Summer 2010 Camps
You can still register for camps, however now that June 1 is here all registration must be done in cash, in person at 716 King St. West. Please call first before to make sure someone is in the office before coming over, 613 547 5689.
Many of our camp sessions are almost full. Please give a call to make sure that there are spaces in the session that you desire before coming down to register.
Please note that if you register after June 30th we must charge the new HST tax which means that there will be an extra 7% tax on your camp session as the 5% G.S.T. is already calculated into your camp session fees.
Willow Garden Camp, ------Age 2-5 yrs.
Squish & Goo Camp, ------Age 2-3 yrs.
Jr. Art Camp, ------Age 4-8 yrs.
Making Music Camp ------Age 4-7 yrs.
Fairies and Toadstools ------Age 5-8 yrs.
Overflow week added
Jr. Drama Camp ------Age 6-8 yrs.
Sr. Drama Camp ------Age 9-up yrs.
Drama Camp ------Mixed Age Group - 6-up
Sr. Art Camp ------Age: 9-up
Manga Camp ------Age 9-up
Animation Camp ------Age 9-up
Movie Making / Animation Combo Camp ------Age 9-up
Lego Animation Camp ------Age 8-up
Lego Robotics Camp ------Age 9-up
Overflow week added
Movie Making Camp ------Age 9-up
Digital Photography Camp ------Age 8-up
Jr. Fashion Design Camp -------Age 8-10
Sr. Fashion Design Camp ------Age 11-up
Face Painting Camp ------Age 9-up
Sensational Camp For Girls ------Age 9-up
Overflow week added
End Of Summer Multi Media Camp, ------Age 9-up yrs.
SCROLL DOWN TO FIND DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL THE ABOVE CAMPS
At Y.A.K. OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE AND SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN 14 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER.
Summer 2010 Camp Line Up!!
Summer 2010 Camp Line Up!!
Before June 1, registration can be done through the mail or in person at 716 King St. West, Kingston Ontario, K7M 2G2
We only accept personal cheques or cash (cash only in person)
All cheques must be made payable to Carrie Whalen, NOT Y.A.K.!
All cheques must be made payable to Carrie Whalen, NOT Y.A.K !
All cheques must be made payable to Carrie Whalen, NOT Y.A.K.!
All cheques must be made payable to Carrie Whalen, NOT Y.A.K.!
All cheques must be made payable to Carrie Whalen, NOT Y.A.K !
All cheques must be made payable to Carrie Whalen, NOT Y.A.K.!
AFTER JUNE 1, ALL REGISTRATION MUST BE DONE IN PERSON, FULL PAYMENT, CASH ONLY, AT 716 KING ST. WEST.
If you are interested in registering for any camps please scroll down to the bottom of this page to read How To Register For Y.A.K. Camps
Check out last summers camp photos:
gallery.me.com/cboowhalen
Carrie Whalen’s
Y.A.K. Young Artists Of Kingston
15th Annual Summer Camps
WILLOW GARDEN CAMP -Ages 2-5
A charming, creative morning camp for our youngest campers.
Join us for one of our 1 week sessions of camp in the bright and lovely, Big Willow Chapel at 716 King St. West.
This camp will honor a natural flow of activities geared to young children starting with:
Play time in our fabbydoo indoor children’s play area, puppet shows, story time, arts and crafts, sit down snack, then group play time.
We have some exciting surprises for this new camp including guest musical performances by local musicians such as Alison Gowan, Sheesham & Lotus, etc., jumping castles, new movement and balance equipment, adventures in our village garden and much much more.
