‘Waves of Adventure’ Summer at the ARTS Center!
Intersession at the ARTS Center provides exciting field trips for youth from our local elementary school partners in the South Bay region. During these visits, students have the opportunity to experience the joy and creativity the center offers. This summer's theme, "Waves of Adventure," was designed to immerse students in the world of oceans and their fascinating inhabitants. Students in grades 1 through 6 made new friends, explored their creativity, and participated in engaging hands-on activities while learning about the unique ecosystems of the oceans.
Welcoming the National School District to our Intersession Field Trips 👋
This summer, we expanded our field trip offerings through collaborations with the National School District and the YMCA-Reach program. Our goal was to serve National City students in more engaging and impactful ways by bringing them to the ARTS Center. Throughout the academic year, our ARTS on Campus team leads a weekly visual arts after-school program at all ten National School District (NSD) elementary school campuses. This program culminates in fantastic family-friendly exhibitions and workshops.
NSD hosted summer intersession programs at Palmer Way and Las Palmas elementary schools, where elementary-aged students participated in hands-on enrichment activities at their school sites and various field trip locations. ARTS is proud to be one of the field trip sites, offering students a full day of creative and collaborative art-making!
With each round of intersession field trips, we strive to refine and enhance the overall experience. This time, our curriculum focused on underwater themes, featuring collective projects like the Rainbow Fish Community Scales project, where all participating youth contributed their colorful scales to create a vibrant collective rainbow fish.
✨ Unique and Tailored Activities for Youth of All Ages and Abilities
Each cohort can accommodate up to 140 students across five grade levels. It is crucial for us to design a curriculum that aligns with the interests and skill levels of the participants while ensuring that the activities are engaging and enjoyable. We take pride in creating unique and captivating activities for every participant, regardless of their skill level, using various art mediums such as painting, collage, sewing, STEAM experiments, and hand-carved printmaking. During this session, each participant had the opportunity to create their own tote bag, which they took home at the end of the day.
Additionally, the ARTS team suggested establishing a designated calm-down zone within the building for students who may feel overstimulated and need a break from class. This initiative is part of our commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. While the YMCA already provides this space in the atrium, ARTS has made it more intentional by adding comfortable chairs, a water station, and various sensory and engaging toys.
🌟 Bringing high-quality arts experiences to students in their own neighborhoods
The impact of having National School District students, in addition to students from the Chula Vista Elementary School District, at the ARTS Center is truly special because it exposes more young people to creative opportunities in their own neighborhood. Students get to see their beloved teaching artists in action, engage with different artistic mediums, and explore art-making in a new setting. Moreover, older students transitioning to middle school have the chance to learn more about Community ARTS, our after-school program for middle and high school-aged students at the ARTS Center, as well as our other family events and engagement opportunities.
Collaborations between school districts and community organizations like the ARTS Center are powerful tools that enhance the diverse range of resources available in our community and remind young people that they are welcome and celebrated in our space.
