Sitka Fine Arts Camp Volunteer Newsletter

June 10, 2011

Issue 19

Greetings!

The Elementary school camp was in full swing this week. It was incredible to have the energy of all of the instructors and students on campus. I had the opportunity to stop in and join a few of the classes, and it was so much fun (and it seemed like the kids were enjoying themselves, too!)

In Hames, WT and Steven taught high-energy classes in dance and acrobatics. They really got the students moving!

In Yaw, Andrea, Ellie, Roblin and Megan taught classes in music, movement and drawing. These instructors really encouraged the students to let go and express themselves.

In the ceramics building, Liz helped her students make ceramic animal shakers, while Kyle taught rhythm and jazz in the Yaw Chapel.

Inspiring teachers with inspiring students in an inspiring place. I can't think of a better week!

Incredible Transformation

A walk through campus four months ago was a walk through boarded up buildings and decaying roads and walkways. No one expected to make as much progress as has been made in such a short period of time.

The community in Sitka, and supporters of the camp and SJ campus have pulled together to make what seemed impossible happen.

A walk around campus now shows students working in a crisp, remodeled Ceramics building. It shows faculty members living in the beautiful rooms of North Pacific Hall. It shows counselors playing frisbee on a lawn that has received the care it so badly needed.

Next week campers will start using the darkroom that our volunteers have built out of thin air. They will be playing music in an abandoned laundry room, and writing with a view of the SJ field and Crescent harbor from upstairs in Fraser Hall.

There is a lot for which we can all be proud. A walk around campus now shows life and smiling faces and it's thanks to everyone that has put so much of themselves into the revitalization of this campus. Are we finished? No. But it is incredibly inspiring to see how far we have come, and how much people are already enjoying the changes that have been made.

Thank you to all contributing businesses!

Alaska Airlines, Alaska Marine Lines, Allen Marine, Anthony's Flooring, Aurora Business Supplies, Backdoor, Baranof Chiropractic, Belly Meat, Birch Equipment, CBC Construction, Chocolate Moose, Craft Homes, ConocoPhilips, Crane Construction, Crow's Nest Art Works, Dumag Roofing, EagleWolf Electric, Fairweather Prints, Fishermen's Eye, Fisherman's Quay, Foreign Automotive, F/V Coral Lee, Garden Ventures, GCI, Gordon's Mechanics, Greater Sitka Arts Council, Gurdy Docs, Heating Concepts, Home Plus, Howard Pitts Enterprises, Jay's Tree Service, Jet Steam, Juneau Electric, KD Painting, KIFW, Larkspur Cafe, Local Machine, Ludvig's Bistro, MacIntyre Construction, Mike's Floors, Modus, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Petro Marine, Porky's Equipment and Sales, Pizza Express, Precision Boatworks, Pundit Productions, Raven Radio, Reif Hammers and Pipes, Roy's Electric, Russell's, S & S Construction, Saline Services, SeaMart, Sealaska, Shelter Cove Publishing, Sitka Bottling Company, Sitka Counseling and Prevention, Sitka Electric, Sitka Monthly Grind, Sitka Ready-Mix and Rental Equipment, Sitka Sentinel, Sitka Physical Therapy, Sitka Total Fitness, Schmolck Mechanical Contractors, Southeast Fire Protection, Southeast Herring Conservation Alliance, Spenards Builders Supply, Tisher Construction, the United States Coast Guard, Weiland Construction, Wells Fargo, Welsh Enterprises, Westmark, White's Pharmacy, Wilderness Woodworks

Jazz on the Waterfront

Jazz on the Waterfront is an amazing evening of music, food, and dancing. The event features a 20-piece professional big band, singers, and dancers and is a benefit for Sitka Fine Arts Camp.

Harrigan Centennial Hall

Saturday, June 25^th

7:30 pm

Tickets are $50 and are on sale at Old Harbor Books. Food will be provided by the Channel Club. For more info call 747-3085.

Capital Campaign

Donate toward the materials and labor it has taken to make the campus ready for camp:

or

Send Checks to Alaska Arts SE

PO Box 3086 Sitka, AK 99835

Please make a note if you would like to remain anonymous

Focus on Middle School Camp

We have 229 students attending to the middle school camp this year. The students range in age from just finishing 6th grade to just finishing 8th grade. Campers will have full days with 5 classes and an evening Art Share.

Art Shares

The community is invited to join evening Art Shares. This is an opportunity for our faculty members to share their passion, what they do and how art fits into their own lives with the campers, community members and guests.

7pm at the Hames Center, starting this Sunday (6/12)

Camp Count-down

With elementary camp over, we have 2 days until Middle School campers start spending their days and nights on campus.

We are up to 12,092 volunteer hours!

Any help you can give this week will make this number grow.

Sat. June 11:
Join a work party, starting at 9am, to help us put the final touches on dorm rooms.

This week:

Call us at 747-3085, or show up on the campus to see what you can do.

Thank you to Donna, Bridget and the group of volunteers that made curtains for North Pacific Hall.

And another special thank you to the parents that helped put on the Elementary School Camp. It was great to see so many happy faces on campus!

Thanks for the ongoing support,

Cassi Olson, Development Coordinator

Wendy Alderson and Laura Schmidt, Volunteer Coordinators

www.fineartscamp.org/sjc

www.facebook.com/sitkafineartscamp

Sitka Fine Arts Camp/Sheldon Jackson Revitalization