OTTAWA, Ohio (WLIO) — Putnam County students spent Presidents Day combining art and nature during a hands-on workshop designed to spark creativity and environmental awareness.
The Quarry Farm Nature Preserve & Conservation Farm and the Putnam County Educational Service Center teamed up to host an art workshop where students created masks using tree bark, pinecones and other materials collected from local woods.
The two organizations have collaborated on various programs over the past two decades, encouraging children to explore their own backyards and learn about nature while expressing themselves creatively.
“Well, winter is always challenging. We do a lot of winter hikes and and animal tracks and things like this, but we really wanted to focus on trees and the importance of trees and just getting to know the trees around you by the bark. And in the process of designing this workshop, we just found out there's some really cool stuff out there. We ought to look at it a little more closely” says Anne Coburn-Griffis, The Quarry Farm, Nature Preserve & Conservation Farm.
The program was funded through a grant from the Ohio Arts Council, providing students and their families an opportunity to tap into their artistic side.
“We've been trying to offer a lot of opportunities for arts here in Putnam County, we have a small community, and our community is centered a lot around sports, as everybody knows. And so when we get grants with the Ohio Arts Council, it allows us to provide for more art partnerships and art opportunities in the county,” says Melissa Basinger, Curriculum Coordinator, Putnam County ESC.
Organizers say the partnership will continue this summer. Quarry Farm and the Putnam County ESC plan to host another art-and-nature workshop in June, where participants will create maple leaf stepping stones.
