Twine, Tie-Dye, and the Twenty-First Century
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Why craft programs are valuable for today's high-tech kids
It was a number of years ago, a time of innocence in the craft world, and a
time when I had the greatest intention of running high quality, safe day
camps in 10 locations throughout a city. I eagerly planned goofy games,
trained staff, and sought creative craft projects.
While planning the craft program, I came across a book describing a great
idea: asbestos papier mâché. The directions read, "Mix five pounds asbestos
with three cups water to create the paste for papier mâché." Five pounds?
Ha! I was the queen of papier mâché! I purchased asbestos in 25-pound
bags. Then, with reckless abandon, I had 250 campers help mix asbestos
and water so they could make these creations.
Times have changed; 25-pound bags of asbestos are no longer on my craft
supply list. What hasn't changed is the need for campers to express their
creativity and build skills through arts and crafts.
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Wanted: Creativity
In today's high-tech world, many children miss out on the creative process of
molding, shaping, painting, and gluing. Clicking a computer mouse or
clutching game controls are sterile activities, despite how videogame
manufacturers stress that children develop hand-eye coordination while
rapidly hitting buttons.
Unlike television or videogames, art projects encourage kids not only to
develop skills like hand-eye coordination and concentration, but also to
actively engage with an activity, with each other, and with God, the Author
of creativity. As campers string beads to make cross necklaces or create the
ever-popular craft-stick pencil holder, they often build friendships with other
children and staff. And nature crafts that require kids to hunt for an unusual
twig or several smooth rocks provide opportunities to discuss God's creation.
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Explore
In addition to creating an environment in which kids actively learn and
cooperate, craft time gives youth a chance to explore. They smell the musty
earthiness of pottery clay. They feel the lightness of feathers and the rough
texture of sandpaper. Then, they learn to make something that is distinct and
unique. After all, there is no reason a made-at-camp puppet can't have green
hair, three purple eyes, and polka-dotted skin.
As children discover the art of exploration, they develop creativity and
problem-solving skills. They figure out how to attach chenille stems to the
cardboard figure of a moose; they learn how to make pink paint if the only
colors they have are red and white. Campers benefit from the freedom to
experiment with pastels and pom-poms and beads and buttons—even though
these projects can get messy.
Kids' experiences form the basis for creative problem solving in other areas
of their life as they wonder, "How can I fix the strap on my bike helmet?"
or "What can I use to make this model of the solar system?"
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Beyond the Box
The engaging creativity of arts and crafts programs doesn't just appeal to
junior campers. While it may be easy to get preschoolers at a day camp
energized about dipping their fingers into chocolate pudding "paint," teens
will also be willing to express their artistic side if an age-appropriate activity
is presented by an enthusiastic staff member. For example, many camps now
encourage teens to bring 10 to 15 pictures to camp to create scrapbook
pages. Kits are available for campers to build their own skateboards or
decorate soccer balls.
No matter what the camper's age, there's a sense of satisfaction from
creating a project—one that need not reach perfection. Young campers
happily hold up their lopsided birdhouses and say to their counselors, "Look
what I made all by myself!" Naturally, self-confidence increases as a child's
work of art is displayed for counselors and family members.
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Strengthen Marketing
In addition to the numerous benefits crafts offer kids, they can also be a
marketing tool for your camp. How often have you planned an incredible
week of camp with games, inspirational speakers, skits, and maybe even a
visit by a llama? Yet when parents ask, "What did you do at camp?" their
child shrugs and grunts, "Nothin'."
Elementary school teachers will tell you that parents want tangible evidence
that their children did something. It's the same at camp. If a camper brings
home a creative craft project, parents feel their money is well spent because
their child has something to show for his or her time at camp. If the craft is
extra cute, you can be sure mom will tell a neighbor, "Look at this adorable
planter Allison made out of an old shoe. I'll treasure it always. That camp is
great!"
One of the best marketing/craft projects I ever did was a calendar. We set
up 12 stations, one for each month. Children went from station to station
getting their pictures taken in a seasonally appropriate costume. For
January, the campers dressed as Father Time; for March, each donned a
leprechaun outfit. Then, each child embellished the pages with drawings
and stickers. Naturally, the camp name appeared on each month as well as
reminders such as, "Don't forget to sign up for next summer's camp!"
While the calendar was more involved than a typical craft project, I can
guarantee you that no parent threw out a calendar with his or her child's
picture on it—and our camp name was prominently displayed for 12 months
of the year. As parents registered for camp, the number-one question was,
"Will the kids be making another one of those incredible calendars?"
Indeed, the days of asbestos papier mâché are long gone, but the need to be
creative is relevant and essential to even today's tech savvy young people.
In addition to having marketing benefits for your ministry, art projects hand
campers the opportunity to explore and to express themselves. Coming to
camp helps kids stop to smell the roses; craft time urges them to stop and
create the roses.
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By Silvana Clark
Silvana is a professional speaker and author of 10 books. Her latest book, Every Day a Holiday
(Revell, 2004), offers camp staff and others ideas for celebrating more than
300 nontraditional holidays. E-mail her at silvana@silvanaclark.com.
This article first appeared in the Christian Camp & Conference Journal,
September/October, Vol. 8, No. 5
Copyright © 2004, Christian Camping International/USA |
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