While some children choose to spend their summer days playing in the park or biking around the neighbourhood, nine-year-old Sophia Mastrianni prefers to use the extra leisure time to explore her creative side. The local fourth grader said she finds much of the inspiration for her projects when she attends Jasper’s annual summer arts camp, which kicked off on July 7.
Mastrianni is one of dozens of children that make their way to the McCready Centre for one week each summer to paint, draw and sculpt their wildest creations into fruition.
The young girl says she enjoys the curriculum and the creative freedom that her teacher, and camp leader, Melissa Woodcock allows, while art camp veteran, 12 year-old Ainsley Koebel, said she enjoys the chance to meet other like-minded youths she feels she may not have otherwise met during “normal” school.
For Woodcock, who has led the camp for the past ten years, the classes are more than a chance for her students to create.
The Emily Carr University graduate and trained artist, says the classes give kids a chance to make new friends, increase their confidence and develop a more positive outlook on life. Though Woodcock thoroughly enjoys working with her eager young artists, she has decided to discontinue the classes following this last session.
After a decade of running the camp Woodcock is moving on to Canmore to focus on her burgeoning career.
“I love doing this, and the kids are amazing—they’re so focused,” she told the Fitzhugh, adding that she has been commuting from Canmore lately but will likely be rooted there for awhile. The drive, she noted, is just getting to be a bit much.
“It’s sad to have to end it, but if I can, I’d like to start up a camp in Canmore once I get my feet wet.”
In the meantime no one has volunteered to take up the torch but Woodcock said she’d be thrilled to see camp continue.
Erin Christie
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