Written by Tyler Spivey
Intern with The Messenger

Students at Troy Elementary School are learning about sculpting, painting, writing, and music during the school’s first-ever summer art camp.

The camp is being held in an effort to help students grow artistically.

“I believe it’s important for school, in general, to tap into students’ mini-strengths, and to look at all the different ways that we help them find their unique gifts and talents,” said Joanna Taylor, facilitator of the art camp.

More than 150 students are enrolled in the camp this summer, the program is split into two groups of about 80 students, group one is in session this week and group two will be in session next week.

The camp contains a variety of activities to help students expand their minds, according to Taylor.

“They have worked with the beginnings of chord making in music,” Taylor said. “They have looked at surprises in fairy tales and are working to create their own original stories.”

Students said they thought art camp was fun, even though it is meant to be a learning experience.

“We paint,” said first-grader Ryann Thomas, who added that painting was her favorite thing about the camp. Thomas also has dreams of becoming a dancer when she grows up.

Another first-grader, Daniel Niu, said he was proud of the frog sculpture he made and that he also enjoyed working on a time capsule.

Taylor said she was thankful to the school system for offering this opportunity to students, and that she looks forward to working with the children in the future.

The event began on Monday and will end next week on June 15. The camp is in session from 1 to 4 p.m. each day.