The summer camp will be led by professional teaching artist Thomas Oakes with the goal of engaging students in “creative and educational lessons designed to explore artistic, scientific and engineering concepts all while connecting deeply with nature.”

Oakes is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator who works through Carlisle Arts Learning Center, Perry County Council of the Arts, public schools, and private institutions.

“I do programming within different types of programs,” shared Oakes. “This program, I have summer camps where we have specialized summer camp programming in the state parks. We go for hikes, we do wood burning, carving, and things like that.”

Over the course of two weeks, Oakes will be meeting with two different age groups to explore the natural environment, engage in Science, Technology and Engineering, Environmental Literacy, and Sustainability aligned projects to create original works of art that incorporate woodworking, ceramics, and optical sciences.

Sentinel photo by LIV SUYDAM
McKenna Crofoot uses hot glue to craft a boat using popsicle sticks and corks.

The first day of Project YES was spent learning about various details regarding wood such as woodworking, wood materials and what makes up a tree.

Oakes set aside the first half of the class sharing details about different trees as well as passing around visuals of different pieces of trees for the students to feel, hold, and even break.

Students were asked what they thought about the class, Mckenna Crofoot said, “I think it’s pretty. I hope to learn about animals and more about trees.”

Kayden Bottorff agreed, “It’s pretty fun, I’m just here to get away from my sisters.”

The remainder of the day is dedicated to creating “cork boats” with popsicle sticks and corks. The students are given creative freedom to create their boat however they want.

Sentinel photo by LIV SUYDAM
Vinnie Britt works on his cork boat.

The boats are laminated and painted and then taken down to Kish Park on day two to be tested in the water to see if they float.

“It’s like, another incentive of enjoyment,” shared Oakes. “It’s summer, you know, these kids need summer.”

In addition to floating the cork boats, day two of Project YES includes discussing the materials of clay, looking at fossils, passing around rocks, and talking about erosion.

To add some summer fun to the science, the students will take a nature hike, pick leaves, and press them into clay to make their own pretend fossils.

Next week, when classes resume after the weekend, both groups will be cutting mirrors to make triangular prisms that can be turned into kaleidoscopes out of pringles containers and leftover scrap stained glass.

Oakes said that kaleidoscopes is a Greek word that means “seeing beautiful shapes.”

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with (Perry County Council of the Arts) to integrate the arts with Pennsylvania’s new science standards,” said TIU 11 STEM Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Peney Wright in a press release. “This kind of hands-on, creative learning helps students engage more deeply and retain concepts more effectively.”

Project YES is a voluntary program designed to “support at-risk middle school students” that may face struggles such as academic challenges, behavioral issues, poor attendance, or difficulties adjusting to middle school.

These students learn about the intersection of art, science, and nature, while having a great time with a devoted support system.

The Perry County Council of the Arts is the local partner that arranges and oversees the residency that brought Oakes to Project YES.