When:
Week 1: ---July 5-9
Week 2: ---July 12-16 (This week has only 5 spaces left as of June 8)
Week 3: ---July 19-23 (This camp has only 4 spaces left as of June 8)
Week 4: ---July 26-29
Week 5: ---Aug. 3-6 ($240.short week)
Week 6: ---Aug. 9-13
Week 7: ---Aug. 16-20
Week 8: ---Aug. 23-27
Week 9: ---Aug. 30- Sept. 3
Cost: $180. per week
Time: 9 a.m.-12 noon
Age: 3-5 years (must be potty trained)
(2 year old children welcome to attend with parents)
Where: The Big Willow Chapel 716 King St. West
Instructor:Melodie Ballard & Carrie Whalen
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
SQUISH & GOO -Ages 2-3 years
A one hour parent participatory art camp for itty bitty artists.
This is a wonderfully popular little 1 hour art class which introduces little ones to painting, drawing, cutting, ceramic painting, clay, multimedia and other fun and creative projects along with little adventures in our Village Garden. This class is a great opportunity as well for parents of young children to get together, meet new friends, touch base on parenting issues, or just simply bond over a tub of Elmer's glue.
When:Same as the above weeks of Willow Garden Camp
Cost: $150. per week
Time: 11a.m.-12noon
Age: 2-3 years
Where: The Big Willow Chapel 716 King St. West
Instructor:Carrie Whalen
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
JR. ART CAMP -Ages 4-8yrs
Click on the link below to see photos of last summers camp,
gallery.me.com/cboowhalen
This summer the Y.A.K. Art Camp will be held at St. Johns Anglican Church at 41 Church St. (not far from the The Big Willow Chapel).
In these one week sessions, young people will explore many new and exciting creative projects using a wild assortment of materials: clay, acrylic painting, drawing projects, printmaking, water colours, collage and our famous and ever changing multimedia projects are examples of activities we do in various ways each week. Other projects may include paper making, fimo, felting, silk screening, ceramic painting, textile projects, sewing, simple animation, baking, gardening, outdoor games, guest performers and artists, playing in the park, jumping in the jumping castle, activities at The Big Willow Chapel, walks down to the water front etc. All of our staff are wonderful face painters and will be painting faces with top quality face paints throughout each week of camp. Children bring there own lunches, snacks and drink, however we provide pizza on Wednesdays and hot dogs on Friday.
Day Layout: 1/2 day & full day campers spend the a.m. working indoors on their main art project of the day with one snack break at 10:30. At noon the half day kids go home and full day kids have lunch. Every Wed. is pizza day & every Fri. is hot dog barbecue, so no lunch is needed on those days (no extra fee) Please inform us of any dietary needs (ie. Soy burgers instead of meat). In the afternoon full day kids are free to pursue other projects of interest, many of which are listed above. Since the most efficient, long lasting, and profound learning takes place when instigated and pursued by the learner, we at Y.A.K. try as much as possible to give young people the freedom they need to explore their own creative interests. A gallery show is held at the end of the week at 3:30 for parents and friends.
When:
Week 1: ---July 5-9
Week 2: ---July 12-16
Week 3: ---July 19-23 (only 4 spaces left as of June 8)
Week 4: ---July 26-30
Week 5: ---Aug. 3-6 (short week)
Week 6: ---Aug. 9-13
Week 7: ---Aug. 16-20
Week 8: ---Aug. 23-27
Week 9: ---Aug. 30- Sept. 3
Cost: Full Day: $300. per week, (short weeks $240.)
Cost: Half Day: $200. per week (short weeks $160.)
Time: Full Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm)
Time: Half Day 9 a.m.-12 noon
Age: 4-8 years
Where: St. John's Anglican Church 41 Church St. (In Portsmouth Village)
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructor: Jessica Strong and other Y.A.K. staff and C.I.T.'s
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
MAKING MUSIC CAMP -Ages 4-8 yrs.
Music exploration + crafting handmade instruments
In this one week camp young people will explore many different ways to make music with all types of handmade instruments which they will make over the course of the week. We will have musical guests, a drumming workshop and plenty of indoor and outdoor play time as well.
When: July 5-9
Cost: $300.
Time: 9 a.m.-4p.m.
Age: 5-8 years
Where: St. John's Anglican Church 41 Church St. (In Portsmouth Village)
Instructor:Alison Gowan & Y.A.K. Staff
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
FAIRIES & TOADSTOOLS -Ages 5-8 yrs.
