After walking through the doors to one of the buildings at Sense of Wonder Creations, one encounters masks of different shapes, sizes and colors, along with puppets, shelves of old books and all manner of paints and brushes.
After walking through the doors to one of the buildings at Sense of Wonder Creations, one encounters masks of different shapes, sizes and colors, along with puppets, shelves of old books and all manner of paints and brushes.
One also encounters a feeling, one that has been cultivated for 35 years, ever since the Vineyard Haven arts camp opened in 1991.
“We promote understanding, and peace, and love, and community, through the creative arts,” said founder and director Pam Benjamin. “Kindness is a running theme here, shown through the talks, puppet shows, theatre and music.”
Ms. Benjamin moved to the Island in 1972 with her husband, Nat Benjamin, who co-owns Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway. Their Vineyard Haven home doubles as an arts camp year-round.
Founder Pam Benjamin and friend.
Founder Pam Benjamin and friend.
“This camp seemed to be bringing together all the parts of my life that I’m passionate about, the environment and bringing people who are different together,” Ms. Benjamin said.
The summer program spans five weeks throughout July and August for kids between the ages of 7 to 12, and continues in shorter, after-school sessions in the fall, winter and spring for ages 6 to 18.
“Each week is something different,” said Ms. Benjamin. “Next week we’re doing stop-motion animation, and we always have a puppet show or theatre or songs that we do that have a meaningful positive message.”
Special guests are also invited to speak with the children throughout the summer. Often the speakers are artists, however others embody social justice movements, giving the children a peek at the wider world and those working to do good.
On a recent afternoon, about 30 kids took a break from their arts projects to listen to Dr. John Francis, who was appointed the United Nations Environment Program’s Goodwill Ambassador to the World’s Grassroots Communities.
John Francis, founder of Planetwalk, talks to campers.
John Francis, founder of Planetwalk, talks to campers.
Mr. Francis is also the founder of Planetwalk, a nonprofit environmental awareness organization.
“Environment became about human rights and gender equality and economic equity and all these other big words,” Mr. Francis told the kids as they settled into their chairs. “But it was really about how we treat each other.”
In the 1970s, Mr. Francis decided to stop using motor vehicles and instead walked wherever he went, usually very long distances to raise awareness about the environment. He walked across the United States and walked 4,000 miles across South America, among other treks.
“Think about how we treat each other as part of the environment, and how important being kind to one another is,” he said.
He also took a vow of silence for 17 years, which prompted numerous questions from the children, including: “Why did you start talking again?” and “Did you listen and look at the animals while walking.”
Mr. Francis answered the children by telling them about how he approaches each day.
“When I get up, I ask myself how am I going to go out and be kind, and how am I going to go out and love people, and how am I going to help the planet.”
After Mr. Francis finished talking, the children lined up with their lunch boxes and sat on cushions under mismatched tents, excited to eat and laugh together.
“We usually go around to the oceanside and sit in a circle and have lunch,” said Ms. Benjamin. “We go around the circle, and everyone gets to tell their cause, which doesn’t have to be something grandiose, but is a time where the kids can think about something they can do to be kind or helpful. This is a time when they get to think about something else besides themselves.”
Ms. Benjamin’s mission at Sense of Wonder Creations has always been about giving back, in addition to preparing the next generation to lead in a creative way.
“I tell the kids that we adults have made a lot of mistakes and we’re counting on you because you’re the new generation and we need you,” she said. “To help us, we’re really counting on you because you’re going to have all sorts of wonderful new ideas and projects to help make a difference in the world.”
For more information, visit senseofwondercreations.org.
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