For parents, grandparents, and guardians searching for a creative outlet for their little ones this summer, the Kawartha Potters’ Guild has just the thing, and spots are filling up fast.
Exactly as it sounds, the Clay & Play summer day camps invite kids aged seven to 12 to spend a full week immersing themselves in the world of clay while interacting with other creatives, learning from knowledgeable leaders, and engaging in other activities and outdoor play.
With the first week of July and August reserved for teens aged 12 to 17, the day camps run independently each week from July 15 until the second week of August at the Kawartha Potters’ Guild in Peterborough (993 Talwood Drive at the Kingswood Life Centre). The camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with extended hours available.
“It’s one thing to watch a YouTube video or a television show, but it’s another thing to do it yourself,” says Karina Bates, chair of the Kawartha Potters’ Guild. “It’s nice to do it in a way where you’ve got someone to help you through the rough spots and give you tips about how to do it properly.”
Founded in 1993, the Kawartha Potters’ Guild is a not-for-profit organization promoting the art and craft of ceramics through presentations, membership, workshops, exhibitions, and a pottery shop that is currently filled with work from over 40 local potters and artisans.
Running for the 11th year, this summer’s camps are led by two experienced Guild members, Mackenzie Barker (Mack’s Mugs Pottery) and Katie Brazeau.
“The two of them are both enthusiastic and have great ideas,” says Bates. “And we’re very fortunate that one of our more senior members in terms of experience, Darlene Malcolm-Moran, is going to be working with the counsellors to develop some new projects and activities for the kids to do.”
With a limit of eight participants in each camp to ensure one-on-one guidance from counsellors, the first three days in each week are the most “clay-intensive” as all projects must be prepared for the kiln by Wednesday night.
Thursdays are typically more craft-focused with activities and games, while Friday is dedicated to finishing touches on the ceramics, where participants can paint and decorate the pieces that come out of the kiln. There will also be intermittent walks to the local park behind the Guild to “inspire creativity and encourage fun.”
“How the day is structured is entirely up to the counsellors because we recognize that the dynamic for each group of kids is different,” says Bates, noting that given the age range, sometimes a week will end up with a predominantly younger or older group. “Sometimes you get a total mix and that can radically change the actual dynamic of how the kids are working together, what their energy levels are, or whether they need to burn off some steam. So, the counsellors plan their days accordingly.”
For the short week after the Civic holiday, from Tuesday, August 6th to Friday, August 9th, the Kawartha Potters’ Guild is hosting a summer day camp specifically for teens aged 12 to 17. Running only half the day from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the teen camp is more “high intensity” with a focus only on clay rather than other crafts and games.
“It’s for those teens who are really interested in just learning more, and digging down,” says Bates. “The teens are fascinating because I find that while our counsellors try and provide more projects or more complex projects, the teens spend an awful lot of time working on the details of their pieces, trying to make it as perfect as they want it to be.”
With only one spot left in the August teen camp as of the publication date of this story, the Guild is now offering a second week for teens from Monday, July 8th to Thursday, July 11th, replacing one of the kids’ camps originally scheduled for that week.
All camps are beginner-friendly and inclusive to all experience levels, though oftentimes the teen camps include those who have aged out of the kids’ camps. The camps are inclusive to kids with developmental and physical challenges, and guardians are encouraged to reach out to the Guild to specify needs of accommodations.
“There is no requirement for any previous clay or frankly any art experience at all,” says Bates. “We are looking to teach kids that are interested in the arts, and we are quite willing to work with them and whatever their skill levels are.”
Bates suggests that pottery, though not as common as other art activities for children, is a great art form for kids because of the hands-on engagement it requires.
“Clay is much more physical, three-dimensional expression of art than most others, and I find that a lot of children really like working with their hands,” she explains. “Many like getting their hands dirty and they like playing in the mud, so there is an opportunity for clay to become a real expression for them.”
Bates notes that one particular pinch pot clay project is always a favourite.
“We’ve had kids who have really gravitated to that project again and again and again because they can do so many different things and they get an awful lot out of just being able to express themselves that way,” she says.
Despite the engagement the Guild sees from the campers (“There’s a lot of laughter,” Bates says), many children don’t have the access to ceramics outside of opportunities like these camps.
“Many schools have gotten rid of their equipment, and they deal mostly with standard forms of art like painting and drawing,” says Bates. “This is an opportunity for kids who have not been exposed to a completely different art form than they might find in their local schools.”
For adults looking to spend some time with clay between their fingers, the Kawartha Potters’ Guild is still hosting their flex clay classes in the evenings throughout the summer so as not to interfere with the summer camps. Regular class sessions will pick up again in September.
Those interested in signing a child or teen up for the summer classes can visit kawarthapottersguild.com or email Donna O’Brien at administrator@kawarthapottersguild.com for more information.
