What magical scenes fill a child’s summer art dreams? Whether painting rainbow clouds or having their colorful art take flight, the 2024 Creative Playdate Summer Program by Second Nature Arts offers 5 weeks of art, play, and endless possibilities! Through immersive, play-based learning and hands-on experimentation, children willexpand their imaginations and make meaningful connections.
We've launched a Creative PlaydateScholarship Fund to ensure that all children, regardless of their economic circumstances, can enjoy the benefits of creative play! Your donation will directly support a child by providing tuition assistance, enabling them to explore materials, learn new techniques, and witness their imagination come to life!
Imagination Stations: Kids will explore diverse mediums and let their creativity soar during our daily choice activity time. They'll have lots of freedom to experiment, allowing their vision to take shape in countless forms!
Outdoor Experiences: We’ll venture outdoors for free play, team-building challenges, cooperative games, and friendship-building activities, creating memories that last a lifetime!
Why Support The Program: At the core of our initiative is a dedication to nurturing children's creative instincts. Your tax-deductible contribution will:
Provide tuition assistance for children eager to embark on our playful art journey this summer, ensuring financial barriers do not hinder their participation.
Empower more kids to bring their imaginations to life. With supportive staff, and a variety of exciting materials at their fingertips, children will experiment freely and push the boundaries of their creativity!
Support kids in experiencing the proven benefits of play-based learning including fostering critical thinking skills, natural motivation, and their social-emotional development.
Turn Summer Dreams into Reality: Our summer program offers kids the opportunity to forge lasting friendships, bolster their confidence, and ignite meaningful creative sparks! Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference in the life of a young person!
How your donation will be used:
$50 provides a child with 10% tuition assistance towards any of our week-long sessions.
$100 provides a child with 20% tuition assistance towards any of our week-long sessions.
$200 provides a child with 40% tuition assistance towards any of our week-long sessions.
$300 provides a child with 60% tuition assistance towards any of our week-long sessions.
$500 provides a child with a 90% tuition assistance to attend any of our week-long summer sessions (and supplies healthy snacks for the week!)
Thank you for believing in the power of creativity and for supporting the 2024 Creative Playdate Summer Program! By nurturing kids’ amazing creativity today, we invest in the innovators of tomorrow!
About Second Nature Arts: The mission of Second Nature Arts is to ignite creativity that fosters meaningful connections with art, nature, and community. We believe that integrating playful creative practices into daily life is essential to well-being at all ages. Through our K-12 and adult programs, we nurture imagination and encourage experimentation so that thoughtful inquiry and expression become second nature. By providing opportunities where wonder and curiosity can thrive, we aim to amplify the joy in learning and innovating.
Susan Lynn Smith [Second Nature Arts, Founder/Director] Susan holds a BFA from New York University and a MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. Her photography as been exhibited at the Visual Studies Workshop, Gulf and Western Gallery, International Center of Photography, Cantor Film Center, Fort Mason Center, Root Division, San Francisco City Hall, MarinMOCA, Cordon | Potts Gallery, Diego Rivera Gallery, RayKo Photo Center, Inclusions Gallery, The Bascom, Berkeley Art Center, and Upstream Gallery. Susan has been an artist-in-residence at VCCA, Penland School of Craft, The Hambidge Center, Vyt - Art Students League of NY, The Rensing Center, and the Lillian E. Smith Center. In 2008, Susan joined the staff at The Oxbow School in Napa, CA, where she was faculty for Oxbow Summer Art Camp before taking on the directorial role from 2011-2020. In 2010, she co-founded Green Art Workshop, a San Francisco based nonprofit for which she acted as co-director and lead facilitator for nearly a decade. From 2019 to 2023, Susan contributed her expertise to the Berkshire Hills Regional School District’s OST programs at Muddy Brook Elementary School, as both an instructor and coordinator. She founded Second Nature Arts in the Berkshires in 2019, which launched its Creative Playdate After School & Summer Program in 2024.
A special thank you shout-out on all Second Nature Arts social media platforms!
Kids Art Enthusiast
Donate $100.00 or more
Amount over $5.00 is tax-deductible.
-A postcard size archival print featuring artwork from the summer program mailed to you. -A special shout-out on all Second Nature Arts social media platforms acknowledging your contribution.
Creativity Champion
Donate $200.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
-A 8" x 10" archival print featuring artwork from the summer program mailed to you. -A special shout-out on all Second Nature Arts social media platforms acknowledging your contribution.
Imagination Investor
Donate $300.00 or more
Amount over $15.00 is tax-deductible.
-A mini book of summer program participants' artworks mailed to you. -A special shout-out on all Second Nature Arts social media platforms acknowledging your contribution.
Dream Maker
Donate $500.00 or more
Amount over $200.00 is tax-deductible.
-A 1.5 hr workshop from our selection of Current Workshop (https://www.secondnaturearts.org/current-workshops) for up to 8 friends or family members ages 5+ at your location. (Must be within 15 miles of 01230 or 01867. Virtual option also possible.) -A mini book of summer program participants' artworks OR three 80 x 11" prints mailed to you. -A special shout-out on all Second Nature Arts social media platforms acknowledging your contribution.
