Registration is Now Open for Art at the Center and STEAM Camp at Clarkston Community Center

Registrations are now being accepted for two summer day camps at the Clarkston Community Center: Art at the Center Camp and STEAM Camp. Both programs are open for children age 6-14 and will be offered June 6-July 28, 2016. Each week of camp will last from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday-Thursday and will include breakfast and lunch each day. The cost per two-week session is $300 per child. After-camp childcare is also available for an additional fee. www.ClarkstonCommunityCenter.org

“Our summer camps are geared towards improving literacy and academic skills for low-income youth and teens in a fun, creative atmosphere,” said Andrea Waterstone, art and education director for the Center. “The camp experience also builds stronger English language skills for those who are new to this country and bolsters self-confidence for participants, especially for girls and young women.”

Art at the Center Camp is taught by experienced teaching artists experienced in working with multicultural youth. Campers will explore and create eco art, assemblage art, painting, drama, dance, voice, improvisation, movie-making and gardening. Campers in the STEAM sessions will learn about 3D printing, computer programming and architectural design, strengthening their STEAM skills: science, technology, engineering, art and math.

“Clarkson has become a major refugee center, and is now home to people from over 57 countries,” said Cindy Bowden, executive director of the Clarkston Community Center. “Many of our community’s children are struggling to learn English, adjust to a new culture and succeed in school. Some are lonely and isolated, and living in poverty. Our summer camp, now in its third year, offers a safe and nurturing environment for about 70 low-income children and teenagers where they can learn important academic skills, explore their own creativity and have fun with kids their own age. The camp also serves as a summer feeding site, ensuring these children receive nutritious meals and snacks during the summer school break.”

Art at the Center and STEAM Camp are supported by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Vision Factory, Something New, Théâtre du Rêve, the City of Clarkson and Georgia Council for the Arts.

About Clarkston Community Center

Established in 1994 and headquartered in the beautifully renovated former Clarkston High School building at 3701 College Ave. in Clarkston, Ga., the Clarkston Community Center offers programs for children, teens, adults and seniors, centered around art, recreation and community building. The Center serves over 40,000 individuals annually, primarily from Clarkston and greater DeKalb County, Ga., many of whom have immigrated to the United States or are newly-arrived refugees. The Center’s programs are designed to bring people together and bridge divides of language, customs, culture and faith. In addition to the headquarters building, the Clarkston Community Center includes an activity field for sports and recreation, acreage for a planned community garden and an additional structure for future development. Angora Hall, the Center’s renovated auditorium and stage, is available for public rental for parties, weddings and other special events. A new fundraising program, Friends of Clarkston Community Center, offers individuals the opportunity to financially support the work of the Center. www.clarkstoncommunitycenter.org