summer program for kids

This is a heads up to all of my Durango people. 

I am planning a Summer Program for Kids. I am so excited. If you have read here for a while, you know how I feel about children and summer and nature and art and mud and creeks and forts and well, the whole magic of being a kid.

The long and the short of it, is this. Childhood is sacred. Summer is sacred. The two of those combined should be top of the mountain. That's Matt's expression for 'as big as it gets'. 

I've already started turning the garage into an arts and craft lollapalooza.

independent art stations, a group table, pottery, sewing, tie-dye, woodcarving, felting, a monster making station (out of old sweaters) a boat building center...oh my, it will be fun.

As much as I love art, and teaching art, I love the woods more.

Forts, creeks, hikes, bouldering, building, collecting and exploring,

crawdads and waterfalls, trails and caves ..... gently guided adventures with room for the mind and body to roam free in a beautiful natural setting.

Also, gardening, slack lining, baking, story-telling, jumping, running, yelling and laughing. I have some great ideas for older kids and Max is my personal fun-barometer on that topic!

We have an authentic native American hogan, a fairy woodland, crazy boulders, a mountain, a hose, a club house, a national forest, and a limitless imagination...all the ingredients! 

 ***

We will be a small group. 

(space is limited!)

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in June and part of July

(come one day a week or all three)

9:00-3:30

(other times can be arranged)

$34 per day with a four day minimum

one time $25 supply fee

boys and girls....ages 7-13

This will be summer as it should be. Exciting and laid back, with lots of room for growth and skill building, and also space to retreat and create and relax. Mixed ages will create a helping and all-inclusive environment.  I will also be planning a few 'river rat' days on Thursdays and will keep you posted!

If you are interested, please email me and I can answer any questions and reserve your space before I go public.

Here is a sneak peak at a few of the plans in the works for Valley Camp 2012.

dip dying...tie dying
footprint robins
rainbow out of paper plates and streamers
home made chocolate chips... 1,000's of them
local grape ice cream

history in a graveyard

trail tag

the secrets of downtown
fairies in a jar

boat building

water contraptions
'local' terrariums...cactus version and moss version
family crests
family trees ....mobiles
survival bracelets
skirts
wooly booger monsters
diaper races
orienteering
community scavenger hunts
making messenger bags
roxaboxan
andy goldsworthy creations
rock necklaces
shrinky dinks
painted rocks

lanyards...collages

cardboard dollhouses
button rings

backyard ballistics

stink bombs
movie making for the older kids...evidence of aliens, zombie apocalypse, the haunted forest
wrapping sticks with yarn.., patterns...natural mobiles

mileage sign to favorite places
flower pressing
flip book making
new york city
paris
ye olde england
manners made fun

junction creek races
whales, sharks and narwhals...ocean box
femo clay narwhal with scew horns
button pushpins and bulletin boards

calligraphy, quill and ink...
 tree pencils 

dry ice experiments
candle making


field trips to canyon of the ancients...engineer...transfer, 

mushrooming....river rat days, rafting, ultimate, slacklining, bouldering, compass games, planting, overnight camping,.....

If you have not reserved your spot, then hop to it!

Tell a friend!

Don't miss such pure summer fun!

To sign up go here. 

 

In summer, the song sings itself.
-- William Carlos Williams