Developing Your Child's Artistic Talents at Summer Camp

Photo Credits: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Frequent opportunities to engage in artistic activity can help to instill confidence and achievement in children’s endeavors throughout their lives. An overnight summer camp is the perfect way to allow children to develop these artistic talents, as well as to help them build confidence in social activities in a fun environment without the distractions of their everyday life.

Finding Your Inner Artist

Some children take to doing art projects naturally and seem to have a number of ideas on their own. Other children are new to the task of manipulating art materials and may need a little help in the early stages, until they grow accustomed to this new method of self-expression. Camp art counselors can help these children to feel more comfortable with art materials. They offer instruction, encouragement and support throughout the project to help children attain a successful outcome.

What Children Learn From Art Activities at Sleepaway Camp

Child development experts say that art projects help children acquire a number of important skills for life:

• Creativity – The ability to find new ways to use materials helps to increase their creative thinking.
• Focus – Taking a project from beginning to end is a critical skill that children learn when doing art.
• Problem solving – As with any activity, problems may arise during an art project that must be worked out to allow completion. Counselors can children find solutions to problems to complete their tasks.
• Collaboration – Children may work on a project with others and learn the give-and-take that is inherent to group work.
• Perseverance – Taking the project from beginning to a successful end is an important skill for children to learn
• Receiving feedback on work – When doing art projects, children learn to accept the feedback from others, as well as suggestions for improvement. This is a valuable skill for any aspect of life.

Art in the Camp Environment

Skills such as drawing, painting, sculpting and working with a variety of media can help to increase visual acuity, composition, matching skills and color coordination. In addition, working with art materials can translate into a lasting appreciation of the artistic process and the ability to use these skills in their schoolwork for special projects in a variety of subjects. The natural setting can create increased opportunities to think creatively in a number of ways.

Using the Natural Environment For Art Projects

Being at camp offers opportunities for exploration not available in the conventional classrooms. Camp counselors may have children collect materials while on hikes to incorporate into their art projects. These children are encouraged to interact with the natural setting in a way that cannot be achieved in a school setting. As a result, the children are encouraged to think, touch and investigate their art materials in more expressive ways.

Advantages of Sleepaway Camp

When children attend a sleepaway camp, they become more self-sufficient and participate in a number of activities they may not have tried before. This atmosphere of adventure can help to facilitate creative expression in new way. This environment of self-reliance and openness to new experiences can help to increase the ability to express oneself creatively.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.