Yes

Discover captivating worlds within the Mill River — Whitneyville’s gem. Immerse yourself in the Mill River's aquatic ecosystem and the area around it in East Rock Park. Examine the underwater realm by making a “Pondscope” that will help you spy on the hidden wildlife below us. Discover bugs that harvest and create their habitats near the water and in East Rock Park. Create a water strider that floats and learn how to make a watershed. Study the fish of the Mill River by putting together a Fandex and making fish with sculpey, papier mache, quilled paper, and origami.

Games are the perfect pairing of play and learning. To be interesting, a game must require learning — sometimes mastering rules and strategy, sometimes developing dexterity, often both. To be successful, a game must be fun and rewarding. UNiCEF’s Games of the World ©1975 has been an invaluable guide.

Long, long ago games found their rules scratched in dirt. Stones, or seeds or wood bits became the players. In every region of the world, some games became so popular that fans created boards to standardize rules and to make play portable. Much later, manufacturers took over.

When you walk in the woods, you know that birds and animals nest and burrow there. It is also easy to imagine other creatures who live there tending to the flowers and community. In fact, this instinct to imagine that elves, gnomes, and fairies build homes hidden among the trees is an ancient one.

Please Note: This is a four day class: Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
Mon, July 4th we are closed.

Everyone needs a best friend, but how do you get one? And how do you keep one? How do you share? First rule: be active. Friendships are relationships that you make. Second rule: observe. Observing is sharing. This camp examines the art and literature of friendships. From stories of friendships new and old, we’ll assemble a practical guide.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022 is International Mud Day. This camp celebrates a material that is often overlooked. Heighten the senses, stimulate creativity with its bountiful possibilities. Invent, play, pretend, and experiment outdoors with mud.

Please Note: This is a four day class: Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri.
Mon, June 20th we are closed.

Draw in the air while inspired by the inventor of the mobile, Alexander Calder. Create Calder-esque mobiles, stabiles, and sculptures that move with the wind. Experiment with intertwining light, color, action, and shapes. Manipulate found materials, scraps, and other parts to engineer your kinetic pieces. Some of these creations will be exhibited at the museum’s summer public art show. Craft your own Calder Circus and demonstrate your invention of connectivity.

The wisest and noblest teacher is nature itself. - Leonardo daVinci

We begin our Summer exploring Invention and Nature guided a master of that art. Leonardo reveled in nature's gift for instructing the senses Construct artful
projects and experiments drawn from his Notebooks.

Light

collect sunlight with a lens
divide sunlight with a water prism
capture sunlight in a box (camera obscura)
make art with shadows

Earth