Art Camp with a Native American Theme

This summer I hosted two art camps.  The first camp was held in June and I decided on a Native American theme.  This first project is also the portfolio pouch.  That way everything goes home in a neat little packet. I also love this, because as a Mom that keeps everything, I can write the date on it and it makes it easier on me when I am putting work into a keepsake box.  

So, on one side of the portfolio they did their name and on the other they did a Native American inspired design.  Of course, they could adapt these if they wanted.

I always start off with the portfolio the first day, they usually don't need a lot of instruction which is great, because I'm busy greeting the incoming campers and talking to parents.  

We usually end up working on these over several days in 30-40 minute increments.  And it is great to get these out after we have finished something messy and it takes everyone a while to get cleaned up.  

For the shrink art project, I chose to do a bull skull.  I almost always do a shrink art project.  Usually an hour of work and then I take them home to shrink.  They love seeing the way they turn out.  

Here are a few of the shrink art close up.  

        

Native American Art Camp Pt. 2

So, wrapping up my summer camp lessons, I had seen several blogs posting a lesson on Dream Catchers, including Smart Class, and knew I needed to include it as one of the lessons for camp. They turned out so great and I had lots of compliments from parents on this one.

Then we also did a pinch pot as our potter piece. One the clay dried for a day, we glazed the pieces with one color.  Students added Native American designs into the piece by scratching into the glaze with a sharpened wooden dowel. 

For a fun, quick activity, the students had fun painting designs on a feather.

We also did a metal embossed piece with the thunderbird theme. I usually save metal activities for 3rd and up in school. But using metal at camp works well, especially if I buddy them up with an older student that can help guide the younger student.

And, here I got to see one of the parents had the canvas framed. I love that she added in the painted feather, it looks great together!