Everyone who’s been a parent or grandparent, or even an older sister or brother, knows how short little kids’ attention spans can be — and how chock full of pent up energy they are. Well, so do The Villages Recreation Department folks who designed the successful Camp Villages Buckaroos creative art program entitled ” What will you be when you grow up!”
The two-hour program was divided into short, manageable segments, in perfect synch with the kids’ temperaments. About thirty visiting children, ages 3 – 6, started the morning by making large handprints on a group mural with gobs of washable paint brushed onto their hands. Some grandparents took part in that fun also, adding their larger hands to the mix. The participants alternated some short but serious painting sessions with games and switched tables often. Brightly colored tables — one primary yellow, one vivid red and another royal blue made switching tables easy.
Each child painted or crayoned several pre-printed pictures they selected themselves — depicting things they want to do when they grow up. There were football, basketball and baseball players, one soccer star, a female police officer, firefighters, school teachers, an artist and an astronaut or two. Some kids wanted to be horse trainers, hula or ballet dancers and musicians, There was even one aspiring queen and an aspiring princess. There was a downhill skier, race car driver, gymnast, scuba diver and soldier — but no one mentioned doctors, lawyers, singers, politicians or presidents!
In between the art, kids’ moods’ were newly re-engaged as Recreation Supervisor Michele O’Donnell called the kids into a large semi-circle. Let’s shake out our ‘sillies,’ she said — and the kids danced around for a minute or so, shaking their hands above their heads to burn off some energy. Later, Michele led them in games of ‘Simon Says,’ and they had fun lining up in groups by the color of their clothing. After each game minute was over, it was back to serious painting.
As each of several pictures were completed by the children, rec staff used hot glue guns to affix colorful bows, stars, feathers and other 3-D ornaments to enhance the artwork. Some art was neatly colored, staying within the lines; others were more ‘abstract.’ There were some unmistakably talented kids in the group, with skills far beyond their tender years.
Both Nicole Rabuck, 6, and her grandmother Kris Hoops, a Village of Virginia Trace resident, made purple handprints on the group mural. Kelly Moss, visiting grandma Crystal Moss in the Village of Rio Ranchero, liked the 3-D decorations ref staffers glued onto her pictures. Avelina Groetzner, visiting grandma Susan Avallone, crayoned a perfect hula dancer. The session closed with volunteers from the Villages Art League binding the participants’ artwork into neat keepsake books. There were healthy munchies and juice boxes in a straw-covered Buckaroo snack shack for everyone.
“We love doing these programs,” said Recreation Manager Debbie Huitt, “We love working with the kids and the adults, and try to come up with brand new ideas each summer. The volunteers help so much and add their talents to the program. Buckaroo activities are brand new this year. We get great interaction when grandparents and small children have projects to work on together.
