A Day of Volunteerism

So, today I set up the huge easel with paper/implements of color, all ready for the Boeing Volunteers children to come in from the field... hot and ready to share some of their nature experience.
As I facilitated the shy ones, who couldn't remember something from the field that they would like to draw,
and couldn't imagine why they would want to...I remembered myself at that age. Unsure, afraid to get it wrong, and self conscienous.

There was a little boy, he signed his name...Dylan, and shyly said to his Dad and
to me, "What should I draw?"...Neither his father nor myself intended to give him an answer to that question, well actually his Dad almost gave the boy a solution but caught himself. As other children around him were freely scribbling pretty images of this or that, without too much reserve or fear..he looked up and saw his own answer. He reached for the brilliantly colored photographic images I had placed up high enough to be "not too" manipulative but still available. He chose one and was so excited visually by the colors his entire demeanor changed. He became very serious about shape, form, and began to lay out his design...just like an draftsman. This little boy designed 2 beautiful, well thought out and executed drawings that he spent 45 minutes on. They are amazing~!!

He has NO IDEA that he already possesses skills and aptitude, and I believe he will realize them at some point and use them in some form of creating in the future.  Because I believe we are all creators in some way,
I know those gifts are his to live out. We all copy, design, reassemble and make our individual stamp on the outcome of our lives. It is our ART to be alive and to create from our Souls, and every Soul is different and nurtured by the unique qualities IT craves.

It is my joy and passion to mould my reactions and responses to these young creators, so that it is THEIR way and THEIR SOULS Seeking, that I facilitate...not my ideas or my goals. It won't be everyone to expresses ART by drawing images....or moulding clay or using their visual qualities. Not everyone will express themselves in song, or movement or cooking, or....? Yet, Everyone creates their own beauty and their own grace, their own friendships and their own way to love. We are all truly Artists of our Lives...we are all Creators...and how Cool is That?

So...From that place of freedom and "everything is right and nothing is wrong" place, today, the children led me to a creation I didn't expect...and it was perfect and timely. We created "Snail Houses" and "the fantasy" story that goes with it is unfolding and "the reality" story is funny. I sense a "Children's Nature learning and Creative activity book" on the horizon~

Peace and Be Well with Nature,
RM