When you think of summer camp, you might think of activities like water sports, baseball, or archery. Did you know, besides these sports, Camp Winaukee also offers an arts and making program, WAAM (Winaukee Arts and Making)? We believe in offering campers the most well-rounded summer sleepaway camp experience! Here to talk to us today about the program is Head of WAAM, Karen Poffenberger.

1) What are the benefits of WAAM?

The benefits of WAAM are that campers get to tinker, explore, and create. All materials are at their disposal. Some projects are driven by the instructors and offer a specific skill, while many projects are intended to be collaborative and integrate woodshop skills with metal, clay, wire, plaster … and the list goes on!

2) Do you have a philosophy for how you run WAAM?

Yes! The ‘art’ side of WAAM works in collaboration with the ‘wood’ side of WAAM. So, for example, a camper might learn how to make a picture frame and then paint it or mosaic it, or they might make a frame and then stretch a canvas over it because they are interested in painting. The whole idea is to engage the camper in ideating, exploring, and creating using both woodshop and my materials and projects which are largely sculptural and unconventional ways of using paint!

Campers can come and see what I have to offer and what the woodshop has to offer and they may decide that they want to work exclusively with me or exclusively with my counterpart - the choice is all theirs! At the end of the day, wherever they land in our program, they will be making and creating. Hopefully they learn new skills and techniques that allow them to see a creative idea to fruition. There is plenty of time built in that allows them to ‘tinker’ and play with materials to see what ideas might arise. There might be days where they would just like to build with Legos … and that’s ok too! Ultimately I’d like them to be able to walk away with at least one thing they made that they are proud of!

3) What are some WAAM activities or projects campers can look forward to this summer?

Well, we plan to offer a hands-on Minecraft build, lighted signs, and some screen printing. Get ready to dabble in stop-motion projects, rocketry, and pour painting!

4) What are you looking forward to most in this year’s WAAM?

I’m excited to collaborate with our woodshop counselor, Juan, and see where our ideas take us and of course the campers … it wouldn’t be WAAM without the campers!!!