‘Lab Rats’ Enjoy Pilot Summer Art Camp
WVAC Camp self proclaimed “lab rats” participating in summer camp sponsored by the Water Valley Arts Council include (from left) Allie Noe, Natalie Phillips, Kayla Cofield, Booker Harvey, Maggie Hill, Tyler Richardson, Liam Ennis, Ava Noe, Leah Clevenger, Chloe Clevenger, Annaliese Coughlin, Cole Rogers and Caspian Coughlin. (Not pictured is Amos Harvey).
The Water Valley Arts Council (WVAC), under the direction of Dr. Linda and Jamie Scott, completed its Pilot Innovation & Creativity Summer Camp for elementary age children last week. Campers, as a focus group or self-proclaimed lab rats, critiqued the camp’s activities, contributed ideas for future camps, and just had fun. The pilot, by design, was a very small group of elementary age children. The purpose of the pilot was to collect data to assist the WVAC in providing future academically excellent programs for larger groups of children.
There were many and varied opportunities for fun! Water Valley artist and accomplished art teacher, Jacki Clevenger, led the art activities including directed drawing, weaving, batik, and more. Lauren Swindall, area ceramic artist, co-taught the art activities. Children’s artwork can be seen in the Main Street window and around town.
One day of camp was devoted to the culinary arts with Water Valley’s own Chef Dixie Grimes. Budding chefs prepared four recipes including Peach Melba and a fresh watermelon “cake” dessert. Alexe van Beuren of BTC Old Fashioned Grocery took the culinary arts a step further by sharing her skills in Garden-to-Table Sustain-ability.
All campers had an opportunity to contribute to their community by assisting with the painting of the Davidson Elementary School Garden Fence. Campers, under the direction of Alexe van Buren, Jackie Clevenger, Jackie Egdorf, and Linda Scott stenciled the DES Garden Fence. If you have not seen the new fence, please drive by and take a look! It’s a glorious turquoise with stenciled lady bugs, dragon flies, bumblebees, flowers, snails, and lovely bench to sit upon and more.
Many Water Vallians contributed to the DES garden fence after local contractor B.J. Chinault volunteer to build the fence last year. Jackie Egdorf provided the fanciful nature stencils, Ramona Bernard provided the beautiful turquoise paint, and Maroque Phillips’ Painting & Construction Company volunteered the manpower to paint the very large DES garden fence.
When approached by the WVAC Mr. Phillips shared that be had been looking for an opportunity to give back to his community and that the garden fence was a great fit for his family and company as he is a Water Valley Graduate and his children attend Water Valley Schools.
He also felt it was a tribute to his mother, Bennia Phillips, who retired after 34 years of service as a teacher in the Water Valley School District and continues to occasionally serve as a substitute teacher.
The WVAC thanks all campers for their intellectual contributions and thoughtful work and all volunteers for their expertise, time and assistance. Everyone working together created a fabulous summer camp experience for all!
