‘Sprouts’ Program Wrapup & Thanks
GCCA Celebrates Another Summer of Sprouts Creativity
Sprouts, Greene County Council on the Arts free arts program for children ages 3 to 7, held four weeks of fun filled creative and inspiring arts workshops throughout Greene County this summer: in Windham, Coxsakie, Catskill and Durham. Our children enjoyed many workshops in art, music, theater and dance by wonderful artist/teachers.
Art Teacher Colette Lemon led workshops where the children created paper dragon sculptures; made prints with saving cream and liquid tempera; and redesigned old shoes with collage and paint. Musician George Doody, an accomplished guitarist, demonstrated the use of the guitar, engaging the children with sing-alongs of traditional American classics.
Musician Jim Davis introduced the children to the harp, and the children had a wonderful time dancing and singing to multi-cultural tunes. Alice Caulfield’s theater group created a hand painted box city as props for their play Runaway Boxes based on Margaret Wise Brown’s classic Runaway Bunny.
Harpist Jim Davis shows two little girls how to pluck the strings for the Sprouts music program in Catskill.
In Ken Polinskie’s puppet art workshop, children made animal puppets from envelopes, lunch bags and clown cut-outs for a final day improvisational happening. Donna Trunzo’s guitar and vocals in sing-along fashion taught children important environmental messages as well as creating a ruckus band with percussive instruments. Dale Loughran, with many years of step dance experience, introduced children the Irish tradition. Tara VanRoy combined tap, jazz, creative movement and games for a lively and active class. Emma Leigh introduced children to a traditional African dance after her recent student teaching in the Africa.
Artist/teachers also collaborated on projects, pooling their talents and energies to create some dynamic performances. Lex Grey and her theater group created an original play and acted it out – complete with a journey through the magic mountains where children turn into cats and toad stool mushrooms. Matt Bua’s art class made the backdrop mural and the painted cat masks for the theater groups final performance. For a summer nature theme, Margo Mullien collaborated with art teacher Carli Garzoorian for a performance of The Wild Garden.
Sprouts engages professional artists who have talent and experience in working with children creatively and who understand the importance of positive early learning. Children and their parents in advance registration choose between music and art, or theater and dance, and continue with the same two artist/teachers for the entire week.
In an environment where there is no “wrong answer” or “wrong way,” a child is encouraged to invent, persevere and enjoy success through experimentation, problem solving and setting reasonable goals. “Sprouts” limits the two 45-minute classes to 15 children each, allowing teachers and volunteer assistants to provide individual attention, and children enjoy a nutritional snack between the two workshops.
Our outstanding teenage volunteers serve as role models for the younger children. Often, when “Sprouts” children are too old to attend the program, they ask to be volunteer assistants, resulting in a program that serves many age groups in the community.
Two small Sprouts participants enjoy a dance class with Tara Van Roy in Windham
GCCA’s Youth Arts Reach Programs are made possible in part with grants from: New York State Council on the Arts ● Greene County Legislature ● Greene County Youth Bureau/ NYS Office of Children and Family Services ●
Sprouts would like to thank the following corporate sponsors: Holcim (U.S.) Inc. ● National Bank of Coxsackie ● New Athens Generating Company, LLC ● Stewart’s Holiday Match ● Trustco Bank ● WalMart
Sprouts appreciates these great agencies: Nan Guterman Foundation ● United Way of Columbia and Greene Counties ● United Way of the Greater Capital Region
Sprouts thanks these municipalities: Town of Athens ● Town of Catskill ● Town of Cairo ● Town of Coxsackie ● Town of Durham ● Town of Hunter ● Town of Jewett ● Town of New Baltimore.
Hats Off to these generous civic associations: Catskill Elks Club ● Coxsackie/Athens Rotary Club ● Fortnightly Club of Catskill ● Kiwanis Club of Catskill ● Rotary Club of Catskill ● Rotary Club of Cairo.
Gracias to these fine individuals & businesses: Baumann’s Brookside Inc. ● Dimensions North Ltd. ● Easy Street Builders ● Golub Corporation ● GNH Lumber ● Helmedach & Young ● Mr. John P. Kingsley Esq. Attorney At Law ● Paul Macko ● Peter M. Margolius Esq. Attorney At Law ● Mid-Hudson Cablevision ● Millspaugh Camerato Funeral Home ● Pollace’s Brooklyn House, Inc. ● Rip Van Winkle Realty ● Sawyer Chevrolet Auto Sales & Service ● Slater’s Great American ● State Telephone Company.
Thanks to the Following for Donations to our Raffle: Keep’n In Touch Message ● Mid-Hudson Cablevision ● Hunter Mountain ● Country Clay Pottery ● Mari Warfel and Bill O’Keefe ● Story’s Nursery ● Alice Caulfield.
Sprouts thanks our hardworking artist teachers: Matt Bua ● Alice Caulfield ● Jim Davis ● George Doody ● Cari Garzorian ● Lex Grey ● Emma Leigh ● Colette Lemon ● Dale Loughran ● Margo Muller ● Ken Polinskie ● Donna Trunzo ● Tara Van Roy.
Thank you to the schools and establishments who welcomed Sprouts workshops:
Windham Elementary School ● Catskill Community Center ● Coxsackie Elementary School ● Durham Elementary School.
And a big Sprouts cheer to our incredible Sprouts volunteers! :
Erica Bitterman ● Hannah & Aiden Boehm ● Dean & Dustin Burke-Retelle ● Elizabeth, Katherine & Julia Czermerys ● Ayla Dawson ● Julia Dorr ● Margaret, Noreen, Liam & Shannon Doherty ● Therese Desrosiers ● Benito Flores ● Abigail & Gabrieal Grossarth ● Rebecca & Kristofer Haaland ● Griffin & Abigail Hellen ● Olivia Howie ● Alexis Jackson ● Tara & Katrina Josberger ● Kacy Kiefer ● Skyler Kimmel ● Haley Kern ● Rachel Knaust ● Emily Kratz ● Maggie & Michael Matson ● Nicole & Kevin Malen ● Daisey, Lily & Xxaria Makley ● Madeline McTigue ● Jordan Mogul ● Gabi Morelli ● Emily & Madeline Osborn ● April Smith ● Kristin O’Sullivan ● Samantha Roggio ● Meaghan Rohan ● Nina Savasta ● Alyssa Scarlata ● Audra & Fabby Street ● Anna & Grace Van Roy ● Elizbeth Wallace ● Nicole Whitbeck ● Lejla Zbacnick ●