A sweet one week camp full of fairly land fun and mischief.
In this one week camp little Fairies will have lovely adventures in an imaginary enchanted land where they will make wings, fairy villages, fluttering practice, fairy fashions, fairy potions, face painting, tie dyed silk scarfs, fairy dancing, butterflies and ladybug search in the village garden.
Here is a poem to get you into the mood...
The Fairy Camp
What did I see in the woods, to-day?
I saw a fairies' gipsy-camp.
The tents were toadstools, brown and gray,
Among the bracken, soiled and damp.
I called on a cowslip 'mid the green,
And borrowed a bit of fairy gold,
And then I found the Gipsy-Queen,
And so I had my fortune told.
Ah, yes, she told me a secret true,
That wild-eyed gipsy, brown and red!
But I may not tell it out to you,
For that would break the charm, she said.
And if you seek them by yourself
You will not find that strolling band;
They have pilfered the wild bees' hoarded pelf,
And flitted away to another land.
When:
Week 1: --July 12-16 -This session is almost sold out
Week 2: --Aug. 23-27 -This session has 2 spaces left as of June 9
Additional Week: Due to increadable demand for this camp we are adding on an extra week
Additional week 3: July 26-30
Cost: $300.
Time: 9 a.m.-4p.m.
Age: 5-8 years
Where: St. John's Anglican Church 41 Church St. (In Portsmouth Village)
Instructor:Fairy Goddess, Whitney Purdy
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
JR. DRAMA CAMP -Ages 6-8 yrs.
SR. DRAMA CAMP -Ages 9-up yrs.
DRAMA CAMP -Mixed Age Group Ages 6-up
Drama camp is a place for kids to have a ton of fun with a wide variety of
props and costumes while learning some basic drama skills taught through
theatre games and exercises. A balance of free play, original skits and set
pieces will be tailored for each group and for individuals. A short
theatrical display for parents will be held on Friday at 3:30. Children must
bring lunches, snacks and drinks but we will be having Pizza on Wed. with
the Art Camp kids and Hot Dogs on Friday. There will be lots of outdoor play
as we have a large park right next to the Church that we are renting for the
summer and we will also have little trips to The Big Willow Chapel (Y.A.K.
Headquarters) to play in their gardens and enjoy the waterfront as we are so
close to them. This camp will be run by Anna Kidd who has worked with
Christine Harvey for 7 years now, first as a camper, then a C.I.T. and now
as a staff. Anna will be assisted by Judy Roberts who has been an education
assistant to young people for many years.
When:
Jr. Drama -July 19 - 23,
Sr. Drama -August 9-13,
Drama Camp- Mixed Age Group -August 30 - Sept. 3
Cost: $200. per week
Time: 9 a.m.-4 extended hours available at an extra cost.
Where: St. John's Anglican Church 41 Church St. (In Portsmouth Village)
Instructor:Anna Kid and Judy Roberts
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
The below listed camps are more involved arts camps with projects geared to older children.
SR. ART CAMP -Age: 9-14
Sr. Art Campers will be challenged with many different mediums; clay, drawing, painting, printing, sculpture, ceramic painting, photography, graffiti art, and much more. Sr. Art Campers will visit galleries, go swimming at Artillary Park Pool, Play in the new city water park and have a small gallery showing of their work at the end of the camp session. This group will be located right down town at the bottom of Princess St. next to a Subway and a Tim Horton’s so if they would like to bring $ to buy a lunch we can walk them to one of these places or they can bring a lunch along with them.
Leading this group will be our ever so talented friend Meigan Jensen.
Meigan is studying Fine Arts and is FANTASTICALLY talented and creative!
When:
July 12-16
July 26-30 (1 space left as of June 8))
Aug. 9-13 (3 spaces left as of June 8)
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm
Extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300.
