Session 5 is Underway!

Yesterday marked the first day of the final session this year at Summer Spree! It's been a great summer here at Spree, but it's not over yet! This week, we've got amazing guests from Hedgerow Theatre teaching a special in the mornings, and on Friday there will be a performance incorporating all 8 Groups at 11:15am. The kids are learning songs and making costumes to get prepared for the show, so we hope to see all parents, babysitters, grandparents, etc. in the SideYard/Children's Garden on Friday!

That's not all we have going on this week! We've also got our regular morning specials (Ceramics  and Tie Dye) as well as afternoon specials (Ceramics, Tie Dye, and Hula!). Despite the rain, this afternoon was a Hula Afternoon, so I checked in on all three groups in the Ballroom, as well as the Orange and Purple Groups in their classrooms!

Kayla (of the Orange Group) decorating her own personal mini-chalkboard.
That black paint she's using is Chalkboard Paint.

Members of the Purple Group decorating and assembling sketchbooks!

The Red Group warming up for their Hula session by driving their hoops like cars!

Jen helping Max get the hang of hooping.

Once they tired of hip-hooping, the Groups played a mirror game with their hoops, during which one partner would do hoop-tricks and the other would have to mimic them as best they could. 

Sam (of the Orange Group) testing out some really cool arm-hooping tricks.  

"I call this 'The Ultimate Human Hoop Pretzel'"

The Purple Group relay racing through the hoop maze while doing whatever hoop trick they could maintain!

Session 4 Fun Goes On!

The past two days have been full of tie dye! Check out all these dyed little hands and a couple afternoon girls in action.

The result of the Purple Group's time at the tie dye station.

Mira narrating herself while carefully choosing colors for her tshirt.

Sophia doing her thing without getting dye all over her hands.

This morning, I walked around and saw some really great artwork in the Classrooms of the Turquoise Group, who did collage work as well as printing. The Orange group was doing some active art outside with repurposed Keurig cups, and the Red Group was working with watercolors and salt to make an icy affect on their artwork.

Aaron and Griffin dripping watercolors onto paper from repurposed k-cups. 

What a cool idea, Sara!

Adrianna rubbing salt into her watercolor painting, which will crystalize as it dries.

The Orange Group has also been working on these plaster faces decorated with found objects and medallions from the ceramics studio!

Girls of the Green Group showing off their texture-tiles before using them to make unique and original prints.

This afternoon was another day of Hula with Jenn from HoopFrenz! In addition to the cool stuff the kids got to do last time Jenn visited Summer Spree, today the kids made hoop-huts in groups to practice working together. They also played new games like limbo and learned how to be ninjas with their hula hoops. What a blast!

The Orange Group doing Ninja Tricks with Jenn in front of the tower!

Jake climbed into the hoop-hut he made with his group to pose for this shot.

Sheldon and Whitney (of the Orange Group) finding their balance and working out their hoop-skills.

Check out Ninja-Raegan doing her thing with a bunch of hoops!

Session 4 is here!

Session 4 at Summer Spree started yesterday, and we're overflowing with kids during this one week session! Mornings have been hectic since this blogger also doubles as the tie dye instructor, but this afternoon, I had time to walk around and check out what the Red and Orange Groups were up to. The Orange Group was in ceramics making turtles and other pinch-pot-inspired creations while the Red Group hung out with Yogi Kim in the ballroom.

Sheldon (of the Orange Group) hard at work on her pinch pot.

Jake checking out Janai's handiwork.

The Red Group practicing their "Mountain Pose."

Roxanna's go-to move when she heard that her group was doing yoga was to sit in this position and say "Om."

Session 3 Morning Art Extravaganza

On Friday, Session 3 wrapped up and we said Goodbye to some amazing campers and awesome little artists. The Turquoise Group (Purple Group in the afternoon) made some really cool artwork, photographed below. All of our morning groups gathered outside with their artwork for a show and popsicles.

The Red Group en route to the side yard to meet their friends/siblings/parents/etc.

Noah, Hannah, and Sophia (of the Blue Group) showing off their ceramic creations.

A sampling of the mosaics the kids have been working on all session with the talented David Woods!

I think somebody was excited about the Red Group's art display!

The afternoon's Orange Group made these really cool 3D beach scenes out of glue, sand, and watercolors! 

Session 4 begins today, so check in all week for great photos of even more awesome kids and awesome art!

Afternoon Shenanigans in Session 3!

This afternoon, I checked in on the Red and Purple Groups, who were working on some pretty great projects. The Purple Group carved amazing designs into linoleum tiles in order to make their own prints. I caught the tail end of this project, while the kids were rolling ink onto their carvings and stamping their creations onto paper. The red group was in ceramics with Dave Woods, pressing leaves into clay which will burn off in the kiln to leave imprints.

Old Summer Spree friends, Dean and Hallie (of the Purple Group), rolling ink onto their carved linoleum tiles.

Jane and Nicole showing off a couple of their prints.

Nathan and his awesome print (with a guest appearance by Ava the Photobomber).

Mira and Megan (of the Red Group) with their clay pressed with plants before cutting and firing.

The following are a few shots from earlier this week and late last week. The Orange Group made some pretty cool plaster bowls by wrapping wet strips of plaster around plastic bowl molds and letting them sit overnight. They then painted them to make decorative pieces (note: eating cereal or soup from these bowls or putting them in the dishwasher/microwave might not end well). The Red Group also made mini oceans in a bottle by pouring colored sand into little water bottles along with tiny seashells and treasures before pouring blue- or green-tinted water into them.

Sophia (of the Orange Group) working hard to decorate her bowl.

Minori and her intricately designed bowl.

Izyan examining the treasures inside his own personal mini-ocean.

The whole Red Motley Crew (minus two members) with their oceans.

Gail's Teen Sketching class is making a special appearance in today's post! This is a shot of them from last week doing some outdoor sketching in the back yard of the arts center. Teen classes run from 1-2:30 or 2:30-4 every day during Summer Spree.

An Afternoon of Hula Hoops!

This afternoon, Summer Spree had the pleasure of a visit from Hula Hoop Instructor, Jennifer, of HoopFrenz! Jenn brought a bunch of kid- and adult-sized hoops so kids, teachers, aides and Arts Center Staff alike all got to join in on the fun. All three afternoon age groups got to try their hips at hula hooping, and doing all sorts of other activities with the hoops. I couldn't resist spending the afternoon taking pictures of all our campers having such a blast learning this awesome, active skill!

The Red Group's teacher, Jen, surprised herself when she learned to hoop today!

Adam doing a hoop trick for his friends in the Red Group.

They're getting the hang of it!

Aaron making his way through the hoopscotch course!

Izyan ditched his hoop to crawl through.

Megan used hers like a jumprope all the way down the line!

Alyssa (of the Orange Group) workin' it while Jenn cheers her on.

Practice made perfect for Sophia this afternoon!

The Purple Group doing their thing and testing out the hoop-challenges Jenn suggested.

I promise that my next post will be more focused on little artists, but today's post just had to be dedicated to this hoop-filled afternoon! We're lucky to be having Jenn back again for two more afternoons this summer in Sessions 4 & 5!

For more info about HoopFrenz (which offers classes and birthday parties as well) or hooping as an exercise technique, check out their website: http://www.teachkidstohoop.com !