Alexandra Burnside, Maddie Capps, April Davis-Brunner, Cheryl Church, Teri Y. Diggs, and Jane McCaulley—artCentral’s six 2022 artCamp teachers—will quickly tell you, “artCamp interns are terrific!”
Interns are essential to facilitating artCamp’s positive, uplifting opportunities for artCamper growth and discovery. Though many interns have summer day jobs, they work with their employers to manage their schedules so they can come help out and give support throughout each camp day.
This year’s ten interns all love art and kids and artCentral! They are Aurelia Burr, Lola Chapman, Brady Cloud, Piper Feurt, Willow Graber, Sydney Hartless, Sierra Hicks, Olivia Manning, Olivia Pierce and Oliver Schrader. When asked what inspires them to volunteer at artCamp they replied… a wish to recreate the sweet memories of being an artCamper—remembering the inspiration of interns they admired when they were artCampers; a desire to participate in every art opportunity available; to have a rewarding way to do community service hours for the National Honor Society; to make a difference helping boys and girls have fun, positive experiences in a nurturing environment where they can discover their individual talents; working with dedicated artCamp teachers; wanting to help and encourage creative young minds while making imaginative projects; the feeling of being a part of something special—a magical, whimsical experience where through beyond every doorway kids are learning and laughing and going home a little more inspired every day.”
Like artCamp interns, the boys and girls that come to artCamp are amazing. They choose to come. They beg to come. They pester their parents to let them come. Guided and supported by their teachers and interns artCampers have fun and make new friends while making lots of truly amazing art to display at the closing exhibition then take home as their own uniquely created treasures.
These artCampers grow before our very eyes as they extend kindness and support to each other. The older ones help the younger ones. Both older and younger artCampers look to interns as role models who guide their budding curiosities.
Recently teacher and interns gathered together for their orientation meeting in the upstairs class room of the Pottery House. While enjoying brownies and sipping cold sodas and waters, we discussed the guidelines for a typical intern day at artCamp.
- Sack Lunch Bring one. Juice boxes are available for 50 cents
- Dress Code Cool, appropriately modest, art intern attire
- Cell Phones Silenced and not used in front of campers (Campers do not keep or carry theirs)
- 9:00 a.m. Coffee’s ready! Arrival and classroom preparation
- 9:45 a.m. Porch time with campers
- 10:00 a.m. Morning class session begins
- Noon Lunch with campers and lawn play with teacher and intern supervision
- 1:00 p.m. Afternoon class session begins
- 2:45 p.m. Snacks for campers in the kitchen
- 3:00 p.m. Campers depart. Teachers and interns tidy and prepare classrooms for the next morning
- 4:00 p.m. Finish up and head home.
The 20th artCentral artCamp for youth, ages 8 to 14, will happen Mondays through Fridays, July 11-22! For two weeks, with the help of our artCamp interns, artCentral’s beautiful, historic Hyde House galleries and Pottery House will be transmogrified into teaching classrooms.
Want to register your aspiring young artist for artCamp? Curriculum and registration forms may be picked up in Carthage at artCentral, the Carthage Deli, the Carthage Public Library, Cherry’s Art Emporium, Guaranty Bank, Mother Road Coffee and the Old Missouri Bank and in Joplin at Spiva Center for the Arts. Forms are also available online at www.artcentralcarthage.org where you will find all the fun artCamp facts.