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructor: Meigan Jensen (Bio on Meigan - bottom of this page)
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
MANGA CAMP -Ages 9-up
Tweens LOVE MANGA!
Inspired by Japanese Artists, Manga is all the rage with kids 9-up.
In this one week camp kids will learn to draw, paint and sculpt in the Manga style.
Manga books will be available for kids to read and we will have a short Manga movie lunch break each day. Examples of different art work inspired by this movement will be studdied and discussed.
When: July 19-23
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm
Extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300.
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructor: Meigan Jensen (Bio on Meigan - bottom of this page)
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
ANIMATION CAMP -Ages 9-up
Click on the link below to see photos of last summers camp,
gallery.me.com/cboowhalen
Come join us for a week of crazy animated fun!
In this one week camp students will work on developing their own animated short films using clay, plasticine, paper, chalk boards, wire and other tools of the trade. This process includes story board development, character creation, building of sets and props, and instruction on digital filming and movie editing on i-Movie. Finished movies will be prepared on DVD’s for everyone.
When:
July 12-16
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300. for the week
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructor: Pierre Couture and Jon Morin
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
MOVIE MAKING / ANIMATION COMBO CAMP -Ages 9-up
Click on the link below to see photos of last summers camp,
gallery.me.com/cboowhalen
Come join us for a week of crazy Movie Making and Animated fun!
In this one week camp students will work on developing their own animated short films using themselves as characters with the addition of animation in their movies. Clay, plasticine, paper, chalk boards, wire and other tools of the trade will be used to create a twist on the usual Animation and Movie Making Camps. This process includes story board development, character creation, building of sets and props, and instruction on digital filming and movie editing on i-Movie. Finished movies will be prepared on DVD’s for everyone.
When:
Aug. 9-13
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300. for the week
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructor: Pierre Couture and Jon Morin
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
LEGO ANIMATION CAMP -Ages 8-up
Bring in your favorite Lego creations and put them in a move!
In this 4 day camp young people will have the opportunity to learn about stop animation by manipulating their own Lego characters and creations.
Short films will be made and edited on imovie and children will have a disc to take home with them at the end.
When: Aug. 3-6 (This camp session is now FULL)
Overflow camp session Aug. 23-27
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St. Aug. 3-6
The overflow camp session, Aug. 23-27 will be held at The Y.A.K. Headquarters at 716 King St. West
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300.
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructors:Pierre Couture & Jon Morin
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
LEGO ROBOTICS CAMP -Ages 9-up
If your 9 year old is anything like me he or she is dying to play with Lego Robotics.
We are purching several Lego Robotics Sets for camp this year so that Lego crazed kids will have their chance to build them and figure out how it all works with the help of our techno savy staff Pierre Couture and Jon Morin. Lets see what we can make them do!
When:
July 5-9
Aug. 16-20
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300. per week
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructors:Pierre Couture & Jon Morin
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
MOVIE MAKING CAMP -Ages 9-up
Learn how to make your own short movie/documentary.
In this one week session campers will work out an idea for a short movie, plan it out, do character costume design and make up, than shoot and edit their move on imovie on the Y.A.K. Mac computers.
Young people can choose to work on a movie with other students at camp or they can work on their own project. At the end of the session a dvd will be burned for each student to take home.
When: July 19-23
How To Register For Y.A.K. Camps
To register for Y.A.K. Camps please print out this registration form. Special Needs Children
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300. per week (This price includes g.s.t.)
Extended Hours Price: $5 per hour
Instructor: Pierre Couture and Jon Morin
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CAMP -Ages 8-up
In this one week session young people will have the opportunity to explore the ins and outs of digital photography in a creative and inspirational atmosphere. It is better if you can bring your own or your family camera so that you can get to better know the camera that you will be using at home. If you do not have a digital camera, we will have some here for you to use. Each day we will explore different photography techniques. We will shoot Indoors, outdoors, still life, action shooting, self portraits, wild life, mood photography and much much more. All the photos you take will be downloaded in our IMAC computers and you will learn how to creatively edit, retouch, store, display and exhibit your gallery of work.
