Children explore God-given talents at Fort Mill camp

There was singing, writing, instrument playing, speaking, painting and backstage technical skill learning at St. John’s United Methodist Church’s summer fine arts camp.

Twenty-one elementary and middle-schoolers turned out last week to try out their skills at the church’s first visual and performing arts camp.

Camp director and Music Minister Kathie Riebe said the camp, taught by church staff and volunteers, gives children an opportunity to find or expand on God-given talents. Campers – rising third- to seventh-graders – were given an introduction to each area at the beginning and allowed to choose which two interested them the most.

A half a dozen campers painted bonsai trees in brilliant shades in art class. They sculpted clay pots earlier in the week.

“Some of them are so creative. It’s been fun to watch them,” said art teacher Jeannine Hillhouse.

Hillhouse said she encourages campers to create without borders or expectations because “mistakes are art.”

“I tell them to just be creative. All mistakes are good mistakes,” she said.

Jadyn Loftis, 10, said she chose to stay in art class all day.

“I have piles and piles and boxes and boxes of crafts in our office (at home),” Jadyn said, adding that a clay pot was her favorite creation of the week.

Friends Ella Crocker and Elyse Johnson worked on original stories side-by-side in creative writing.

“I’ve always loved to write,” said Ella, 11. “I want to be an author or work with newspapers.”

Elyse, 11, shares her friend’s affinity for writing. She was working on a mystery story about a girl living in Cuba who wants to live in the United States.

At the end of the week, teachers bind the students’ stories into a book for them to take home.

Riebe said she hopes the week will pique campers’ interests in the visual and performing arts.

“Is a week going to have them go to junior high and say, ‘I know how to play the piano?’ No, but I’m hoping a switch will be turned on,” Riebe said.

This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Children explore God-given talents at Fort Mill camp."