The Turlock Recreation Division is offering classes in drawing, baking and sculpting — just to name a few — for local youth to make the most of their summer vacation, however, attendance numbers remain low.
Despite the spare time students may have this summer with all schools in the Turlock Unified School District being on a traditional calendar, attendance numbers are low compared to previous summers, said Karen Packwood, Turlock recreation supervisor.
Two of the Young Rembrandts art camps were cancelled due to low attendance, Packwood said. The Parent/Child Drawing Camp and the Prehistoric Creature Cartoon Camp were also cancelled.
While the economy could play a part in the low turnout, the Recreation Department offers scholarships for financial assistance to help those that would like to take a class but can’t afford it at that time, Packwood said.
There are a variety of art classes offered this summer for children of all ages. Some classes coming up next week include the Mini Picassos and Creative Studio groups targeting children that are four and half years old up to 12 years old.
The Mini Picassos group targets children from the ages of four and a half to seven years old and teaches them how to work with their hands and create different objects.
The next session starts Monday and runs through Thursday, called the Sand and Surf session. It starts at 9 a.m. and finishes around noon taking place in the War Memorial Club room two. Each session is $60 per child. Creative Studio and 3D art sessions follow the Sand and Surf session.
In the Creative Studio group, the Fun Faces session starts on Monday and runs through Thursday. It is taking place in the War Memorial Fireside Room and runs from 9 a.m. to noon. These sessions are also $60 per child. The Creation Lab session follows the Fun Faces session starting July 26.
Starting in August there is a Make, Bake & Take class teaching children how to cook, proper nutrition, kitchen safety and how to find their way around the kitchen, Packwood said.
“Attendance in the Make, Bake & Take class has been booming,” she said.
The class starts Aug. 7 and runs from 9 a.m. to noon targeting first graders up to children in sixth grade. The session is $25.
For children more interested in drawing instead of the hands on creations, the Pre-School Drawing class or the Elementary Drawing Class is for them.
The Pre-School Drawing class is for children from three and a half years old to five years old who want to bring out their creativity, use their imagination and focus their attention on detail. This class is a step-by-step drawing class to teach the basic fundamentals of drawing to the children.
The session runs every Thursday from Aug. 12 to Sept. 16. It takes place from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. in Club Room two.
For children ages six to 13 years old, the Elementary Drawing classes start Aug. 12 through Sept. 16, running every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The class will focus on basic to advance drawing skills, art techniques and vocabulary. Those interested must register one week prior to the session.
Registration for fall and winter classes will begin in August.
Those interested in any of the summer art classes or applying for financial assistance, contact the Recreation Department at 668-5594.
To contact Maegan Martens, e-mail mmartens@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.
