Most of my art supplies are laid out in the studio and sample journal pages are in various stages of artmaking and drying. For the last few weeks I’ve been preparing for Camp. Sponsored by the Moyer Foundation and Hospice of Anchorage’s Forget Me Not Grief Programs, Camp Erin Anchorage is a weekend camp offered at no charge for children and teens ages 6-16 who have experienced the death of someone close to them. Camp Erin combines traditional fun camp activities with grief support and education. I’m honored to have been asked to be a volunteer
artist instructor and be leading Artful and Visual Journaling. Fortunately, I have wonderful projects and 
samples from other classes and programs I’ve created and taught. I have been a supporter of Healing Art Therapy since my diagnosis and recovery from AML Leukemia in 2000-2001 which inspired me to be a founding member of the ArtVenture Program at Providence Hospital’s Cancer Center.Here are some of the sample pages I have made for the younger kids to use as prompts for their Journal’s. With such a wide range of ages at Camp Erin, I have prepared a "little bit of everything" type of art projects, from simple prompt drawing pages, to blank Mandala patterns and more involved Visual Journaling
step-by-step processes using collage, Mod Podge with paint layering. I spent yesterday morning at Kinko’s making colorful and hopefully inspired copies of my “how-to” projects. These pages not only are great take-home ideas for the kids to do at their leisure but also help the volunteer facilitators help me to better assist the campers. The camp is being held at a picturesque lake setting, retreat, complete with cabins, a main dining hall and incredible woods. The kids as well as adults will no-doubt be inspired by all of the fall colors so I’ve also made up a few
“My Leaf Collection” journal pages that hopefully will spark a few Nature and gathering hikes.
There are a lot of art project resources on the internet, especially in the area of journaling, that I’ve us
ed over the years for my various curriculums. A valuable resource has been my husband with his years of coaching &
teaching experience who has offered valuable insights into the mysterious and ever-changing world of the teenage psyche… –thank you sweetie xox! Here are also a couple of other links I used for preparing for this weekend’s camp, Kathy Barbro’s Art Projects for Kids and Teesha Moore’s Journaling Blog. I love working with kids and I’m looking forward to going to Camp on Saturday to share some fun ideas for Artful Journaling. What a great reason to have dusted off all of my cool art supplies and make some art. I'm always surprised at how easy is it to sometimes forget how much I like doing art!
12 comments:
Where were you last year when I was teaching camp and needed some ideas!?! These are great. I have found clay to be very therapeutic as well for kids. I once had a class talking about death and everyone started making little tombstones and then we made a whole cemetery. It was the first time one little girl had talked about her father's death and very moving for all of us. I used Kathy Barbro's blog a lot last year. It's great!
Hi Cindy, you give back so much in everything you do and are such an inspiration to me and I am sure to so many others too. One of my plans when we move is to have a studio where kids can come and play in clay. thanks for the links, can't wait to check them out. I so wish I could come up to visit you and Alaska too, perhaps one of these days, but our motorhome (or trailer) which we'll be living in for some time wouldn't make it in the winter. While packing, I've been discovering little art ventures I had when I was a child and I am reminded how important art is, should be encouraged, and should always BE in our daily lives from the earliest age. What a great inspiraitonal post, thanks.
Hi Tracey, thank you for reading. I loved the video clip of your daughter's music!! I remember reading about your clay classes you did with kids -wonderful.
Hi Linda! hope the packing is going smoothly. Thank you for the kind words, I really do enjoy giving back and sharing. I think anytime you have a potentially terminal illness, it helps put your life into perspective VERY QUICKLY! We've been blessed with the ability to adjust our perspectives to try and live each day to it's fullest potential -we feel very fortunate :o)
way cool cindy enjoy your time with the kids, it's such a great project..
weee! those are wonderful! the kids are going to remember this forever--
Have fun!
That is lovely Cindy, those children are going to have a very special time with you.
Thanks for putting the links to those sites, they are not only a helpful resource, but Teesha Moore's site is quite amazing, and I look forward to spending some time looking at them both.
Have a great time!
Hi Cindy- me I look forward to seeing some of those fall leaves!
It can be so much fun working with kids. I hope you enjoy.
Hi all- thanks for reading! I always enjoy seeing there are comments on any post -like getting letters from the postman :o) I have my tub o' supplies all packed up. Pulled out my favorite work apron with a little handmade "Cindy" copper name tag on it for luck. I too Love it when there are helpful links on Blog posts Peter. I'm with you Meredith, I think the leaves in the woods will be amazing -even the drive up to the Camp should be wonderful. Early Saturday morning I'll stop by City Market for a HUGE Americano with a (big) splash of half & half in my favorite travel mug as a treat to kick the morning off.
hi cindy, getting ready to do the leaf thing this weekend hopefully. i'm gonna try to do it like we did when i was a kid and iron the leaf in between two sheets of waxed paper. we'll see how it goes.
Thanks for reading Jim! don't forget to sprinkle crayon shavings between the sheets of wax paper for even more color!! One year we made book marks by laminating the leaves and tying a ribbon on the end through a hole punch. Are you making any slab clay work using leaf impressions?
You are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing these ideas.
Hi Patricia- thank you for the kind words. I've got the supplies and samples packed. I've decided to also take a dolly (cart) along to haul my Rubbermaid tub + couple of boxes of stuff -I remembered that there is a bit of a walk from the parking lot to where the main dining hall and cabins are! No sense in stressing my back :o) It is stormy, dark and pouring rain this morning... good day for doing art inside.
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