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!
