Rural and Community Art Project Grant

*Every child at the camp has an in-depth and enriching art experience with professional artists. *Teaching about The Tree of Life seeks to deepen the understanding, respect, and connection to the natural world for the campers. *Children have a direct experience in nature, hiking the land. Outcomes: All campers hear Lakota elder, Francis Yellow share about The Tree of Life. The theater group creates performance pieces of Devised Theater and perform them publicly on the final afternoon The children in the visual arts group learn drawing and painting techniques. Their painted "relative" will be attached to Public Art Project (mural installed at a later date) There will be an art exhibit of the nature art, and the drawings of The Tree of Life relatives on display at our final event. Walking the land with John Latimer increases knowledge and curiosity of the children. Children will keep journals with drawings and observations to document their discoveries. The Devised theater pieces will be performed the afternoon of the last day at camp for families and friends of the campers and members of the public. The chosen "relatives" that the children paint will be preserved and attached to the Tree of Life Public Art Project which will be installed at a later date at MCP and seen by all visitors to the park. Children will have their drawings of their "relative" exhibited at the final event We will have children at the beginning of camp answer 2 questions (1. What does the word "kinship" mean to you? 2. Name three of your relatives.) at the beginning of camp and then again after they have been immersed in the theme. We will see deeper understanding for children of their part in the whole of life. We will send home evaluation questions with the campers the day before camp ends and ask parents and campers to fill these out togerther. We will document their replies.