Lakota Pine Ridge Children's Enrichment Project, Ltd.: Art Knows No Boundaries

Lakota Pine Ridge Children's Enrichment Project, Ltd.: Art Knows No Boundaries: In February, 2012 we received an email from Tammy Brown a/k/a “Mallory Knox” notifying us that a group of artists, collecti...

Clay for Kids, Sharing Fun & Learning with Northern Michigan Kids

Clay for Kids has been recognized in the Petoskey News Review for the services it provides kids in the Northern Michigan area.  Melissa Zelenak, owner of Clay for Kids, is an enthusiastic supporter of the arts for children, especially when it comes to clay.

Zelenak started Clay for Kids as part her practicum project to complete her Early Childhood Education AAS at North Central Michigan College.  She was recommended to the Crooked Tree Arts Center, 21st Century Program Director by one of her art professors at the college back in the Fall of 2012.  She's worked in Head Start programs, Elementary and Middle schools, striving to get what she believes is an important and much needed activity to kids in the area, clay art.  Summer of 2012 will expand the Clay for Kids program into other local arts organizations and tribal communities.

"Clay offers kids a great opportunity to learn about art, and themselves" states Zelenak, whose long term goal is to pursue art therapy.  She sees the connection that kids make with clay as a positive and fun experience.  "Kids LOVE clay, that's all there is too it", says Zelenak, "even the kids that are just able to form basic shapes can appreciate their creations and they love all the things they make."  She says that kids are able to learn from their mistakes, adapt, and progress developmentally.  "Several of the kids I've worked with have improved their manual dexterity, fine motor skills and overall attitude about making mistakes.  If they make something they don't like, they just squish it and start again!

The Clay for Kids program serves several counties in Northern Michigan, from Manistee to the Pellston area.  More information about the program can be seen at http://www.clayforkidsl3c.com/.