Our Early Childhood Summer Camps

Week One - Stretching our imaginations: We will begin the week by gathering the children’s theories on imagination and try to deconstruct this abstract concept in a way that is meaningful to each child. To fuel discussions we will present open-ended picture books that get everyone using their imaginations. We are excited to use some of the many exciting books available on this topic. The transfer to exploring imagination through art will be a natural one.  July 28 - August 1 from 1:30 - 4:30 pm

Week Two - Contemporary Fairy tales: Many children know the traditional fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Perrault, but have missed out on the wealth of fabulous contemporary fairy tales (not to be confused with fractured tales, which are spoofs and take-offs of traditional fairy tales) that grace library shelves. Books like The Secret Keeper, Boots and the Glass Mountain, The Black Hen, The King’s Equal, Heckedy Peg, Rainbabies, The Dragon’s Feather and The Brave Little Tailor are absolute treasures that beg to be shared and discussed in a group. Craft projects stemming from the stories read each day will be created as memory pins, so that participants will have touchstones to remember the stories they have shared during this week. August 18th - 22nd from 1:30 - 4:30 pm

Week Two - Getting to know five authors and their work: This week your preschooler will be exposed to five popular children’s authors: Mem Fox, Helen Cooper, Keiko Kasza, Jeanne Willis and Melanie Watt. We will share several stories from each author in the hopes that your children will start to make links between the books they read with teachers, librarians, and family and come to recognize familiar authors. Art explorations will stem from the content of the books read and children will be exposed to a variety of art media.  August 18 - 22 from 9:00 - 12:00 pm

Your children will be exposed to literature that will stretch their minds and provoke deeper thinking about the world around them. Books are selected to challenge binary thinking and to encourage exploration of “possibilities.” High-end art projects will support themes explored in the literature studied.

The books presented in this session are chosen to provoke disequilibrium and questions that will help guide children in understanding issues affecting humans on a global scale. Students will explore tough and tender themes in a developmentally appropriate manner, while engaging in related high-end art explorations. This week we will concentrate on oral, textual and visual literacy around the world, paying particular attention to the process of encoding understanding and decoding meaning through symbolism. Children will have the opportunity to compare and contrast traditional understandings of literature with the hidden literatures found in totem poles, quilts, illustrations and the fine arts.