Arts-Kids is a free after-school, youth-development program that uses the arts as a tool to reach children with special needs.
“The children we help are not selected for their artistic ability,” said executive director and founder Pat Sanger. “They are selected because they may be living in a stressful home life, shy, or if they are new in school and need a place to make some friends.”
While living in Norfolk, Va., Sanger noticed children living in stressful environments were not getting the nurturing they needed.
“I got this whole idea to help integrate the emotional creative part of developing oneself, which often seems to be absent in these kids,” Sanger said. “I started up the program after I moved out to Park City, and found the program can be used for any child from any kind of background.”
Arts Kids, which involves an eight-week schedule in all the elementary and middle schools in Summit County, also holds sessions at Park City High School, Sanger said.
“The younger children in the elementary schools always do clay, make hats, use watercolors, face paint and hip hop dance,” she said.” The secondary or older levels, which include Treasure Mountain and North Summit middle schools and Park City High School will be creating graphic novels, ceramics and hip hop sessions.”
In order for the sessions to run smoothly, Arts-Kids needs volunteers.
“There are up to 18 kids in nine groups,” she said. “We would like three to four volunteers to help the trained facilitator, especially in the elementary schools.”
Sanger is looking for adults and teens who aren’t necessarily artistic, but value art as a learning tool.
“We would like to have the volunteer commit to three hours a day,” she said. “The groups start immediately after school and they run two-and-a-half hours. We would like the volunteers to come 15 minutes early and stay for clean up.”
There is a one-time, two-hour training session as well.
“Volunteers do have fun,” Sanger said. “If they want, they can do the project with the kids. We like them to work alongside the kids and be a mentor and a role model.”
To volunteer or for more information, call Arts Kids at (435) 615-7878 or email [email protected]
Teens attending Park City High School and Treasure Mountain Middle School can volunteer through the Arts Teens program by talking to their school counselors.