It’s summer camp, but with an artistic twist. Beginning in July, Arts Benicia’s EcoArts Camp will open its doors and offer children from grades 3 to 6 a chance to have fun with art in a creative way. This year, EcoArts camp will provide children the opportunity to attend three sessions, some of which are taught by teachers who work for the Benicia Unified School District.
The first session will run from July 17 to 21. It’s called “Tinkering and More” and focuses on letting kids build things. Children will create their own unique three-dimensional arts, learn about basic tools and machines, construction techniques and building with recycled and upcycled materials found. Christina Meister will be the instructor for the class. She has taught tinkering before through the elementary schools’ Exploratory Wheel program and currently teaches at Robert Semple Elementary School.
The second session will run from July 24 to 28. It’s named “Art Mashup” and focuses more on the painting and drawing side of art. Children will learn the basics of art like color, shapes, lines and perspective. While doing this, they will also have the chance to use a variety of media to create works of art including cartoons, superheroes and visual stories. Pat Hall, a long-time arts teacher at Benicia Middle School, will teach this class.
Jeremy Throne will be in charge of EcoArt Camp this year. The youth art coordinator has been in his position for close to a year and said he took this job because he thought it be fun to work with kids. The father of three believes kids attending EcoArt Camp will have fun working with the materials the camp provides.
“The material class uses a lot of upcycled, found objects and materials, that they really don’t get to work with in a regular classroom setting,” Throne said. “It’s a good chance to get them some exposure to working with their hands and coming up with an idea and trying to express it.”
Throne said EcoArt Camp would like to see 10 to 20 kids per session class, and there is still room for parents to sign up their children.
“I hope that camp is well-attended,” Throne said. “I am excited to see, and I know that the teachers are excited to see everyone show up at the end of July when things start up.”
All camp sessions will be held at Mary Farmar Elementary School, located at 901 Military West. Camp times are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Tution is $175 for Arts Benicia members and $190 for non-members.
EcoArt is not the only art-themed camp being offered this summer. The Benicia Community Center, in partnership with Arts Benicia will be hosting Clay Camps. This camp teaches children ages 6 to 9 how to work with clay and also give them the chance to get their hands dirty while improving their motor and problem-solving skills. This program starts June 19 to 23 and again on June 26 to 30. All classes run from 9 a.m. to noon and will be held in the Arts & Craft Room at the Benicia Community Center, located at 370 East L St. Erika Hagen will teach the class. To register, go to https://apm.activecommunities.com/cityofbenicia/Activity_Search/2207 or stop by the Community Center.

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