The Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve is offering more than just bird viewing this summer.
A series of week-long arts camps are set for July and August for kids aged five to 13.
Starting with the Combination Wildlife Art & Nature Explorers Camp on July 10, children will get the best of both summer camps.
Kids will get a mix of art and environmental education as art teacher, John LeFlock, explores different artistic techniques, working with multiple mediums to showcase the importance of art in different fields of work. For the nature portion, kids will be outside connecting to the unique habitat of the reserve, including pond life, frog habitats, and beaver programs.
Children will be divided into two different age groups to enjoy artistic mentoring and the joys of playing outside with a knowledgeable environmental educator.
The Combination Wildlife Art & Nature Explorers Camp is for kids aged five to 13 and runs Monday, July 10 to Saturday, July 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Following that will be two week-long Wildlife Art Camps, one for kids aged five to 10, the other for those eight to 13.
In this art camp, children will learn art techniques from LeFlock. Lessons will include everything from sketching to 3D art to airbrushing. They also have fun sketching and drawing animals that kids will find outside as they explore the connection of art to the natural world. All materials are provided.
The age five to 10 class runs Monday, July 24 to Friday, July 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The age eight to 13 class runs Monday, Aug. 14 to Friday, Aug. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
In addition to the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve’s kids’ summer arts camps, they’re also offering Family Art Classes and Adult Painting and Drawing Classes every Sunday in July.
Also taught by art teacher John LeFlock, these classes will give adults the chance to be creative.
In the Family Art Classes, you will have fun learning to draw and paint nature together and all materials will be supplied. Classes run July 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 1-2 p.m.
The Adult Painting and Drawing Classes feature basic drawing and sketching in pencil and charcoal, basic painting in acrylics, watercolours and pencil crayons, and how to draw and paint, flowers, animals and birds. All materials will be supplied. Classes run July 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 2:30-4 p.m.
For more information and to register, go to chilliwackblueheron.com/events. Contact Camille Coray at herons@shawbiz.ca or 604-823-6603 with any questions.