We always intermix nature as it is our ultimate inspiration and shared connection,-through games, stories, songs, and general outdoor nature fun into each class!
Earth Stewards: wild food, wild medicine, and caretaking
Let's delve into wild foraging and native plants and spend our day feasting and creating! We will study, harvest, and FEAST in many of the gorgeous micro-climates and ecologies around Monroe County! We will also make some handy medicines from our local plants, and even help to create native species plantings in some wild places we visit- with seed bombs! Local wild foraging for food and medicine creates a sense of belonging and place that gives confidence and empowerment to all who join in the fun. When we learn to use and enjoy our local plants, trees, and mushrooms, we also learn to love them, and therefore work to protect them. Thus, we become earth stewards wherever we go! We will be cooking and sharing food, making medicines, planting seeds and caretaking the areas we get to enjoy, together practicing taking care of one another and the earth at the same time. Stories, games, exploration including creek play and finding lots of other natural mysteries all included in the fun!
*Potential for carpooling available. Every attempt to work with dietary considerations will be made!
*Potential for carpooling available. Every attempt to work with dietary considerations will be made!
Who: adventurous kids ages 7-13 *older teens who would like to assist as mentors can also join us!
Dates: 9 weeks, Fridays, March 22- May 17, 2024 Times: 9-2pm each class Cost: $420-$480 sliding scale *see details below *potential for carpooling available Class taught by Monique Philpot and Andrea Oeding Register Here! |
Animal Protectors
This 3 part series is dedicated to the wonderful diversity of animals we have in Bloomington! It is during the earliest transition from Late Winter to Spring, when creatures are waking up from hibernation, some are having young, some are starting to find mates and nesting spots and dens. Many migrating birds start to come back home, making it an exciting birding time! We will be creating bird houses, owl boxes, and bat boxes to take home to help out our local flying creatures. We will create feeding stations for various animals, to give them some extra energy for the last of Winter.
Along with studying and creating art about specific birds and animals of our area, we will take a field trip to Goose Pond to see the thousands of snow geese (sometimes up to 10,000 at one time!), coots, eagles, pelicans, and sandhill cranes. This is a jam packed session with lots of making and creating, learning, and TONS of FUN!!!
We always intermix nature connection (it is our ultimate inspiration!), games, stories, songs, and fun into each class! Kids will leave with items to help the creatures of their own backyards, a deeper understanding of our wonderful wildlife, and the fulfilment of providing help for our non-human friends.
We are thrilled to raise awareness and love of our local wildlife, and give back to them too!
For kids 7 yrs old and up
Class Dates: 3 Fridays, Feb. 23, Mar. 1, 8, 2024 9-2pm
Cost: $130-$170 sliding scale register here!
Along with studying and creating art about specific birds and animals of our area, we will take a field trip to Goose Pond to see the thousands of snow geese (sometimes up to 10,000 at one time!), coots, eagles, pelicans, and sandhill cranes. This is a jam packed session with lots of making and creating, learning, and TONS of FUN!!!
We always intermix nature connection (it is our ultimate inspiration!), games, stories, songs, and fun into each class! Kids will leave with items to help the creatures of their own backyards, a deeper understanding of our wonderful wildlife, and the fulfilment of providing help for our non-human friends.
We are thrilled to raise awareness and love of our local wildlife, and give back to them too!
For kids 7 yrs old and up
Class Dates: 3 Fridays, Feb. 23, Mar. 1, 8, 2024 9-2pm
Cost: $130-$170 sliding scale register here!
Cranky ClassThis is not a class about being cranky, or crabbie, or anything of the sort!
A Cranky is a type of light show- a story on a scroll told through images or puppets or music, seen through a viewing window. Similar "moving picture" types of storytelling have been around for centuries, all around the world. The world of the Cranky is still being expanded today, with Cranky Festivals popping up across the world and new ideas being used all the time. |
In this class we will decide on a story together and all come together to create a Cranky show with it. There are lots of different parts and pieces to the making of a Cranky Show, from drawing, coloring, creating shadow puppets, music, narrating, actually cranking the scroll, and so much more. There is a place in this class for anyone who wants to be a part of the creation of Soulcraft's first ever Cranky Show-there are lots of 'on stage/in front of the audience' positions, and plenty of 'behind the scenes' positions too! The fun comes in creating a beautiful Storytelling Night together. At the end of the 6 weeks, we will get to show our Cranky! If you have any questions, please ask!
7 weeks, Friday's 9-2pm January 5-February 16, 2024 Performance will be Friday February 16th!
For Ages 8+ No Experience Necessary! Cost: $275-$325 Sliding Scale
Register Here!
Here are a few Cranky shows for you to enjoy! They are each very different and unique.
Wolf, Wolf, You are Home by (local!) Nina and Sonya Montenegro -the story of wolf OR7, as he traveled alone very long and far to find a home and pack to belong with.
Valley Pre-school "Crankin' Through Covid" Cranky Show -a very simple idea made engaging with a cute squirrel.
The Wonders of Bread, a mini-Cranky a hilarious micro-bread sized cranky
A Snack, a very short, shadow puppet show -a simple idea but very complex and beautiful creation!
Cluck Old Hen with local cranky artist and musician Sam Bartlett -a very fun storytelling song and wonderfully group collaborated picture show
Niko and the Fox Story -a simple cranky with a beautiful story.
Anna and Elizabeth "Golden Vanity" a Cranky made of embroidered cloth
7 weeks, Friday's 9-2pm January 5-February 16, 2024 Performance will be Friday February 16th!
For Ages 8+ No Experience Necessary! Cost: $275-$325 Sliding Scale
Register Here!
Here are a few Cranky shows for you to enjoy! They are each very different and unique.
Wolf, Wolf, You are Home by (local!) Nina and Sonya Montenegro -the story of wolf OR7, as he traveled alone very long and far to find a home and pack to belong with.
Valley Pre-school "Crankin' Through Covid" Cranky Show -a very simple idea made engaging with a cute squirrel.
The Wonders of Bread, a mini-Cranky a hilarious micro-bread sized cranky
A Snack, a very short, shadow puppet show -a simple idea but very complex and beautiful creation!
Cluck Old Hen with local cranky artist and musician Sam Bartlett -a very fun storytelling song and wonderfully group collaborated picture show
Niko and the Fox Story -a simple cranky with a beautiful story.
Anna and Elizabeth "Golden Vanity" a Cranky made of embroidered cloth
*A note on our Sliding Scale Fees: We offer the sliding scale as a means of allowing you to self-scholarship, as needed. We leave it entirely up to you to select your point on the scale, and ask you to recognize that the true cost of running the program is approximately in the middle. We count on your integrity in selecting your rate: when you choose a higher amount, you are making it possible for someone of lesser means to pay a lower tuition. In this way, we are working together to help keep the program affordable.