When I joined the Solomon House Board of Directors, I wanted to do something that would utilize my teaching skills (I have been teaching for 25 years) while raising money for Solomon House. My husband said two words: “art camp.” We have just completed our 5th annual Camp Genesis Art Camp. Becky Collins, a local artist who taught for the first four camps, suggested the name after the Book of Creation. So in the summer of 2008, Camp Genesis was born.
Camp tuition goes directly to Solomon House. Teachers volunteer their time and donations support the purchase of supplies. Every year Musson-Patout Automotive has generously supported the camp t-shirt. Some students receive scholarships from Epiphany Church and community members. All these gifts allow this program to benefit the community as well as continue the work of Solomon House.
This year from July 16th-20th, twenty-eight students attended Camp Genesis held at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany. They participated in a variety of art activities from painting rocks to making marbleized paper. Wood sculpture is an all time favorite every year, thanks to the generous donation of wood scraps from local woodworker Gerald Judice. This year’s camp welcomed some new teacher-artist-volunteers: Jane Riviere, Diane Grevemberg, Kate Ferry, Kathryn Gandy, Darnelle Delcambre, Rhonda Gleason-Breaux, and myself. Many teen helpers rotated in and out all week doing anything anyone asked them to do. You gotta love teen helpers!
An art show and auction will be held after the Epiphany church service on Sunday in the Parish Hall. Each year, this show is a celebration of the week. Students and their families are proud of their artwork. Camp Genesis is more than a fundraiser. Students learn about art, practice creativity, and make new friends. To see more photos from Camp Genesis, go to the Solomon House Facebook page.