At the end of the week we will send home photos put to music in a slide show format for friends and family.
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300. for the week (This price includes g.s.t.)
Extended Hours Price: $5 per hour
Instructors: Pierre Couture and Christina Huot
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
JR. FASHION DESIGN CAMP -Ages 8-10
SR. FASHION DESIGN CAMP -Ages 11-up
In this one week session children will explore their creative interests in fashion design through working with various textiles in exciting new ways. Deconstructing/ Reconstructing, Draping, fabric printing, hand sewing, embellishing, making accessories, are some of the fun introductions to designing that we will play with. A fashion show will be held at the end of the session to show off all the cool things that the kids have made.
Also this year children enrolled in any of our full day camps will have a dance OPTION in the afternoons. Megan Oko a former camper turned staff and is a professional dancer and dance instructor in Toronto. To Read a Bio on Megan scroll down to the bottom of this page.
When:
Session 1: For ages 8-10, Aug. 16-20
Session 2: For ages 11-15, Aug. 23-27
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am 4-5pm
Price: $300. per week (This price includes g.s.t.)
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructors: Meigan Jensen & Christine Huot
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
FACE PAINTING CAMP -Ages 9-up
Face painting camp is a great camp for the young artistic entrepreneur in your family. This one week camp will introduce you to professional face painting materials and show you hands on how you too can become an AMAZING face painter. Dazzle your friends at parties, learn how to become a professional makeup performer, learn how to start your own small face painting business. Create scary, beautiful, funny, or gross faces and learn how to apply prosthetics. You will have lots of hands on practice on the Y.A.K. campers.
Many different techniques will be explored and students will have the opportunity to busk during the buskers festival. Students will also get a small professional face painting kit to keep.
When: July 5-9
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300. for the week
Extended Hours Price: $5 per hour
Instructors: Meigan jensen & Christine Huot
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
SENSATIONAL CAMP FOR GIRLS -Ages 9-up
A creative camp just for girls!
Here are some of the activities we will be doing at girls camp this year:
Henna painting, fashion design, girls book club, face painting, tie dying t-shirts and batique silk scarves, swimming, jewelry making, & photography (if ypu dont have a digital camera we have extras). We will also have a movie night with our new theatre projector at the girls sleep over at Y.A.K. The big Willow Chapel.
When: Aug. 30- Sept. 3 (This Camp is full)
Over flow week: Aug. 3-6
Overflow week has only 4 days in it. The price for this week is $265.
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $325. for the Aug. 30-Sept. 3 week (This price includes g.s.t.)
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructors: Meigan Jensen
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
End Of Summer Multi Media Camp -Ages 9-up
We just created this camp Today (July 2) due to a demand for an extra camp for kids 9-up at the end of the summer.
Pierre Couture who is running a bunch of camps for us this summer will be leading this camp which will consist of many options for young people.
I will give Face Painting instruction to any kids wanting to learn face painting, there will also be the option of:
Painting, Clay, Photography, Movie Making, Worm Composters, drawing and much more.
When: Aug. 30- Sept. 3
Where: The Cafe Church 259 Ontario St.
Times: 9am-4pm extended hours available from 8-9am & 4-5pm
Price: $300.
Extended Hours Price: $5. per hour
Instructors:Pierre Couture and Carrie Whalen
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
C.I.T.’s -Counselors In Training - Age 13+
If you have a teen at home 13 years -up that would like to C.I.T. for a week this summer at a Y.A.K. Camp here is what you need to do...
First call Carrie and set up a time for you and your child to meet with her.
Fill out a Y.A.K. Camp Registration Form (provided below) and write C.I.T. possition on the camp section and discuss with Carrie what weeks are availabe for your C.I.T. to work.
C.I.T.'s are expected to be responsible, reliable, on time, energetic, and show initiative.
Often our C.I.T.'s grow into staff possitions if they are fabbydoo and stick with it.
