Creators Camp Helps Students Think Outside the Box

Students were hard at work figuring out the sounds for their artwork.
Photos by Mahoganie Reckley

Students put the finishing touches on their master pieces.

Teachers presented their students finished products.

By Mahoganie Reckley
Outlook Writer

Students were fully engaged as they watched intently as laser cutters brought to life what were only thoughts on paper a short while ago.

 
Students revel in success holding the first step in the masterpiece they created at Creators Camp FW2015 Expedition: Inactive Art. Creators Camp is a year-round immersive experience broken into expeditions that builds and strengthens the creative confidence/intelligence of emerging creators and innovators.

 
Designed to engage young people both online and off in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Creators Camp builds creative confidence and intelligence by aligning these subjects with the development of five core disciplines: Creative thinking, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and buildership.

 
“Imagination is key to unlock life’s biggest questions and we are simply waiting for individuals that are bold enough to believe they can create an answer. Imagination is the driving force behind the creation of Creators Camp” said Vincent Hunt, one of the founders of Creators Camp.

 
The camp is broken into a three-week program that each week takes a part of the creative process and focuses on a specific concept. Week one focuses on design taking place primarily at the FAMU School of Architecture and Engineering Technology building. Pathfinders are tasked with drawing and creating original works to develop.

They learned how to use and navigate Adobe Illustrator software to create art pieces. Then, they learned how to handle a laser cutter to produce stencils from.
Eight-year-old Gabe had a few thoughts on what he was going to do with the knowledge he is learning at the camp.

 
“I would like to show other kids how to use Adobe Illustrator” said Gabe.

 
Week two troopers learn how to compose and develop their interactive art piece using conductive paint, resistors, speakers and the LilyPad MP3 board. Leveraging Audacity (audio recording and editing software), pathfinders made sound clips of their choice that correspond to art stencils that they made with the laser cutter. After completing their masterpieces, pathfinders are expected to title their art and write a short narrative on why they chose the naming of their work, the inspiration behind the work and define what art means to them.

 
Eleven-year-old Riley, who is participating in his third expedition gives some insight on why he keeps coming back.

 
“Well, it’s fun and I have a friend from school that goes here so it’s extra fun. And I like to meet new people and I love to program,” said Riley.

 
In the third week of expedition, there will be the Interactive Art Exhibit. That’s when students will display their art and sell it for a charity of their choosing.
Creators Camp is designed to help students get to know themselves without fear of failure and organizers say everyday its doing just that.