Congo's Art Studio
Teaching, family, friends, community, and creating my own art is a balance that is never ending. The scales are tipped in any one direction and not always the direction you might want at that particular time. How do we balance our lives? How do we find time for ourselves and creating our own art? I don't know except that if you want to be happy you better pay attention to them all! In the last 15 or so years I have put my art life on hold to be present with my kids and family. I've focused on my teaching career and my summers at Camp. I spend my summers in Maine so my son can have the same awesome experience I had at Camp Timanous and my daughter at Camp Wohelo.
(Reflections of the 100th summer of Camp Timanous "The Hundy")
School starts in a week, the students will pour into the classrooms with excitement, maybe some good stories, curiosity and anxiety about the new school year ahead. What will this group of students be like? Will I be able to help anyone learn a skill in the art room? will I be able to help them be a better person? I often wonder at this time of year when I transition from Camp counselor to Art teacher and advisor how I can create community in my classroom. It is much easier at Camp Timanous but we spend a lot more time at school and in the classrooms. Cabins are crowded and living with others in close spaces forces us to learn how to respect each others things, differences and have tolerance for others not exactly like what we are used too. Maybe we should give students more responsibilities as they earn them kinda like the Woodsman and Voyagers Club. Camp is great because the teachers are not much older than the campers but teachers cannot stay young forever. Allowing students to be heard, fresh air as much as possible, and positive reinforcement are the keys. Being outside where kids can move walk and run. This is why I spend my whole summer at Camp, because we can make a difference in such a short time. Teaching to the Body, Mind, and Spirit.
The summer is a distant memory... Camp Timanous, Raymond Maine is a boys summer camp where I grew up and learned many valuable lessons in my life. In particular the role models that came before taught me how to be a positive part of my community and more important how to be a good Man!
