about summer arts and science program
Goal
SMArt Summer Program is designed to bring children ages five through fourteen a deeper understanding of the world around them through interdisciplinary investigations where Science and Art naturally overlap. The objective is for children to experience how both involve observations, ideas, theories, and hypotheses that are tested in the laboratory and studio. Flying Cloud provides welcoming indoor studios for experiments and also encourages extensive use of the outdoor laboratories: ponds, fields, forest, and gardens that spread over its two hundred acre colonial farmstead. The natural world provides inspiration for visual arts, ceramics, dance, and theater.
Each child is encouraged to explore her ideas and develop his talents. The workshops promote individual growth and originality. Children learn how to develop an idea, give it form, and communicate it to others. The intention is for children to develop their full potential as creative thinkers and problem solvers. Ideally children enter at age five and remain enrolled until the completion of the eighth grade. Each year there are new challenges and after “ graduation” they are encouraged to continue their relationship with the professional leaders by becoming assistants. Several of the“Flying Clouders” who have gone on to earn degrees in the Arts or Sciences and become professionals in their own right are now valuable members of the staff.
Program Description
NEW – The SMArt Summer program is now divided into two sessions with a total of fifty children attending each. This summer there are no designations of special focus for a particular session. While the staffing for each session is different, they both offer the sciences, visual arts and performing arts. Children will now choose the specialty they prefer within the session. A child can attend both sessions without repeating activities. Each session will have a final exposition.
The day begins with morning circle where thoughts are shared and the activities of the day explained.
The youngest children, the beginners aged five, have their own home base in the “club house” with their own vegetable garden next to the front door and the chickens as next door neighbors. They have the security of a primary leader who guides them through their flexible day but they also participate in modified activities lead by the specialists who are responsible for programming for the older children. They explore environmental science, horticulture, dance, theater, music, ceramics, and painting over the course of the session.
Children who have completed first grade and older spend the mornings in their age appropriate groups of ten exploring a variety of disciplines including environmental science, horticulture, chemistry, ceramics, architecture, music, dance, theater, painting, printmaking, and more. There is a morning snack between the two morning workshops. It includes vegetables the children harvest from the organic gardens. At lunch, children spread out on the lawns to eat their picnics. They have time to play games with new friends and visit the beloved chickens, and dogs.
NEW – The entire afternoon is devoted to interdisciplinary projects open to children from multiple age groups who share an interest in the activity. Some will span a week, others the whole session. The advanced projects like filmmaking and reduction fired stoneware are open only to the middle school group. This summer, children can look forward to participating in such projects as:
• Exploring the ideals of sustainability through agriculture, architecture and art including designing a permaculture garden, harvesting and preparing food, building a woodland shelter using found and recycled materials, designing and constructing garden sculptures and analog photography.
• Using theater, dance, music, and collaboration to create a performance piece that explores the earths ultimate sources of energy and how we harness it to fulfill our modern energy needs.
• Immersion in the visual arts such as ceramics, painting and sculpture with an emphasis on investigating where these disciplines meet science. Children can expect to perform clay and glaze testing and to explore the auditory system through 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art.
• Participating in filmmaking that spans from documentation to creation of a new stop motion animation.
A full list and description of project choices will be posted in early February.
STAFF – 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. This summer the science professionals are from the fields of neuroscience/audiology, environmental science, and architecture. Other adults have degrees in Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Professional artists come from careers in dance, music, theater, painting, photography, filmmaking, and ceramics. Most of the assistants have grown up at Flying Cloud and have developed these skills as well as a deep commitment to providing a nurturing environment.
NEW - SMArt in the Schools is offered in some area school districts through grants Flying Cloud Institute has received. Through residencies and staff development, FCI staff is helping teachers understand how to use these interdisciplinary projects to teach science and math. During the summer local teachers will be on site to observe how children excel when they are encouraged to learn through interdisciplinary arts and science explorations that are self directed.
We are committed to making the program available to all children. No family is turned away because of financial need.
The Summer Program for 2011 is still in the planning stages, however we wanted to inform you of what to expect so that you may plan accordingly. If you wish to reserve a space for your child at this time, before our brochure is made available to the public, please use the link below. This does not replace the registration form you will receive with the brochure but will hold a space for your child until April 1st, 2011. NEW -The SMArt Summer program is now divided into two sessions. This summer there are no designations of special focus for a particular session. While the staffing for each session is different, they both offer the sciences, visual arts and performing arts. Children will now choose the specialty they prefer within the session. A child can attend both sessions without repeating activities. Each session will have a final exposition. We will continue to provide bus service from Ashley Falls, Sheffield and Great Barrington for an extra fee. Specific drop-off sites and fee to be announced.
