Session 5 Morning Mayhem!

None of us here at the Arts Center can believe that tomorrow is the last Spree day of the summer! It's been an amazing year. We've had more than 400 outstanding children come through our doors, and it's been exciting to see them making new friends and finding a new home on our grounds.

Keep scrolling down to see how much fun the kids in this session have been having this week! Susan and her helpers from Hedgerow have been working with the kids to put together what will be an outstanding show tomorrow (at 11:15!). The kids have been making costumes and singing the songs back in their rooms to prepare for tomorrow. Check it out!

Eliya (of the Orange Group) glazing her frog in the ceramics studio.

BFFs Lily and Kathryn in the children's ceramics studio.

Maysa carefully painting glaze on her froggie.

Just one of the Orange Group's many awesome projects this week.

Isabelle and Grace working on their costumes for tomorrow's show!

Can we guess what Roxy's going to be?

Another costume clue from Maya and the Yellow Group.

Madison (of the Green Group) doing some hands-on artwork. 

Zayna (also Green Group) posing with her work!

Dexter saw my camera and said "Alli, take a picture of me being a bush!" How could I say no?

I wonder what Kayla will be in tomorrow's show...

The Magenta Group working on some scenery for the show!

Samma (of the Magenta Group) working on her windsock.

The Turquoise Group is putting on a puppet show (which will hopefully be up on the blog tomorrow!) I wonder who's back there making shadow puppets.

Hint: it wasn't Carter. He was too busy hamming it up. 

Session 4 Art Shows!

Session 4 came to a close on Friday, and everyone had a blast exploring our outdoor morning art shows! Our youngest groups stayed in their classrooms before their parents brought them outside to see the other kids' work. While today marks the first day of the last session of Summer Spree 2014, take a look at some photos from the last day of the second-to-last session this summer!

Lysi, of the Red Group, arranged her ceramic creations and hand made picture frame on newspaper in her classroom. 

The result of the Orange Group's drip/splatter-paint projects, featuring a decorative cupcake made of plaster, mod-podge, and tissue paper.

Roxy, of the Yellow Group, high-riving the camera before joining her group of masked artists!

The Green Group made these awesome life-sized self-portraits and hung them on the outside of the water tower. Good thinking!

Kids show their parents the mini-castles they've been working on with Bob & Drew in the Children's Garden.

The Purple Group's artwork displayed in the garden.

Three sisters in Tie Dye, on stage in the children's garden!

Below are more shots from the Afternoon's Red Group Art Show! 

This group sang the words to "Let it Go" from Frozen with added dance moves from Choreographer Jen for their parents at the art show.

Mira's display of artwork on her tie-dyed bandana.

Isaac's art display.

Mosaics, Ceramics, Music, and More in Session 3!

It's day 3 of the third session here at Spree, and all of our classes are in full swing! This morning, I stopped in to check out what Andrea's been teaching in the Kids' Ceramics Studio before heading over to the Red Group's classroom to see them making their own treasure maps!

The Yellow Group learned about positives and negatives in ceramics this morning by imprinting their clay projects with plants Andrea brought from her garden. Here, Margot and Sofia are paying close attention to the demo.

James carefully inspecting a pastel-crayon before using it to create his treasure map.

This afternoon, I checked in on the Red Group while they were in Emily's Music special. They were having a blast with rhythm sticks, chanting to each other "Show me how you like to dance" before each child got up and displayed his/her favorite dance move. At the same time, but in a much quieter setting, the Purple Group (grades 4-6) was learning about positives and negatives while shadowing with pencils and pastels. 

Noah twirling in the air, showing off his favorite dance move.

The Purple Group studying photographs to hone their sketching and shading abilities.

Session 3 is here at Spree!

Session 3 is underway here at Summer Spree 2014, and we're happy to see some familiar faces alongside a bunch of new friends! This morning at Spree, the Orange Group made beetle-prints, while the Yellow Group worked on some colorful collages, and the Purple Group made millipedes out of bottle caps and pipe cleaners. Back in the main building, the Turquoise Group learned about contrast in a new geometric project and the Blue Group assembled kites and flew them around their classroom!

Adam and Izyan (of the Orange Group) using found materials to make prints that look like beetles (to be decorated after the pain dries).

Maisie, Anna, and Maya (also Orange Group) posing in their masks. 

Minori and her friends in the Yellow Group working on their collages.

Martha helping her Purple Group Girls construct creative millipedes from painted bottle caps and pipe cleaners.

Nathan, Hallie, and Dean learning how to use contrasting colors and patterns to make designs pop off the page.

The Blue Group decorating and assembling their kites...

...before flying them around the room like Sophia!

Session 2 Comes to a Close!

This session has been another amazing one here at Summer Spree! Kids and staff alike have had a blast digging in the dirt, molding clay, painting, and doing all sorts of other creative projects while making new friends and running around the grounds of the Arts Center. At the end of Magic Mornings today, we had a big End-of-Session Celebration in the side yard and children's garden. The kids got to show off what they've been doing with Bob and Drew all session, and the Turquoise Group even planned a coronation for the giant King Nelsor the worm. But before that, kids showed off their completed projects, put finishing touches on others, and posed for the camera.

The Green Group Girls in their mining gear! Can you dig it?

Seasoned Summer Spree Camper, Adam in the kid's ceramics studio.

Charlotte (of the Red Group) taking a giggle break from painting her ceramic creation.

Selwa (of the Yellow Group) painting sparkly purple while her group members take a little sensory break in the lego area.

Bram shows off his lego guy and awesome Summer Spree Tie Dye!

Melissa (of the Turquoise Group) mentally preparing for her role in the Coronation of King Nelsor.

The Turquoise Group performing their opening musical number.

Jen (Red Group teacher) observing the beautiful entrance to King Nelsor's Lair.

King Nelsor himself.

Drew assisting in the passing of the crown.

The triplets enjoying their freeze pops after Nelsor's Coronation.
[Please disregard the shameless blog advertising in the background.]

In the afternoon, the Red, Orange and Purple Groups all hosted their own art shows in their classrooms to commemorate the end of the session. Here are just some snippets of the awesome work these kids have made during Session 2:

The Purple Group squeezing in one more project before the end of the session.

The Orange Group's collaborative yoyo-painting project done with homemade yoyo's made from balloons filled with sand and rubber bands.

Ben's collection of work he made with the Orange Group. How cool!

Can you spot all the different materials Sophia used to make this work of art?

Jen beautifully displays her Red Group's ceramic creations on top of their awesome Tie Dye Shirts from this session.