BEYE Discovery: Summer Adventures Camp, Week 2: The Art of Concealment

Post Contributed by Jocelyne Adkins, Program Director/Educator

Our theme for week 2 of our Summer Adventures Camp was "The Art of Concealment". Highlights from Andy Coppersmith's morning sessions included the creation of "Inspector Gadget" head-wear and an outdoor flag game inspired by semaphore flag signals.

In the afternoon with Maegan Jenkins, students learned how artist Alexander Calder used shaped symbols in his mobiles to conceal messages. Children then had the opportunity to create a symbol system to include secret messages in mobiles of their own design. Ms. Jenkin's students also learned about masquerades and designed masks to transform themselves into a hybrid of 3 different animals. These new hybrids were revealed at our masquerade event and field trip to the Oak Park Conservatory.

With Jocelyne's afternoon sessions, students enrolled in the "BD Spy Academy" and learned about spy careers and the art of disguise. They also participated in physical training exercises and learned how to create codes to communicate with other agents in secret.

This week was quite unique in approach and so much fun! We invite you to take a look below : )

Project: Outdoor Flag Game (Inspired by Semaphore Flag Signals) / Teacher: Andy Coppersmith


Group Flag Photo: Liam, Mei-Li, Caroline & Jeremiah with their original flag designs

Mei-Li used her glitter pen in a zig-zag motion. The result: a design with added shimmer & movement!

Eva writing a series of actions to be performed, based upon the position of the hand-held flag

Caroline, in progress

Caroline: a glowing crown design

Jeremiah's completed design

Joaquin, in progress

Project: Alexander Calder ~ Secret Message Mobiles / Teacher: Maegan Jenkins

Ms. Jenkins presenting Calder's symbols and codes

Emily, in progress, with secret message mobile

Joel, in progress

Mei-Li developing her secret message

Liam cutting out shapes for his mobile

Aidan, working on his mobile design

Emily' s completed mobile

Mei-Li's completed mobile

Norah's completed mobile

Project: Animal Hybrid Masks and Masquerade at The Oak Park Conservatory / Teacher: Maegan Jenkins

Group shot ~ Animal Hybrid Masks

The faces behind the masks! Front: Jeremiah and Joel; Back: Sivan, Caroline, Mei-Li, Liam, Eva & Aidan

Students preparing to perform actions given by Ms. Jenkins (in character, animal hybrids)

Mei-Li, in character, animal hybrid

last action, in character

Below are photos of plants and animals that especially captured the students' interests:

Koi

Turtles!

Parrot talk: "hello"& "go back home" are favorites of this parrot

Grey parrot

Carnivorous Pitcher Plants

Desert Room

Tropical Room

Desert Room Sculpture!

Parrot

Fern Room

After our visit at the OP Conservatory, we walked over to Rehm Park for some outdoor free play:

Sivan

Liam, Joel (back) and Sivan

Mei-Li

Caroline

Aidan and Omer (Beye Discovery's student assistant)

Project: Secret Agent 101: Coded Bracelets & Necklaces / Teacher: Jocelyne Adkins

Students had the choice to create a necklace or bracelet that would either be identical to another agent's (to allow for easy identification of each other while on assignment and in disguise) or to use the bracelet as a way to create and send a coded message.

Jeremiah

Norah

Caroline

Emily

Aidan

Sivan and Mei-Li

Norah

Joel

Emily

Project: Secret Agent 101: The Art of Disguise / Teacher: Jocelyne Adkins

Children can more easily escape detection as spies because they are children! That said, young spies should keep their true identities secret and disguise themselves while on assignment. Please Note: Below is classified information: you are not allowed to share this with anyone!