When most people think of museums, summer camp doesn't typically come to mind. However, the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (SAMFA) in Texas is working to change that. The San Angelo Standard Times reports the museum is gearing up to offer area children a chance to explore the museum and get creative during their time off from school.
According to the news outlet, the weeklong programs offered at the museum are meant to pique
healthy kids' interest in nature as well as art. Megan DiRienzo, curator of education at SAMFA, is excited about the revamped classes and hopes it will help kids embrace the environment around them.
"The objective is to foster creativity over the summer, to give kids a chance to experience things they wouldn't be able to experience in school," DiRienzo told the news outlet.
Programs offered include The Art of Nature camp, in which youngsters learn about alpacas while creating unique pieces of art based off of the animal. Another week takes children to the Chicken Farm Art Center where they learn how wool is made.
Unlocking children's imaginations while they're participating in
outdoor play is a win-win for all involved. Not only do youngsters have a chance to express themselves in a judgment free zone, but they also get to harness a love for the beauty in nature. Options like this may prevent kids from developing "nature-deficit disorder," a condition coined by renowned author Richard Louv.