PLAS hosts summer art camp to boost creativity

By Tyler Spivey

Some Pike County kids are taking time out for an additional extracurricular activity this summer – art camp.

For the second year, a specialized camp at Pike Liberal Arts School is giving students the opportunity to enhance their artistic abilities.

“There’s not enough time in the regular day to experiment with all the different mediums, and so, the summer gives them an opportunity for more time,” said Carol Goff, who has been the art teacher at Pike Liberal Arts School for almost a decade.

According to Goff, the summer is a much more relaxed time for learning than the regular school year. She said the children have had fun, so much fun that the school may extend the camp into July.

“We’ve learned how to paint and draw on a canvas,” said nine-year-old Sage Keesee. “You just get to have fun and do art.”

The different age groups at the camp are split into two sessions. Both sessions participate in the same activities, but at different times.

The camp’s activities include painting canvases, learning to use acrylic paint, arts and crafts, tie dyeing, and making bookmarks.

On Monday, the kids painted pictures of owls during class. That was the project Grace Rushing, 9, said she was most proud of.  Rushing said she also enjoyed going outside to play as part of the camp.

Teacher Amy Campbell said the goal of the camp was to get the kids involved during the summer and to stimulate their creativity. Campbell said seeing the children learn is why she became a teacher.

The art camp is being held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week on the campus of PLAS. The camp ends on Friday and there are 33 students enrolled this year.