3 Excellent Reasons Why YOU Should Teach Summer Art Camp
Whether you are a classroom teacher or an artist who loves to share your craft, summer art camps are an endlessly beneficial opportunity for you. Teaching summer art camps is a great way to try new things that your normal curriculum may not have the space for. You can take advantage of the inspiration of the most vibrant season to teach young people who love art the joys of creating. Here are some of our favorite reasons why you should teach at a summer art camp.
Students proudly showcase their creative works from summer art camp, embodying the excitement of a vibrant artistic journey.
Creative Outlet
If you are like me, being able to create every day in the classroom is one of the perks of the job. While I may not create my own art every day in my classroom, sharing the act of creation with my students can be just as rewarding. Oftentimes, when summer comes there's no longer the opportunity to have a daily creative outlet.
Summer art camps offer teachers the opportunity to create in a structured environment that has more freedom than the traditional classroom. Summer art camps are the perfect place to try new techniques, practice with different mediums, explore innovative teaching, and design unique projects all without the stress and constraints of grades or standardized assessments. Teaching at a summer art camp could relight the spark of passion that you have for art and education. Even if you feel like that fire is still burning, teaching at the summer art camp can help you tap back into your own imagination and creativity in a fun and low-pressure environment.
Professional (and Financial) Growth
Summer art camps can provide educators with a great opportunity to try new projects and techniques that they could potentially add to their curriculum. Summer camps offer a low-stakes environment where you can practice new lessons and skills before you use them in the classroom.
Summer art camps often have art educators from different schools in the area, making them the perfect outlet for collaboration. Learn from your peers and work together to create new and engaging activities that you can use during the school year.
In addition to the professional development that can happen during a summer art camp, these opportunities can also come with financial gain. We all know that the average teacher's income leaves a lot to be desired. Summer art camps are a great way to do the thing you love while also supplementing your income over the summer.
If you're looking to establish yourself as an art educator outside of the classroom, summer art camps are a great way to build your community. You sure are looking to sell art supply kits, host themed workshops, or collaborate with local organizations summer art camps are a great way to build connections that can establish your credibility and lead to income in the future period.
Community Building and Outreach
Summer camps are often community-based and therefore allow you to meet local artists and young people who are interested in art. If you teach older kids during the school year, summer camps are a great way to meet younger students who you may potentially have in class during the school year.
Even more importantly, some art camps allow you to create a community around art and bring together students of different age groups and backgrounds. Bringing together young artists is a great way to ensure that young people will continue to enjoy art education.
In addition to bringing together young people around the creation of art, you are also building a case for the importance of art education. In a world where budget cuts often hit the arts first, gathering the support of parents, local businesses, and community leaders is never a bad idea. Championing art education can help lead to greater advocacy for arts integration and even more opportunities for future teaching endeavors while also validating your students and young artists as they begin their journey in the world of art.
A striking closeup of a pinkish-purple heart artwork highlights the imaginative spirit ignited by summer art camp.
Conclusion
No one is denying that having summers off is nice. But what teacher has never felt bored during their long time away from the classroom? Teaching at a summer art camp combines creativity, enjoyable professional development, and an opportunity to impact your community into a rewarding experience that is memorable for both educators and students. Make the most out of your summers by learning and growing as an educator and as an artist. And, at the end of the day, making additional income during your months off doesn't hurt either.
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Get to know Amanda Koonlaba!
Hi! I’m Amanda. Teaching children to be creative thinkers is my greatest joy. I’m here to help you bring that same joy to your classroom.
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