Cost: $50. per week
C.I.T.'s can not work in a week of camp that their siblings are attending, nor can they sign up and C.I.T. with a friend in the same week.
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
Application Form:public.me.com/cboowhalen
If the form does not print out, come by and pick one up from our headquarters at 716 King St. West. Please completely fill out the registration form. It is important to leave an email address for us to contact you regarding your camps. Please fill out an app. form for each child. Art camp cheques are made payable to Carrie Whalen (Not Y.A.K.)
Our discounts are offered as a one time registration deal in March of every year. Look out for it!
Our discount deal event is usually the same Sat. as the Parks and Rec. Leisure Showcase, and happens here at our office at 716 King St. West.
Mail, or drop off your registration (which includes your cheque) to 716 King St. West Kingston Ontario. K7M 2G2.
Payment: is accepted in 2 ways;
1) Payment in FULL, cheque or cash accompanied by your registration form completely filled out.
2)Payment made with deposit of $50. PER CAMP SESSION + post dated cheques which make up the balance (POST DATED CHEQUES MUST BE DATED NO LATER THAN JUNE 1) accompanied by your registration form completely filled out.
If you are taking the second option you must have a $50. deposit per child per session. THESE POST DATED CHEQUES MUST BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR REGISTRATION FORM. If they are not included with your form then your registration can not be processed until they are received.
A note on receipts
Y.A.K. Camp receipts CAN NOT be used for child care receipt purposes. Like music lessons or any other arts programming we are not considered to be providing child care under the eyes of the government G.S.T. department. This sucks as lots of people over the years have used our receipts for child care receipts on their income tax returns but in fact our receipts are not acceptable for this purpose.
We have to charge g.s.t. on our camps as the government does not consider us to be proving Child Care, rather Arts Programming.
Children who can not function on their own for whatever reason must be accompanied by a helper/special needs worker, or parent.
High needs behavior problem children must be accompanied by a parent or worker for the duration of his or her camp session.
If your child has high needs behavior problems and you DO NOT notify us of this, we reserve the right to cancel your session with no refund.
We are not a nut free camp. If you child has a nut allergy we can ask other parents to be careful not to send nut foods during your childs week at camp but this still does not guarentee a nut free environment.
Cancellation Policy
To cancel your camp session and get your money back minus $50. registration fee, you must give two weeks notice. After June 15th there are no refunds for any reason.
Summer Staff, Jr. Staff and C.I.T.'s
JESS STRONG (Sr. Staff)
Jessica attended Young Artists of Kingston from ages 7 to 12, and returned to YAK at age 18 as a teacher. She is now 21 and still coming back! Jessica is an energetic and organized young woman who thrives in a creative educational environment. As a young artist, her work was recognized by the Limestone District School Board. She has performed in various musicals, and with Cantabile choirs and Queen’s Choral Ensemble. Jessica has also been a private tutor and an ORCKA-certified flatwater canoeing instructor. She is currently a professional facepainter and a student of Concurrent Education at Queen's University.
MELODIE BALLARD (Sr. Staff)
Background:
Fascinated with the language it takes to motivate and empower children, I finished the first year of the St. Lawrence College Early Childhood education program and have since Nannied for many families in Canada and Europe. I held a French Teaching position at the Kingston Montessori School for two years which I left to travel.
Philosophy:
I believe that in my relationships, with all people including children, to use trust and respect, to treat every person as though they are intelligent and capable is to open the door to the very best of who they are. I do my best to give the same autonomy to a child as I would an adult. I am energetic and playful and don't mind getting messy in the name of fun and education.
More Staff write ups to follow
MEIGAN JENSEN (Sr. Staff)
Meigan Jensen will be spending her third summer teaching with Y.A.K. camp as of this year. Over the course of her involvement with Carrie and her wonderful programs, she has come to see Y.A.K. as the hi-light of her year, and her second home during the summers. Growing up as an artistic child herself, she takes personal pride in sharing the joys of creativity with youth of all ages, in many forms, including painting, drawing, sewing, face-painting, and any outlet that encourages confidence, positivity, and personal creativeness.
