“You’re Welcome! You’re Welcome!” Ruby cried, stretching her arms wide to encompass OMSI’s darkened Orca Exhibit and the sea of kids engaged within. It was day 3 of this week’s art camp. Dallas was itchy for OMSI’s interactive science areas, Ruby at one with her imagined audience, and Kyle at one with Orca skeletons and interactive info.

Today was very different from the prior camp days: A cultural outing and soft landing in muted light that provided a flowing self-guided tour of stimulation our young sponges could absorb, contrasted to the bright sunlight of prior Kyle-structured afternoons spent crafting origami, watercolor, acrylic, tie-dye and dancing with bubbles outside. Far different than the prior week with Amelia, when we’d prototyped a few lesson plans with her.

Both weeks kids played, crafted and celebrated life-long bonds, while their parents tackled the weighty task of packing up and moving away from us. The perfect send-off gift. Kyle even drove one family’s chickens four hours south, and Dallas smoothed Spencer’s transition by tagging along for the ride and sharing new adventures.

Having told the story somewhat in reverse, somewhat full-circle, here are our pictures and videos in chronological order:

Marble Painting & Watercolor

Origami

Tie-Dye & Bubble Break

Trip to OMSI