HOT SPRINGS – Kids tried their hand at acrobatics, built cob sculptures and made their own cigar box guitars in Hot Springs over the past couple of weeks.

The annual Summer Arts Camp, put on by the Hot Springs Artists Society was held on the shaded lawn space of the Towanda Gardens from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 31.

The camp concluded with a performance by the campers, where the youths showed off some of the skills they had learned over the past couple of weeks on last Friday evening.  

Local youths kept busy throughout the two weeks of camp getting an opportunity to try their hands at a number of different artistic pursuits.

These including constructing structures out of branches and building two cob sculptures, a sleeping dragon on the grounds of Towanda Gardens and a bison in town.

According to Susan Roberts, camp director and member of the Hot Springs Artists Society the sculptures consist of a combination of straw, sand and clay.

Roberts added the campers had enjoyed the two weeks of camp.

“The kids had a good time,” Roberts said.

The kids also received instruction from an area musician as Nathan Eyre of Polson made the trip to Hot Springs to instruct the campers on the art of crafting cigar box guitars.

In another musical project the kids at camp also got the chance to participate in making a large PVC organ and wind harp.

Some of the braver campers were given the opportunity to try their hand at acrobatics as they learned to gracefully move through the air with the help of  Raven Summer, who instructed the kids in aerial skills.  

Seven students took part in this year’s camp.

The camp was held from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. throughout the duration of the two weeks.

The Hot Springs Artist Society with the support of a grant from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation put on the two week youth art camp.