Mariposa Arts Council and Sierra Foothill Conservancy offer place-based arts and environmental education day camps for students TK-6th grade during the spring and summer, in partnership with local organizations and education facilities.
Led by naturalists, scientists, indigenous culture keepers, and teaching artists, this program is designed to allow students to safely explore and celebrate preserved natural landscapes near to where they live.
The 2024 Summer Break Day Camp was a great success!
Based at Mariposa Elementary School with instruction along the Mariposa Creek Parkway, this program was free, and open to all enrolled Mariposa County School District and Sierra Foothill Charter school students. Below are materials from Camp.
Parent Handbook – for Enrolled Students
The Summer Day Camp Parent handbook provides detailed information about our Day Camp program. If you have questions, please contact nancy@sierrafoothill.org
English Edition
Spanish Edition
Schedule
Starting June 10, Day Camp runs Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm, with weekly field trips to the Mariposa Creek Parkway, the Stookey Preserve in Lush Meadows, and Wahhoga Village in Yosemite National Park.
- Week 1: June 10-14
- Week 2: June 17-18 and June 20-21 (June 19th is Juneteenth, a federal holiday)
- Week 3: June 24-28
- Week 4: July 1-2 (short week due to the July 4th federal holiday)
- Week 5: July 8-12
- Week 6: July 15-19
Curricula + Activities
Over the course of both day camps, our educators focused on building student’s relationship to their landscape and place, with each day structured around thematic concepts, including watersheds, cultural histories, foods, habitat and more. Artistic and scientific practices were woven into each activities, including things like:
- Building a model of Mariposa watersheds
- Harvesting and making indigenous foods and medicines
- Learning stories, legends and local histories
- Weaving baskets with willow stems
- Measuring ecosystem health with scientific tests
- Making music with nature’s sounds
- Creating pottery with local clay
- Sourcing natural dyes and observation-based painting
+ Explore Student Creation Journal
+ Click to images below to view Curriculum activities
Camp Leads + Educators
Clay River: Clay is a cultural arts activist, mural painter, poet, storyteller, weaver, beader, quilter, land steward, water protector and a member of the Passamaquoddy and Mi’kmaq Nations. Currently a Programs and Projects Manager and teaching artist at the Mariposa Arts Council, Clay’s wide-ranging background includes Native education curriculum development, youth leadership and community health.
Ava Burns: Ava is a musician and educator based in Mariposa, California and works as a Programs and Projects Manager and teaching artist at the Mariposa Arts Council. As a visionary teacher with over 20 years experience in alternative and traditional school settings, Ava focuses on unleashing creative potential, and empowering students to use art as a tool for self expression and community building.
Allyson Brooks: As the Community Engagement Manager at Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Allyson manages and oversees all youth and adult education programs, including a highly successful youth field trip program. Allyson specializes in ecology and creating integrated curriculum blending science, conservation, outdoor immersion and movement into her instruction.
Nancy Fluharty: Nancy is an educator with fifteen years of experience and a talented ceramicist based in Mariposa. In addition to serving the Sierra Foothill Conservancy’s Programs Development Manager, Nancy assists with outdoor education programs and community conservation initiatives.
Erica Wolfsen: Erica is a working, professional painter who moved to Coulterville to be closer to family. Erica has served as Art Director at The Huntington Beach Hebrew Academy for 10 years and has taught art to all ages in San Diego, Orange, LA, Tuolumne, and Mariposa counties. Originally from San Diego, she graduated with honors from both the Coronado School of the Arts and the University of California San Diego.
Jackie Baxton: Jackie is a metalsmith, sculptor, jeweler and taxidermist who owns, lives and works on her horse ranch in Bear Valley in Mariposa County. She is an instructor at San Jose State University and Evergreen College. She creates dimensional artwork, custom pieces and jewelry that speaks towards the experiences, challenges and mythos of native landscapes and agriculture.
Guest Educators
Katie Mundle – Outdoor Educator
Jessica Thompson – Biologist (Sierra Foothill Conservancy)
Cat Krosschell – Ornithologist/Raptor Demonstrator
Aurora – Geologist
Megan Levad – Poet
Special thanks to all MCUSD and Sierra Foothill Conservancy teachers and staff for facilitating Day Camp learning with us!
How to Sign Up
Registration opens during April and closes in May. This program available to enrolled Mariposa County Unified School District and Sierra Foothill Charter School students. Schools will notify parents when registration is open, and announcements can be found on the Arts Council’s website and social media each spring.
Registration for 2024 is currently closed.
Questions about 2025 Summer Day Camp?
Please contact Nancy Fluharty at nancy@sierrafoothill.org or call us (209) 966 – 3155.
“I was so thrilled to have my kids be able to learn outside, away from screens, and fully immersed in our natural world. Both of my children came home each day with beautiful art projects and a lot to share with me about what they learned that day. Thank you to all of the camp counselors, School staff, and the Mariposa Arts Council for making this a reality!”
2023 Day Camp Gallery
Click images to expand
This program is funded by the Mariposa County Unified School District (MCUSD) and Sierra Foothill Charter School.
