Science Lab Students Taking Notes on Adaptation

Art Farm is a living classroom in so many aspects. Summer camp students work in outdoor studios, where they interact with our farm animals while learning to draw and paint them. We make nature journals unlike any others, and art boxes based on the assemblage tradition first introduced by Joseph Cornell in the early 20th Century.

New this year is the Art Farm Science Lab, taught by biologist Jennifer Stowe. Our science lab makes brilliant use of our natural riparian habitat -- and its year-round running creek -- to introduce students to hands-on natural science disciplines, including the importance of keeping a naturalist's journal for chronicling their discoveries. Today, these students, who will be entering Grade 4 this fall, hiked down our trail, journals in hand, with Jennifer on a "Scientific Scavenger Hunt". Their assignment was to (1) find 10 examples of plants or animals changing the environment, and (2) to find 10 things in the environment that would harm the habitat if they were removed and to list why. The students were so engaged in their work that several dropped their journals into the creek while trying to get a better view. Earlier this week, they all took water samples from the creek to view under a microscope.

Following lunch, this same class studied the horse sketching book of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec to see how artists develop their sketching skills. So many times students see only finished work in museums, which can be daunting to the beginning artist. It is empowering for them to see that even the greatest artists had to work out exactly how to draw a horse through constant trial-and-error. Working off sheets depicting anatomy and bone structure of the horse, these students practiced charcoal drawing skills in preparation for doing a finished study by camp week's end.

Art Farm Summer Camps that are still open for enrollment this season are Sessions 7, 8, and 9, beginning the last week in July and continuing through mid-August. For information, enrollment forms, and session dates, visit our website and click the "Camp" tab. If you would like to make a reservation today, email the director at director@carlsbadartfarm.com. Specify what session date you would like to reserve and we will get back to you shortly. Camp is open to students entering Grades 2 through 8 this fall. Classes are grouped by age and are age appropriate.

Art Farm Camp Sessions Update

Art Farm Summer Camp 2010 morning into afternoon sessions that are now closed are as follows:

• Session 4 (July 5-9)
• Session 5 (July 12-16)
  
• Session 6 (July 19-23)
  

• All late afternoon sessions (2 PM to 5 PM)
  

There is still time to enroll in all other sessions including Session 3, beginning next week, Monday, June 28. Sessions are one week and continue through mid-August. For information and enrollment forms, visit our website and click on the "Camp" tab.

Art Farm at Carlsbad Beach Fest

Art Farm was pleased to be invited to participate this year in the 3rd Annual Carlsbad Beach Fest at Frazee Beach. The event took place this past Saturday. We had a great time helping kids (and quite a few adults!) make art using recycled metal bottle caps. It seemed like the perfect project for a day devoted to environmental awareness and beach clean-up.

Pictured right are me, Perrin Weston Coman, and one of my Art Farm aides, Kayli, who is taking AP art classes at Carlsbad High School.

Carlsbad Beach Fest's main goal is to support and promote the stewardship and protection of our beaches, the marine environment, and coastal waterways. Beach Fest is organized by the local State Parks office. As a participant, I was very impressed by their staff and volunteers. Kudos to them!

Our summer camp enrollments are continuing. Our week-long day camps begin June 14 and continue through mid-August. For more information about how to enroll read the previous posting on this blog and visit our website.

We are having a busy week at Art Farm. Students from Del Mar Hills Nursery School visited us today to make nature journals and spend time with our animals and more are on the way tomorrow. On Friday, a local girl scout troop will be spending the afternoon with us. For updates on Art Farm, we recommend subscribing to this blog. We post once or twice a week.

It's a Wrap for Art Farm Summer Camp 2009

We at Carlsbad Art Farm want to say thank you to all the wonderful young artists and their parents who have made it yet another wonderful summer camp season at our woodland wonderland.

Yesterday marked the completion of our ninth and final weekly summer camp. At right are a selection of nature journals by some campers (click for larger view) filled with images of animals, plants, chickens, and just about anything else they could think of to draw. For more information and images of what students have seen and accomplished at Art Farm this summer view earlier posts or visit our website at CarlsbadArtFarm.com.

The good news is that for the first time this year Art Farm will be open year-round starting in mid-September. We will be offering classes for children and adults. We will be updating our website to reflect new offerings, but in the meantime check this blog frequently for the most current information.

Coming this fall, Art Farm will have ongoing art classes for students in grades two through eight. Additionally, Art Farm will be offering adult seminars and workshops. We are also available for home school art instruction. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to spend time in a natural woodland habitat, learning to draw, paint and otherwise make art through direct observation of animals and the surrounding natural environment.

Also for the first time this year, Art Farm will be available for mini-camps during the school year. We are available for week-long or three-day art camps during your school district's breaks. We have numerous inquires asking if we are available for activities by various youth groups such as girl scouts, boy scouts, youth soccer leagues, etc. The answer is: Yes we are. If you are a group of parents who would like to take advantage of any of these options then contact us at director@carlsbadartfarm.com. We do need up to two-weeks advance notice.

And finally, in answer to a question we hear a lot from parents whose children have attended Art Farm: Yes, we are available for birthday parties. Cost will depend on the number of guests and the type of art projects you select for your birthday child.

Again, thanks to all for joining us this summer at Art Farm. Come back to visit us and the critters often!