43
Fun activities fill time at children’s art camp
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Combining faith, art and music adds up to a positive atmosphere filled with fun activities for the 22 children participating in the Downtown Mission’s Children’s Art Camp.
The activity is sponsored by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Black and Indian Missions and is being hosted by the Missions Office of the Diocese of Youngstown in partnership with Catholic Extension Society. The camp received a grant.
The camp began Tuesday and ends Thursday with an art show; all activities are in St. Columba Cathedral hall, 159 W. Rayen Ave.
Michelle Gearhart coordinates the camp, which began four years ago. Gearhart, a member of St. Columba, said she participated in the Katrina rebuild project. In the diocese, the Rev. Edward Brienz, director of the office of missions and evangelization, has coordinated many trips by Valley groups to the hurricane-ravaged area. On a trip to New Orleans six years ago, he asked Gearhart to assist a nun at an art camp.
“He told me to take notes because I would be doing it in Youngstown,” Gearhart recalled. That’s how the art camp evolved here.
Activities are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include lunch and snack. The free program is open to children of all denominations. Gearhart said there are readings from the Bible and references to God but are general in nature.
On Tuesday, children age 5 to 10 painted flower pots and T-shirts with footprints on them, and were busy painting pieces to assemble into paper ladybugs in red and black. They’ll wear the T-shirts at the art show the last day. The shirts reflect a theme of “We Walk with Jesus.”
Braving the hot sun and high temperature, the children also wrote messages such as “Jesus loves you” during the “Chalk on the Walk” activity.
Gearhart said the children also will tie felt strips on blankets that will be donated to Catholic Charities. A parish member donated the material.
Today, Peg Flynn of Mahoning County Green Team will talk to campers about recycling. Children will do two projects with recycled materials.
They also will have a picnic then walk over to Butler Institute of American Art for a field trip.
At 2 p.m. Thursday in the cathedral hall, children will present an art show and musical performance. Dr. Daniel Laginya, cathedral music director, and Barb Zorn, cathedral cantor, are working with the children to prepare the musical segment. Families and friends are invited to attend and hear children sing selections including “When the Saints Come Marching In” and “God Bless America.”
Of the camp, Gearhart said, “I hope they learn something about faith and enjoy the fellowship. The camp gives them something productive to do.” Children take home six art projects.
Marly Kosinski, a camp assistant, has helped for three years. “I like it because it teaches the children about God. They also learn to share with each other,” she said. She belongs to St. Columba.
Haaban Voorhies, also a camp assistant, has volunteered three years. She said she “loves the kids and likes seeing them happy. I like to see them get interested in art,” she said. She attends Believers Church in Warren.
Ami Slanina, 11, has attended the camp all four years because she likes participating so much.
“I like doing the art projects. I like to get messy,” she said.
Also assisting at camp are Theresa Kosinski, Chrissy Slanina, Michelle Moorhead, Haley Mitchell, Isobel Stober, Gina Laricca, Rachel Wiscott and Matt Zwilling.