Summer Art Camp (RAC) 2016

Amara and Havana recently finished summer camp at the Richmond Art Center. That makes summer #4 for Big Sis and summer #2 for little Sis.  And once again, the RAC has been one of the highlights of summer.  For Havana, who has natural artist ability, we saw her gift grown significantly. Havana learned about color blending, improved her hand coordination with drawing and painting and made some beautiful art as a result.  Amara, she became much more confident in her own ability to create. We saw significant progress for her as well. Her ability to hone in to fine detail allowed her to focus some of her expansive mental energy. It was lovely to see the end results in both their art work and increased level of their skills.

We love the RAC but sadly, this may be our last year. There was some painful glitches in organization that almost got in the way of even attending our favorite summer camp. There was the unfriendly and confusing website/sign up, which was too time consuming, the changes in schedules (it was great camps were shorter, with 1-2 week camps with different morning and afternoon camps) but that meant it was out of reach financially and logistically to do the full 3 weeks like we had in the past. The RAC has always been extremely generous with their scholarships (which allows so many of us to even attend) and for that I am most grateful, but when they cancelled Havana's morning camp with just two days notice, I wondered who was making such decisions (what a challenge that was to working parents who plan months in advance for their kids). When I attempted to get Havana, unsuccessfully, into Amara's class, the director didn't even have the courtesy to call me back after we had spoken and he said he would. That was disappointing. I was left with the feeling from staff that they didn't care.  Most upsetting however was that one of the kids (and not just ours) favorite teachers was no longer working at the RAC (we were relieved that Lisa was still there). The girls ended up loving their new teacher but it was sad to that a beloved art teacher, who had been there a long time, had been let go. Like everything in life, however, I tried to use this as a learning experience. Havana had to sit with deep disappointment. Both girls had to accept change (new teachers) and I had to try once more to be patient and let go. No easy task.

Those things aside, working on their craft and having fun in the process, while also making new friends, stood out and made for another wonderful summer art camp.  Whether we continue next summer or not, we have several years of great memories and permanent lessons and skills that will continue.