In response to local parents and youth seeking additional fun summer learning opportunities, we offered two new summer camps for local youth this year. These camps helped us offer more choices to local teens and interlinked with our other experiential program offerings to build upon our expertise in interdisciplinary outdoor and arts programming.
Teen Art Camp
The vision for this camp was to be an affirming place for self-expression guided in part by participating teens. Alongside camp leads Anne Shields Hopkins and Maria McMorrow, teens were able to select from a menu of different art experiences each day so they could work on their own work during open studio time, learn new techniques, and learn new ways of self-expression. Our new classroom and studio space was the perfect setting for this camp. Teens also enjoyed a field trip to explore Eastport’s arts scene. They visited the Tides Institute, Eastport Arts Center, and listened to Music on the Rocks.
“I learned some new and interesting art skills. I liked painting and getting to have free time, and going to Eastport! I'd like to see Art Camp offered again.” -Teen Art Camp Participant
“I liked seeing new people and being able to try new things. I got new skills and interests out of the camp.” -Teen Art Camp Participant
Outdoor Skills Camp
This camp, designed for younger teens, had full enrollment. They met on campus each day but headed into the field to learn and apply new outdoor skills. They learned paddling basics at Rocky Lake, practiced those skills on the Orange River, hiked a mountain, built shelters and fires, and paddled to a campsite for an overnight campout.
Parents shared that they were especially excited to have this opportunity for this younger teen age group since there aren’t currently many summer opportunities for them.
A New School Year is Here
The 12th year of our public experiential high school program has begun with full enrollment! Students recently returned from a canoe trip learning about canoe culture, indigenous technology, Thoreau’s writing and records of seasonal changes, climate adaptation, and art.
This year we are expanding our after school clubs which are open to our students and the greater community. Chess Club will start this fall and Art Club this winter. Contact us at cobscook.me/contact if you’d like to organize an after school club.