
kids in Summer Camp at Lillstreet. The following list is my schedule for the summer.
I typically only teacher the older group of kids – 8-12 years old. Some classes are geared
towards a slightly older group (aged 10-14) due to the amount of focus, creativity and
enthusiasm I’ll expect the kids to bring in. I like to push the kids to make real projects…
not just a pile of scraps, glitter & glue! So sign up soon…

June 13th – 17th – Garden Camp
It’s a full week of art projects designed to decorate your family’s garden.
Flower pots, birdhouses, lawn ornaments, totem poles and so much more!
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

June 27th – July 1st – Wild Things!
It’s all animals, all the time! The kids will get to explore their “Wild Side” in art!
With a clay project on Monday followed by the Zoo on Tuesday – more fun all week!
Morning camp from 9:00am-1:00pm with a Field Trip to Lincoln Park Zoo on Tuesday.

July 11th – July 15th – Clay & Multimedia Camps
It’s a week of fun and assorted art projects. With clay on Monday, the rest of the week is
developed to help teach the kids new mediums & encourage them to express themselves.
Morning Session from 9:00am-1:00pm… and Afternoon Session from 1:00pm-3:30pm.

July 18th – July 22nd – Chess Camp
This camp is a LOT of work, but also a LOT of fun!
With only five days, each kid will create an entire thematic Chess Set of their own in clay!
It’s a lot of planning, creating, handbuilding & painting to make their own perfect Chess Set.
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

July 25th – July 29th – Clay & Multimedia Camps
Another week of assorted art projects. Clay on Monday… other projects throughout the week.
It’s up to the kids to help decide on what we’re making – and always a chance of tie-dye!
Morning Session from 9:00am-1:00pm… and Afternoon Session from 1:00pm-3:30pm.

August 1st – August 5th – Forge, Fire & Feast
It’s a combination week of clay & metal. The kids will design their own dinnerware sets,
and then set about to create it during the week. Monday & Tuesday are for clay plates, bowls,
cups & more. Wednesday & Thursday are focused on metal for knives, forks & spoons.
Friday it all comes together and we celebrate with a big potluck lunch using their newly
created dinnerware sets! It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun & accomplishment… plus, we’ll
all get to play with Pam Robinson who run the Lillstreet Metals Program!
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

August 8th – August 12th – Chess Camp
For those who couldn’t make it for the first week of Chess Camp… here’s another opportunity.
Same exciting projects… new kids, new themes. Always an exciting week of kids & creativity.
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

August 15th – August 19th – Masters Camp
New this year, we’re expanding on of my favorite topics to a full-day camp. We’ll spend the
week focusing on famous artists. The kids will learn a little art history along the way, and
create their art “in the style of” assorted famous artists. This camp also includes a Field Trip
to the Chicago Art Institute… and hopefully a gallery show at the end of the week.
Full-day camp from 9:00am-3:30pm

Registration is already open for all Summer Camps. Sign up early before my camps fill up!
It’s going to be a fun summer for everyone.. lots of art, fun & laughter!
Stop in at Lillstreet Art Center – or register online at www.lillstreet.com

I know today was a cold & dreary Winter’s day...
And summer seems a long ways away. But it’s never too soon to start
planning the summer schedule for the kids! Registration is already open
for this summer’s art camps at Lillstreet Art Center! Summer camp begins
on June 6th and goes weekly up to Labor Day. It’s going to be a very busy
summer with camps & art fairs… and a little biking thrown in for fun!

So, here’s my teaching schedule so far. At this point, we only know the dates
of the “theme” camp weeks that we’re slated for. Additionally, I’m sure I will
also be teaching wheelthrowing, multimedia and other fun camps during the
weeks in between the schedule of my “theme camps” below!

June 13th – June 17th – Functional Sculpture For Your Garden
A full week of projects intended to make your garden extra special this summer!
Large ceramic planters, maybe a birdbath or totem pole, and other forms of whimsy!

June 27th – July 1st – Wild Things!
With a field trip to Lincoln Park Zoo on Tuesday, the week will be all about animals!
Lots of clay, drawing, painting… and possibly a lot of gooey plaster fun!!!

July 18th – July 22nd – Chess Camp
One of the coolest camps every summer! In just one week, the kids will create their
own “theme” chess set out of clay, and paint a chess board to match! It’s a lot of work
but also a lot of fun for everyone throughout the week!

August 1st – August 5th – Fire. Forge. Feast.
Can’t decide to play in the clay or work with metal?! In this camp, you get to do both!
We’ll start the week making clay plates, bowls, cups & handles… and then move into
metals making knives, forks, spoons! We wind it all up with a big potluck lunch
on Friday using the dinnerware we’ve made all week!

August 15th – August 19th – Chess Camp… again!
Just as much fun as the first week of Chess Camp!

August 22nd – August 26th – Gallery Artists: Learning From The Masters
Never too son to start the kids on a little Art History, presented in a fun camp!
The kids will learn all about some of the Masters who have passed the test of time.
Along with a field trip to the Chicago Art Institute, the kids will do art projects all week
“in the style” of famous artists! Ending with a gallery show of their work!

Sign-up early for a theme camp!!! Register on www.lillstreet.com
And be guaranteed a wonderful time this summer!

Well, my “tour of duty” for this year’s Summer Camp has officially come to an end.
It was once again a wonderful adventure and whole lot of fun. Don’t get me wrong…
it’s also a whole lot of work. Coming up with the projects, teaching the kids, keeping
everyone on track, disciplining as needed and still keeping it fun for everyone
can be exhausting. But also very rewarding! And I hope that in some small way,
I may have made a lasting impression on at least a few of the kids along the way!

But a whole “summer of fun” was not all my own doing… it takes a LOT of great kids too!
And maybe a “few” that weren’t so enjoyable, if you know what I mean… but who’s counting?
Most are so enjoyable, so friendly, so enthusiastic and always so creative. So much fun!
And I’m always so appreciative to those parents who have raised such incredible kids.
Here’s just a glimpse of some of the kids who helped make MY summer so enjoyable…
just a few, I’d guess that I worked with well over 200 kids this summer!

Once again, it was a wonderful summer with a lot of wonderful kids & art projects.
And I hope that they had as much fun making art & creating memories as I did.

Until next summer…

Only one more day of Summer Camp… not that we’re counting…
It’s been a very long summer after teaching eleven weeks of Summer Camp!

You know I love Summer Camp.
The kids, the projects, the stories, the laughter… but I’m ready for it to end.
Although I’m sure I’ll start to miss it early next week!

Well, it’s been a very fun summer… and we’re now in the final stretch!
One last week of Summer Camp! And for this week, my day’s classes are split…
Wheelthrowing in the morning – and Multimedia in the afternoon.

So my Wheelthrowing Camp has be trying to quickly “master” the art of throwing
pots on the wheel. I think they are all finding it a little tougher than they had expected.
They’re all still having fun – and getting dirty! Today we trimmed & decorated our first
batch of stoneware pots so they can go into an electric kiln and be back out & bisqued and
ready to glaze on Friday. Tomorrow we switch to a day of throwing pots with terra cotta.

In the afternoon, we made some whimsical masks on Monday, and since have switched
to a colorful textile project. Each kid is weaving their own colorful pillow! We’ve been cutting
strips, weaving them together and will eventually sew them together to make pillows!

Although we are “taking a break” tomorrow from weaving so that we can do our final day
of Tie-Dying in the afternoon! You know how I love my tie-dye!