ART CAMP OUTREACH

Several years ago a friend of mine started a kids’ gallery in downtown Dayton. She did a camp in the summer and kids and artists had a great week creating things and working together. It gave  me the inspiration to do a summer art camp at church. It started really small with seven kids and three adults and grew to where the church is bursting at the seams with people young and young at heart. We intertwine good food with Bible story telling, crafts and activities. The stories set the tone for the camp’s theme. This year the stories were about Daniel and choosing to do what was right.

Though the camp starts at 10:00 the church grounds are buzzing with excitement long before, with home cooked pancakes being prepared in the kitchen and kids and parents preparing for the day.

Arts and crafts are of course the big thing. This year we made everything from tie dyed T shirts,  mosaic tiles, clay fish, bamboo paintings and  watercolors, to banners and bracelets.

We at St. Matthew’s always feel like the Holy Spirit makes the impossible happen during Art Camp week. Though it takes a lot of time and energy we keep on going. When the cabinets should be empty there is still food, with more to come; and when the going gets tough, we keep on laughing and praising God. No one feels like an outsider. Everyone, both young and old, is blessed. It is a great community experience.