TOSSnews
Preregistration for TOSS Summer Art Camp is Open!
July 20 - 24 & July 27 - 31
Because of uncertainties around social distancing, we are opening up preregistration in order to gauge interest and help direct the means in which we roll out summer camp. Preregistration will act as a placeholder for your child and will give parents and guardians input as to how we proceed with summer camp. You will have the ability to confirm registration and pay at a later date when we have more information on what style of summer camp we will be able to conduct.
Two options for what summer camp could look like:
Option 1: Traditional Summer Art Camp - In person, at our studio with a limited number of students. This is contingent on the government guidelines for social gatherings in July.
Option 2: Take-Home Summer Art Camp Experience - Take-home art kits with instructional videos and live stream interactions.
Please follow this link https://www.tosstudio.org/summer-camp to preregister for our Summer Art Camp! Even though camp may look very different this year, we are still so excited to make some amazing art with you all!
“I am so impressed by TOSS’ ability to prioritize Our Big Backyard and the incredible students at Forest Hill Elementary by continuing the art and environmental education we began last fall,” said Foothills Conservancy’s associate director, Beth Willard-Patton. “I’m so proud of our partnership with TOSS and grateful for their innovation and dedication during this challenging time.”
TOSS COVID-19 Response
A volunteer, Sharley Mendoza, with Good Books, LLC surveys kits upon delivery at Forest Hill Elementary in the Media Center
Volunteer handing our art kit at Forest Hill Elementary School @ Forest Hill Elementary
Evalinda with her mother
Since September, 2019, 275 students at Forest Hill Elementary School have participated in monthly environmental and art education workshops. The program, Our Big Backyard, is a collaboration between Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and TOSS (The Old School Studio) that teaches principles of environmental stewardship through the arts. Following school closures due to the coronavirus, in-class instruction was recalibrated for at-home use, and these local organizations, with the assistance of a grassroots fundraising campaign, enabled this educational program to go forward. On Monday, April 6, Forest Hill Elementary students received kits containing art supplies and instructions for art projects from TOSS.
TOSS and Foothills Conservancy developed strategies for programming. Within a week, 300 bags, containing two projects each, were delivered to Forest Hill Elementary. Projects were designed to accommodate each grade-level’s needs and instructions were provided in both English and Spanish, along with a video tutorial.
This project was possible through support from The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities program and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, whose significant contribution brought this new program to life. In addition to The Conservation Fund, individual contributions and in-kind gifts of supplies from local residents helped cover the cost of each $35 art kit. A local marketing agency, White Blaze Marketing, donated video production, and volunteers helped pack and deliver the kits, all while following physical distancing guidelines before the stay-home order went into effect.
TOSS co-director, and art instructor Hannah Thrower shares, “Throughout the fall, it was such a joy to impact the students at Forest Hill Elementary School with programming that uses art as a means to dive deeper into ecology and the world around us. And as our world has changed pace, we are so excited that our program has been able to transition into take home projects for all of the students.”
TOSS co-director, Kathryn Ervin adds, “We are doing everything they can to support students and families as we navigate through these unprecedented times, together. We believe creativity can be cultivated no matter where you are, and we hope to inspire students to think outside the box.”
Parents are encouraged to access digital learning resources and activities including interactive art tools, digital collections and interactive exhibitions, and live and interactive streams on TOSS’ website www.tosstudio.org. You can sign up for the organizations’ newsletters on their perspective websites to learn about updates to programing and opportunities: foothillsconservancy.org; www.tosstudio.org
