Local Kids Learn about the Arts at Summer Camp

Sussex County children learned all about dance, music, fine arts and visual arts at the “Project Vacation: Exploring the Arts” summer camp held recently at Project Self-Sufficiency. Local professionals volunteered their time to teach children about photography, dance, and pottery, while teen volunteers supervised art projects and shepherded the children between activities. A final performance from the group highlighted their knowledge of dance and other theatrical arts.

“This camp would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of Program Coordinator Stephanie Sumpman and numerous volunteers,” noted Deborah Berry-Toon, executive director of Project Self-Sufficiency. Volunteers included artists Colleen Duffy and Kasey Kornak, photographer Rob Yaskovic, vocal music teacher Helen Evans, instrumental music teacher Rick Rentler, harpist Katie Pachnos, and dance teachers from the Dance Expression Dance Arts studio. Teen volunteers included Tim Allocca, Andrew Alsot, Liz Alsot, Catharine Berry-Toon, Nick Esposito, Ruby Esposito, Victoria Kunesch, Brian Jefferson, Emily Jefferson, Elsie Lee, Carly Leifken, Katie O’Brien, Laura Pachnos, Heili Pallan, Hans Pallan, and Spencer Sumpman.

Project Self-Sufficiency is a private non-profit community-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey. The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the lives of their children while achieving personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability. Since 1986 Project Self-Sufficiency has served more than 19,500 families, including more than 30,000 children. 

To find out more about the programs and services available at the agency, call 973-940-3500 or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.