Scrappy Art Lab is back and their partnering with KiDiMu and Wardwell Farm
For teacher, facilitator, collaborator, lifetime illustrator and dabbler in many forms of art, Rachel Knudson, opening up Scrappy Art Lab on Bjune Drive in 2019 was a wonderful way to engage children of all ages and their families in hands-on building, tinkering and the creation of art. Using collected material donations from the community, the creative “reuse” art studio quickly became a fun spot for children and families to learn, create art, promote playfulness, and experiment with an emphasis on doing more with less. Sadly, Scrappy lost its lease and closed their doors in January of this year, but Rachel hasn’t sat still for long.
After three years running Scrappy, Rachel learned that families on the island were very receptive to a program which highlighted earth’s limited resources, and enjoyed structured creativity for children, and screen-free and hands-on learning. “As the population grows, so does the need for unique and fun family programming on the island. So, Scrappy has split into a few slivers to help fill the void,” she told me.
Scrappy Art Lab has teamed up with the Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu) to offer programs for school-aged kids, grades K-3. There will now be 10-week sessions of after school classes on Monday and Wednesday, which will feature arts and crafts, outdoor time, plus Scrappy’s signature “free-build” time with engaging reclaimed materials. Classes start after Spring Break. Also, Rachel will stop in on Tuesday mornings to facilitate a family build time in KiDiMu’s newly renovated Maker Space. To register for programs at KiDiMu, go to their website at kidimu.org
AFTER SCHOOL at KiDiMu classes for kindergarten through 3rd grade: “Art & Build Afternoons”
One 10-week session on MONDAY or WEDNESDAY —
Monday: April 10- June 19; 1:30-3:30PM (No class Memorial Day)
Wednesday: April 12- June 14; 3-5PM
Registration opens at KiDiMu website on SAT March 4
In another new project, Rachel has moved the studio furniture to a new classroom at Wardwell Farm. This partnership will allow Scrappy to seamlessly blend more natural materials into the curriculum, and spend more time outside. Kids will also learn about gardening, planting and harvesting food, taking care of chickens and kid goats, digging and composting, building trails, and the value of working together to build something greater than themselves. As a bonus, Scrappy partners with Erin Combs at Wardwell Farm to co-create programming that will be ridiculously fun for the whole family.
To register for summer camps at “Scrappy on the Farm!” go to scrappyartlab.com. Summer registration opens Saturday, March 11 at 10AM.
AFTER SCHOOL and SPRING CAMP Sessions have already filled up, but SUMMER CAMP Sessions are still available!
CAMP SESSIONS FOR SUMMER
SUMMER SESSIONS – Active Kinder to 5th grade; mixed age groups
MONDAY- THURSDAY 9:30AM- 3PM / FRIDAY 9:30- 12:30
On Friday we encourage a full family pick-up to enjoy a peek at the farm and to celebrate the work done during the week!
$400/ week – scholarships available*
RSVP opens SUN, MARCH 11 at 10AM at Scrappy’s website
ALL WEEKS offer a delightful mix of creative arts experiences and engaging garden and farm activities, forest and stream walks, seasonal garden snacking, cooperative field games, playing and tinkering! Lunch from home, plus water bottle, sun hat, sturdy shoes/boots and extra clothes in a bag or backpack.
JULY 5-7 (NO MON/TUES) – w/ Rachel & Erin: Sensational Puppet Theater – build characters – create puppets – build a stage – paint the scenes – write a script – garden performance (prorated week $240)
JULY 10-14 – w/ Rachel & Erin: Whimsical Woodland Creatures – Fairies and Gnomes – tiny Forest houses – nature crafting – sewing ugly trolls – clay creatures – wood & wire sculptures
JULY 17-21 – w/ Erin & Quibs: Musical Madness – Garden foraged instruments – garden drum circle – wood scrap guitars – gourd maracas – lemonade infusion station – plus special guests
JULY 24-28 – w/ Erin & Quibs: Wacky Wildlife/Animal Week – Birds of Prey exploration – clay animals – hypertufa garden and forest creations – make a giant nest – animal games
JULY 31-AUG 4 – w/ Rachel & Erin: Bug Off! – Creepy, crawly things – make a bug hotel – ladybug garden release – insect hunting in the woods – buggy crafting in the studio – paint like a spider
AUG 21-25 – w/ Rachel & Erin: Chicken Love Week – hen portraiture – hens & chicks succulents – water wall creation – cork boats that float – chicken chess in the garden – melon parfaits for all!
*For scholarship info, please contact: Erin Combs at erinbaylis@gmail.com
Wardwell Farm is located at 9200 Wardwell Rd NE (at Sportsman Club Rd and Hwy 305).
But why stop there? Also in the making, is a project that will team up Scrappy Art Lab with ReFashion Bainbridge to offer even more programming in the world of creative reuse and sustainability, but ideally on a city scale. Scrappy has also been invited back to the Moonlight Market this summer. Stay tuned for more on these exciting partnerships in the months ahead!
Donations: Scrappy is still taking donations of items for their reuse crafts and projects. Please always check the website donations page (https://www.scrappyartlab.com/donatestuff) for a list of needed items. Then email rachel@scrappyartlab.com to make an appt for a pick up.
What’s the best way to keep up with Scrappy? Follow them on Facebook or Instagram and sign up for their newsletter!
*Image and photo credits: Rachel Knudson, Wardwell Farm, KiDiMu
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