Arts camp provides creative outlet for youth
<p>Kids paint pictures during the Hot Springs summer arts camp sponsored by the Artists Society.</p>
HOT SPRINGS- The Hot Springs Artists Society is holding its annual two-week summer arts camp for young people to learn visual and performing arts. The camp is divided into two sections, one for visual arts such as painting and the other for performing arts such as theater.
About 30 students gathered on Friday to participate in the arts camp led by the founder of the Missoula Children’s Theater, Jim Caron. Caron has been teaching students in the arts for over 40 years.
The students were divided into two groups for the morning session at the Catholic Church in Hot Springs. A younger group of students gathered in one room for instruction in the art of painting while the older kids met for a lesson in the art of acting.
Director of the visual arts section of the camp Linny Gibson helped the younger kids grasp the principles behind painting and three-dimensional art. Students splashed colorful brushstrokes across paper using oil-based paints.
A performing arts instructor helped break the older students out of their shells with exercises designed to encourage dynamic and animated responses during the theater instruction. Students played a game that involved reacting with a dance or other energetic reply when their teacher pointed to them.
According to Caron, the camp provides a valuable service to the children of Hot Springs. Caron said the camp helps kids develop skills, fosters an appreciation of art and the classes can sometimes have peripheral benefits beyond just art instruction.
“I’ve spent my whole life believing art activities are important for kids. It brings a certain amount of fun to their lives,” said Caron. “But what it can also help develop are social skills, communication skills and foster self-esteem.”
Caron went on to say the camp was similar in many ways to sports. He said skills normally associated with organized athletics such as teamwork and relying on one another are learned in a different environment.
“Kids really learn things they couldn’t conceive that they are capable of,” said Caron. “We say now we are going to draw and someone says ‘I can’t draw.’ Well guess what? You can draw. Someone says ‘I can’t sing.’ Guess what? Now they’re singing.”
The camp is provided at no cost to families due to grants provided by the Montana Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and other foundations and local businesses. The stated purpose of the arts society is to “develop the cultural, educational and creative well-being of our community through the sponsorship of events, workshops and public performances.”