As March Break has officially come to a close, we'd like to take a moment to revisit some of the highlights from our annual March Break Art Camp! Running from Monday, March 11th to Friday the 15th, we had an incredible time together at our Kitchener art studio at 44 Gaukel Street where we spent our days engaging in a wide range of creative art activities.
Morning at Art Camp
Each day began with a half-hour drop-off period, in order to give parents more flexibility and remove the stress of arrival time. Once all our campers were present, we started the morning with a free draw period, during which every child had access to a variety of art supplies. New students created their own unique name tags!
After this time, we would begin our first lesson. Morning sessions were usually focused on drawing, whether that was with markers, pencils, pencil crayons, or pastels. During this period, children had the chance to follow instructions provided by an art teacher and practice techniques such as composition, line weight, and shading.
After our lesson, we would have a short break and then take the kids on a walk through Victoria Park to a playground, weather dependent. We took great enjoyment in the warm weather and fresh air. Many kids took care in observing their surroundings and found themselves inspired by the naturalistic environment! The walk was then followed by lunch, and after lunch, our half-day campers could be picked up or dropped off.
Afternoon at Art Camp
At this time we would transfer from our space on the main floor to our classroom upstairs. This provided a change of scenery for our all-day campers. Once there, we would engage in a few fun art-related games before beginning our second lesson of the day. These lessons typically focused on painting, using acrylic, watercolour paints, or pastels.
As the day came to a close, we would conclude with a final activity and a snack before the parents arrived to pick the campers up. This final activity could vary from day to day. On one memorable occasion, the kids even had the chance to experiment with sculpting plasticine!
Overall, it was a wonderful experience for campers, instructors, and volunteers alike. We were incredibly inspired by the growth our young artists demonstrated as the week progressed. With each brushstroke, we saw them gain confidence in their abilities and hone their skills. They learned the importance of technique, composition, and expression, transforming their ideas into tangible works of art.
Whether they were sketching, painting, or experimenting with mixed media, every art piece was a testament to the creativity that thrives within young minds and hearts. To demonstrate this learning to parents, on Friday we had the children work together to create an exhibit of their own artwork, which the parents could come to view!
Thank you to all the attendees, instructors, and volunteers who made this happen. If your child attended the March Break Art camp and is looking to attend again, or if you missed out this year, we also offer art camps over the summer! Registration is already open and you can find more information about Summer Art Camps in Kitchener here.