SayPro Development 5-Day Crafts Camp: Structure and Schedule.

The SayPro 5-Day Crafts Camp aims to provide participants with both foundational skills and the opportunity to explore their creativity in a hands-on environment. The camp will focus on a variety of crafts, particularly pottery and jewelry-making, while incorporating other techniques like macramé, leatherworking, and stained glass. This camp structure balances instruction, practical crafting time, and individual creativity. Each day will build on the skills learned the previous day, providing a well-rounded experience for participants.

Camp Overview:

• Duration: 5 days
• Target Audience: Beginners to intermediate crafters (no prior experience necessary)
• Primary Crafts Focus: Pottery, Jewelry-making (wire wrapping, resin), Macramé, Leatherworking, Stained Glass.
• Camp Objective: To provide participants with the skills and knowledge needed to create basic to intermediate craft projects while nurturing their creative expression.
• Daily Structure: Each day consists of a combination of demonstration, hands-on crafting, individual creativity time, and reflection to allow participants to experiment and refine their craft.

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Detailed Camp Schedule:

Day 1: Introduction to Pottery & Jewelry-Making

• Morning:
  • 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Camp Orientation & Introduction
    • Meet and greet, overview of camp schedule, tools, and safety.
    • Brief discussion on the different crafts to be covered in the camp.
  • 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Pottery Techniques for Beginners
    • Introduction to hand-building techniques (coil, slab, pinch pots).
    • Demonstration of hand-building basics and tool usage.
  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Pottery Hands-On Session
    • Participants will begin crafting their own hand-built pieces (coiling, pinching, and shaping clay).
• Lunch Break:
  • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch and relaxation.
• Afternoon:
  • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Introduction to Wire-Wrapping Jewelry
    • Basic wire-wrapping techniques: making simple pendants, loops, and links.
    • Understanding tools and materials for jewelry-making (wire, beads).
  • 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Hands-On Jewelry-Making
    • Participants will create their first wire-wrapped pendant or bracelet using provided materials.
  • 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Reflection and Wrap-Up
    • Discuss the day’s work and encourage creativity for the next session. Participants can ask questions and share their work.

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Day 2: Exploring Glazing Techniques & Advanced Jewelry Design

• Morning:
  • 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Glaze Overview for Pottery
    • Introduction to the different types of glazes: matte, glossy, satin.
    • Explanation of glaze chemistry and how glazes interact with clay.
  • 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Pottery Glazing Demo and Application
    • Demonstration of glazing techniques, including dipping, brushing, and spraying.
    • Participants will glaze their hand-built pieces from Day 1.
• Lunch Break:
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Lunch and relaxation.
• Afternoon:
  • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Advanced Jewelry Design: Resin & Bead Embellishments
    • Introduction to using resin for jewelry-making.
    • How to incorporate beads, glitter, and small decorative elements into resin jewelry.
  • 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Hands-On Jewelry Creation
    • Participants will create a resin pendant or ring, embedding decorative elements into the resin.
  • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Individual Crafting Time & Mentorship
    • One-on-one time with instructors for feedback and personalized guidance.
    • Time to finish and refine jewelry pieces from the day.

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Day 3: Macramé & Leatherworking

• Morning:
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Introduction to Macramé
    • Learn the basics of knotting techniques for creating wall hangings, keychains, or bracelets.
    • Explanation of materials: cords, beads, rings.
  • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Hands-On Macramé
    • Participants will create their first macramé project: a keychain or small decorative piece.
• Lunch Break:
  • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch and relaxation.
• Afternoon:
  • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Leatherworking Basics
    • Introduction to leather types and essential tools.
    • Demonstration of basic hand-stitching techniques using leather.
  • 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Hands-On Leatherworking
    • Participants will create a small leather item (wallet, belt, or coaster).
  • 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Reflection and Creativity Hour
    • Discuss macramé and leatherworking projects, offering suggestions for improvement.

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Day 4: Stained Glass & Advanced Pottery Techniques

• Morning:
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Introduction to Stained Glass Art
    • Overview of stained glass tools, safety, and techniques.
    • Step-by-step guide on cutting and assembling glass for small projects.
  • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Hands-On Stained Glass
    • Participants will create a small stained glass item such as a sun catcher or coaster.
• Lunch Break:
  • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch and relaxation.
• Afternoon:
  • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Advanced Pottery Techniques
    • Techniques for adding texture to pottery: carving, stamping, and rolling textures into clay.
    • Demonstration of how to finish wheel-thrown pottery.
  • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Hands-On Pottery
    • Participants will create textured pottery pieces using advanced hand-building techniques or attempt wheel-throwing.

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Day 5: Final Projects & Creative Expression

• Morning:
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Creative Expression: Combining Techniques
    • Discussion on how to combine pottery, jewelry, and other crafts learned during the camp.
    • Brainstorming session for final projects.
  • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Final Crafting Time
    • Participants begin creating a final project of their choice (combining techniques from pottery, jewelry-making, stained glass, macramé, etc.).
• Lunch Break:
  • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch and relaxation.
• Afternoon:
  • 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Final Project Completion
    • Time to finish up final craft projects with the help of instructors.
    • Participants are encouraged to add personal touches and experiment with their designs.
  • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Closing Ceremony & Craft Show
    • Each participant will showcase their final project.
    • Group reflection on the week, what they learned, and feedback from instructors.
    • Award certificates of completion and encourage participants to continue exploring their craft.

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Key Elements of the Camp Structure:

1. Instructional Sessions:
   • Each day begins with a detailed, hands-on demonstration of a specific technique or craft.
   • Instructors will focus on building foundational skills that can be adapted for more advanced projects as the week progresses.
2. Hands-On Crafting Time:
   • Participants will spend the majority of each day working on projects with one-on-one guidance.
   • Crafting time allows participants to experiment and refine their techniques.
3. Creativity & Individual Expression:
   • Ample time is allotted each day for participants to work independently on their projects.
   • Encouragement of creative freedom, allowing campers to personalize and develop their own style.
4. Reflection and Feedback:
   • At the end of each day, there is a dedicated time for group reflection, sharing projects, and receiving constructive feedback from peers and instructors.
5. Final Projects:
   • The final day allows participants to combine everything they’ve learned, creating a unique craft that showcases their skills and creativity.

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This structure ensures a balance between learning new skills, practicing techniques, and fostering personal creativity, making the SayPro 5-Day Crafts Camp a rewarding and educational experience for all participants.