Project Jericho held its second annual Winter Arts Camp for Families from January 14 to January 18, 2008. Artists Leland Faulkner, Kristi Limes, and Amy Korpieski assisted eight families in using their imaginations and creative thinking skills to create artwork using watercolors, to write stories involving their shadows, and to create scenes using mime, movement and acting.

Professional performing artist Leland Faulkner led families through various activities which involved acting, improvisation, building self-confidence and a sense of teamwork. The families built self-confidence by participating in the “I am somebody” circle. In a favorite activity called simply “Plungers,” using only plungers and their imaginations as props, the families acted out short scenes. The youth participants demonstrated teamwork through the “human pretzel”: four volunteers would sit on chairs with their heads resting in each other’s laps, and then, one by one, the chairs were removed until only the four participants were left supporting each other.

Artist Kristi Limes led families in creating winter wonderland scenes using watercolors. The parents painted beautiful backgrounds, and then each family member contributed to the “family portrait” by creating a snowman or pine tree to represent themselves. These pictures were then framed and presented to the families at the conclusion of the week.

Children’s librarian and artist Amy Korpieski read stories about shadows to the families and then had everyone write down or dictate a conversation with their shadow. The families participated in a shadow sewing project by outlining a part of their body, and then outlining the same part using a flashlight to create a shadow effect. These two body parts were cut out and were then sewn together and their shadow writings were copied inside.
What a week! Everyone who participated left with a scrapbook of their time spent together as well as mementos of a “World of Wonder.”