Seated in three quaint A-frame buildings behind our Rec Hall, Summit’s visual arts programs give campers the chance to get hands-on with a range of projects during their time at camp. Three separate classrooms hold the respective programs- a ceramics studio, including an electric kiln and pottery wheel; an arts & crafts program room, and a woodworking facility with everything from hand tools to band saws to learn on.
Younger campers will have separate opportunities to try out each of these programs as they are scheduled separately through the week. Favored projects have included making fired clay “monsters”, cutting your name out of wood with a hand saw, and- of course, the tried and true camp project- making tie-dyed t-shirts. Older campers will have more opportunity to choose to work on a favorite project over time, as they have the ability to go to “arts combo”, where all the area teachers are available to work and thus the camper can go to the facility of his or her choice.
Arts programs are often a great outlet for individuals who struggle to find ways to express themselves verbally, and help to engage our campers in hands-on sensory experiences with materials such as clay, wax, dye, plaster, and more. Campers have described arts as enjoyable, calming, and “something I would actually choose to do”. The focus on “process over product” at Summit emphasizes that campers should enjoy making whatever they like rather than what the finished outcome will appear as- taking time to simply work with the clay, for example, is seen as more important than having the project completed by the end of the class period. Teachers provide project guidance and assistance to the campers but do not redirect work or “measure” progress- and of course there are no grades at camp! The pressure is off for campers to enjoy the materials and get a hands on experience- and meanwhile get positive feedback for trying things that are new, keeping at a project that takes a longer effort, or working at something uniquely their own.
