about summer arts and science program
Show at
the Meeting House Gallery
New Marlborough
Opening July 16 at 4:00
Showing July 17th and 18th 11:00-5:00
Student Work
from the Summer Programs
Special Reception
July 18th 4:00-6:00
Showcasing Flying Cloud's many programs in the schools and in the community
Science Meets ART
S-M-ART!
"started 1984"
SMART offers to children ages five through fourteen a deeper understanding of their world. Through their activities in the Arts and Sciences, the children get to experience how these disciplines naturally overlap. Art and Science are both avenues of investigation. Both involve ideas, theories, and hypotheses that are tested in the laboratory and studio. Flying Cloud's laboratories are the ponds, fields, forest, and gardens spread over its two hundred acre colonial farmstead, and these natural resources provide inspiration as well for visual arts, ceramics, dance, and theater.
Fifty children attend each session and they are divided into age appropriate groups of ten. We have a different approach for each age group. The beginner group of younger children has a flexible schedule where each activity blends into the next. The intermediate groups spend the day in four workshops and over the course of the session they will have explored environmental science, horticulture, chemistry, ceramics, architecture, music, dance, theater, painting, printmaking, and more. The advanced group focuses in on particular topics with longer workshops, usually two per day. Children help grow vegetables for morning snack in organic gardens. At lunch, children spread out on the lawns to eat their picnics. They may take time to visit the beloved goats, chickens, and dogs.
The summer is divided into three sessions. The session titles reflect the area of concentration for the oldest group. All other groups have workshops in all the disciplines every session. Each session concludes with a public showing that celebrate the children’s accomplishments.
The excellence of this program comes from the quality of our outstanding professional leaders and the young adults who assist them. Their knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm inspire the children. Each child is encouraged to explore her ideas and develop his talents. The workshops promote individual growth and originality. The end product is less important than the experience of developing an idea, giving it form, and communicating it to others.
We are committed to making the program available to all children. No family is turned away because of financial need.
Choosing a session
that is right for your child
Please go to the individual session descriptions to determine what is right for your child. Keep in mind that the session titles reflect the area of focus for the advanced group. Children in the other groups have workshops in all disciplines in every session.
Session 1 – The Science in the Arts
Session 2 – Artistic Expressions
Session 3 – Performing Arts
Children are placed in groups depending on their maturity. We use grade completed as a rough measure.
Beginner – Finished pre K and K. We take special care to help this group feel at home. Upon arrival they are escorted to their clubhouse where they have extra time to settle, feed the chickens and goats, before they move on to work with our specialists.
Intermediate – Finished grade 1-5. Intermediates are divided into three separate groups by age. Each day a child will participate in four workshops. Over the course of every session they will have experiences is the sciences, visual and performing arts. The title of each session indicates that there is an emphasis on that area.
Advanced – Finished grade 6, 7, 8. This age group specializes in one area and works in three-hour blocks to accommodate more complex projects. Children are challenged to produce at a high level and work towards a final presentation. They enjoy more independence.
