This year’s Youth Art Camp, hosted by Lamar Arts in downtown Barnesville from June 16 to 20, saw a record-breaking 57 campers register, significantly surpassing last year’s total of 39. Though managing such a large group posed some logistical challenges for lead instructor Haley Turner compared to years past, a few pivots in planning and material preparation allowed the week to run successfully.
Thanks to a generous grant from Lamar Gives 365, more students than ever had the chance to spend part of their summer break exploring their creativity and flexing their art muscles. The Lamar Arts Depot was buzzing with joy and enthusiasm all week long.
Campers engaged in a wide variety of hands-on activities, including painting, drawing, designing, and constructing both 2-D and 3-D art projects. Each day focused on a different theme:
- Monday – Think Like an Artist!
- Tuesday – Paint Like an Artist!
- Wednesday – Create Like an Artist!
- Thursday – Think Outside of the Box Like an Artist!
- Friday – You ARE an Artist!
Daily projects built upon skills learned the day before, encouraging campers to grow in both technique and confidence as the week progressed. Two days featured rotation-based activities, allowing students to move through stations and experiment with a wide range of materials and concepts.
On Monday, campers created a personal sketchbook and explored nine different stations, learning how artists draw inspiration from sources such as imagination, experience, emotion, and more. Wednesday’s focus shifted to the seven elements of art, with stations dedicated to texture, form, and space. This station model not only helped manage the larger group but also offered campers a richer and more varied art-making experience.
The success of the camp was made possible by a team of dedicated volunteers. In addition to Lamar Arts board members and local supporters, a group of service-minded teens gave their time to assist the young campers. Teen volunteers included Brynn Ard, Iyana Isom, Maddy Melton, Caledonia Walker, Tessa Walls, and Daveon White. Their leadership left a lasting impression. Several older campers who will soon age out of participating inquired about becoming teen helpers themselves in the future, showing a growing spirit of volunteerism and a strong interest in staying involved with the arts. Bob Barber, president of Lamar Arts, emphasized the importance of giving back when he stated that “just a few hours can make your community better.”
Lamar Arts board members are in discussion about potentially hosting another Youth Art Camp during the October break of Lamar County Schools later this year. To stay informed about youth opportunities with Lamar Arts and upcoming gallery openings, visit www.lamararts.org or stop by the Lamar Arts Gallery and Depot in downtown Barnesville.
Haley Turner
Haley Turner is a writer, teacher, and arts enthusiast born and raised in Jackson, Georgia. She shares stories highlighting education, community events, and local creative outlets. She resides in Barnesville with her husband, Grant.