Meigan has had frequent involvement with children, working in public schools since the age of 14, or volunteering with programs such as H'Art Studios and local youth groups and churches.
Meigan, now 22, studied art for a period of time at Lakehead University, where she was picked as the most promising student of her year, and won multiple awards for her personal artwork in the annual Juried Exhibition. Though no longer currently studying in Thunder Bay, she has moved back to Kingston to pursue her painting on a personal level, and continues to expand and sell her artwork in town.
Meigan is certified with both First Aid and CPR, and has years of experience with children of all backgrounds, disabilities, and personalities. Children are her main inspiration and by far her biggest joy in life, and she is looking to flourish and pursue a life-long career as an early childhood educator involving the arts.
FRANCES ROCHE (Sr. Staff)
I have been coming to Y.A.K every summer from Ireland since I was 4 years old till 13. I’m now 17 and I'm so excited to be back! I will be starting my last year of school in Dublin, this September.
I fell in love with the atmosphere at art camp and soon became Carrie’s best Irish friend. I come to Canada every July and now have the wonderful chance to give something back, to work with and get to know the kids at Y.A.K. I adore children, I love working with them and hearing all the crazy stories they have to tell. I frequently baby-sit for different families in my local town in Ireland and in Kingston. I have previously worked in a Primary school in Dublin. I have always been interested in Art. I come from an artistic family and don’t remember the last store-bought card I gave anyone! I was initially inspired by Carrie’s camps and brought the enthusiasm I learned there back home, keeping it ever since.
CHRISTINE HUOT (Jr. Staff)
My name is Christine Huot ,
This will be my second summer teaching, and even learning
myself at the Y.A.K Summer Camps .
I am one of the younger counselors at Y.A.K, i am finishing my
freshman year of high school this June, will be 14 going on 15
when this summer comes rolling around! I love kids and finding myself being a big kid at heart I find it easy to be more of a friend to the campers than a teacher, or instructor.
I have a very artistic personality and was in the LEAP ( Learning
education through the arts program ) throughout my middle school
education. I am an experienced dancer and am also an
amateur professional photographer in modeling and portrait photography so i am getting there ,but its a little to soon to open up a full fledged business! Before I was a counselor at Y.A.K. I was one of Carries campers and I certainly believe that having been in Carries camps, have given me my artistic drive, and my interests for visual arts.
I cant wit to come back this summer , and im excited to get kids to love doing what they do best, being themselves, without being someone they dont want to be, in a safe fun environment!
CELESTE CUNNINGHAM (Jr. Staff)
Celeste Cunningham is a fourteen-year-old high school student attending Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in the west end of Kingston. She attended her first Y.A.K. summer camp when she was five years old (and her parents still have some of her great artwork)! Since then, she has attended Y.A.K. art camps, theatre camps, sock puppet and video camps. For the past two years, Celeste has been working as an assistant counsellor at Y.A.K. during the summer, as well as participating in leadership training programs at Queens University’s Geography camp and an overnight camp north of Kingston. She loves working with all the kids at Y.A.K. In her spare time, Celeste likes hiking with her friends, playing her trumpet, paintball, and (of course) art. She lives with her parents, her older sister, and her cat, Maddie.
LINDSAY CAMMALLERI
Hi, my name is Lindsay Cammalleri and this is my second year as a camp counselor at YAK. Before that I spent a summer as a C.I.T and use to attend the camp from the age of 6 until 12. I am currently 18 and in grade 12 at Regiopolis Notre Dame where I am involved in many art courses. This is my last year of high school until I will be heading off to university. I am excited to be spending another summer at YAK because I love art and enjoy all the variety of artistic camps YAK has to offer. I also love helping with the children and experiencing how creative and fun they can be with their projects. I can’t wait until the summer is here, and I am looking forward to seeing you all there!