Project Grant

We seek to introduce children to new artistic experiences within the natural surroundings of the Avon Hills. In doing so we want to measure how this has changed their outlook after having done or seen or experienced something for the first time? Verbal survey of children at the beginning of the day or prior to the day. Verbal survey at the end of the day. FU w/ orgs, adult coordinators, parents and the visiting Artists/Instructors with a written survey. Change in knowledge, attitude, skill, behavior or condition of the students: We anticipate learning about the expectations of the children prior to experiencing the day, and then following up on this same question at the conclusion of the day after they have had these new experiences. In addition: What did they learn that they did not know before? Was there anything they did "For the First Time?" Was there anything they were scared of or unsure about trying? What did they learn today? What would you like to try again? Do again? Learn more about? What would you not want to do again? We want to try to take their "temperature" about these new experiences, before and after. See if any fires were lit? Were there sparks' What did they discover about themselves' Additional aspects of the Evaluation Plan: We will reach out to adult coordinators, reps from the partnering organizations, parents of the children and the visiting Artists/Instructors for their feedback on the day. Additionally we will hold an in person meeting with the partnering organizations to better understand their assessment of the day, as well as preparation and follow-up on the part of the Avon Hills Folk School. How will evaluation results be used to improve future programming: All feedback and responses will be considered. To the degree possible feedback will be applied to improving the experiences of future Hand Camps for Kids for all participants: children, adult coordinators, partnering organizations, parents, and Artists. Access- Provide experiences to youth they may otherwise be unable to access - early! Measure whether or not we were successful at attracting the diverse mix of children we seek as outlined in the narrative of the project by the actual attendance. We dearly hope that through working with these partnering organizations we will be much more successful at addressing areas of access for these children. If we were, why? If not, WHY? How can we do better? Learning- Parents may experience a change in knowledge, attitude, behavior or condition through their children's experiences. We will provide formal surveys to our partnering organizations, their employees, contracted artists and if possible - parents of the children. We also anticipate us doing an informal, verbal survey of the children before they leave for the day. It is our hope that by ensuring that our teaching Artists reflect the children in attendance that we further support the spark of creativity and realization of ability in the arts that will undoubtedly occur for some of these children - hopefully all - because we are ALL Creative, we just need encouragement to believe it. Further, that we help to hold up the belief in these young people that they are creative, artistic and have talent. Community- Artists from multiple backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities (they look like me) provide a fuller experience for the children as they discover, learn and create art within nature. They will learn about different art forms, cultures (sometimes their own, which may be a surprise) as well as learning about each other.