Drop-Off Art Camps Offered Monday for Brookfield Students

BROOKFIELD, CT — Brookfield area students looking for some creative indoor fun on the half-day Thursday for Ridgefield and the school holiday Monday for all local schools, are invited to come to The Arts & Nature School of Ridgefield, a brand new children’s art school that opened in November on Route 7 on the Redding/Ridgefield town line. The Arts & Nature School offers art, musical theater classes, birthday parties, “Splatterday” splatter painting events and one-of-a-kind glow parties. The studio features a wide variety of offerings for children and families including paint and sip, teen paint and pizza night, Mommy & Me Music & Movement, kid’s karaoke, knitting workshops and much more.

On Thursday, Jan. 11 from 1:00-4:00 p.m., students ages 5-10 years old can make painted felt stick puppets at a half day camp. Class is taught by Wendy Mitchell, an award winning writer, musical theater instructor and youth advocate. Students age 7-14 are invite to sign up for a half day of knitting workshop and duct tape creations on Thursday, Jan. 11 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Knitting projects include hats, scarves and neck warmers. Duct tape projects include wallets, purses, belts and rose pencil toppers. Knitting and duct tape creations is taught by French native Nathalie Dunn who now resides in Ridgefield. The cost of the one-day workshop is $35 per student or stay for both sessions and save $5. Sign up here.

For Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday on Monday, Jan. 15, The Arts & Nature School is hosting a special workshop called "Play & Paint for Peace." Originally hosted by Mitchell at the now-closed Sandy Hook Arts Center for Kids (SHACK) in January of 2013 after the tragic school shootings, the event was designed to teach students how to be kind and how to show it in their art. The workshop runs from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The cost is $40 per student which includes paint and a canvas and a portion of the proceeds will go to fund a new free community teen theater troupe called P.A.C.T., Positive Action Community Theater.

Mitchell, a member of the Ridgefield Arts Council and Ridgefield Youth Commission is a singer/bass player and writer, was the founder of the nonprofit healing arts studio Sandy Hook Arts Center for Kids (SHACK), opened by her after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in her hometown in 2012. She has taught musical theater in the Greater Danbury area for the last 15 years, and will continue to do so at her new school.
“My philosophy centers around the concept that each child is different with unique talents and abilities. My job is to help develop those talents while building their self-esteem in a nurturing environment. Through theater games, improvisation, vocal and theater instruction, we’re helping kids develop lifelong skills,” Mitchell said.

In the two months since they have opened, The Arts & Nature School has held fundraisers and events for the Greater Danbury Women’s Center, Dylan’s Wings of Change, Newtown Strong Therapy Dogs, Family & Children’s Aid and Meals on Wheels. You many have seen Wendy and her 17-year-old daughter volunteering under the tent doing face painting at the Georgetown Winter Festival to raise funds for the Redding Fire Department and Rising Starr Horse Rescue.

The next Splatterday splatter painting event for kids ages 2-10 is on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 10am-12pm and Sun. Jan. 22 from 12-4pm. The Arts & Nature School’s Winter Session begins on Tuesday, January 17, 2018. Click here, or check out their website, artsandnatureschoolofridgefield.com, for class offerings and registration information.