Arts Camp provides practical, concrete instruction that a church needs to plan, organize, staff, and conduct an annual five-day Arts Camp, including guidance on logistics, funding, finding art instructors (within both the local church and the broader community), ideas for structuring and scheduling the five days of camp, and a celebration on the Sunday following camp. Each chapter includes details on art projects, programming, music, drama, games, and resources.
• Less-packaged, more theologically and pedagogically appropriate, thoughtful, and community-based alternative to Vacation Bible School.
• A way for churches to conduct an artful exploration of faith
“Arts Camp” is a resource that should be on the bookshelf of anyone who plans, runs, or helps with any kind of summer camp or seasonal retreat for children. This is much more than a camp resource and can be used in a multitude of ways and with multiple generations. Tina has done a great job leading the user through all the things one needs to consider as they plan and execute a program such as schedule, space needs, budget, forms, etc. This book is filled with great resources that engage all of your senses and is packed with ideas and suggestions—a book that can be used for many years to come!
—The Rev. Shannon Kelly, Acting Missioner for Campus and Young Adult Ministries, The Episcopal Church
This book is a wonderful resource for churches who want an alternative yet meaningful way to educate and inspire children to open their hearts and minds to God’s world through fun, creative, artistic programming. Christiana offers a treasure trove of ideas and practical advice to create a summer camp that fits the needs of individual congregations. In today’s world of dwindling church attendance, this book offers “out of the box” thinking to creatively minister to the community while, ultimately, building the church for the next generation.
—Lesley Mazzotta, Director of Spiritual Formation, Christ Church/Community Reformed Church, Manhasset, NY
Occasionally a book comes along that everyone in ministry with children, youth, and adults needs not on their office shelves but on their desk. Tina Clark’s book, Arts Camp: A Creative, Customizable Alternative to Vacation Bible School and Beyond, is one of those books. Having led and collaborated with other Directors of Christian Education in creating and leading Vacation Bible Schools for almost 20 years, I find Arts Camp to be an important resource that will offer guidance created from success for the novice or the seasoned VBS leader as you create your own weeks of delighting in God's glory for children.
—Deborah Bell Rodahaffer, Director of Christian Education (1996—2015) St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Louisville, KY; member and former president of Forma; Lead Conference Coordinator, Kanuga's 87th Christian Formation Conference (2015)
