Once upon a time, in the fantastically green and rainy state of Oregon, there was a bunch of quirky kids who loved to paint. They were known as the "Rainbow Raccoons," because just like a raccoon, they were always up to something mischievous and colorful. Led by their imaginary friend, Mr. Splatter, a seven-foot-tall, rainbow-striped beaver, they would embark on amazing painting adventures. Oregon, with its lush forests, snowy peaks, and pristine coastlines, was the perfect canvas for these imaginative kids. Every weekend, you could find them perched on the dock in Newport, watching the sea lions as they painted them onto their canvas. Or they'd be deep in Multnomah Falls, using all hues of green to capture the majesty of the waterfalls. Sometimes, they'd even set up their easels in the high desert of Eastern Oregon, painting the vibrant sunsets. Mr. Splatter, with his bright red suspenders and paint-splattered tail, would give them hilarious tips and critiques. "That tree looks like a giant broccoli," he would say, or "That cloud looks like a fluffy potato!" And they would all burst into giggles. Painting in Oregon was always an adventure for the Rainbow Raccoons. Each day was filled with laughter, creativity, and lots of paint splatters. But, no matter how much they roamed and painted, they always left the places just as beautiful as they found them. After all, Oregon's natural beauty was their favorite canvas, and they would do anything to protect it. So, if you ever find yourself in Oregon and see a rainbow-colored beaver, do not be surprised. You have just stumbled upon the Rainbow Raccoons, Oregon's most creative and fun-loving painting squad.
Read morebest painting programs in Bend, OR
What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
Most youth organizations talk about preparing kids for the future or future leadership positions. This is great, but we believe kids and teens are leaders now. They don't need to wait for the future to shape the world. We help youth be the best 7-year-old they can be or the best 17-year-old. We guide kids and teens of all ages to boost their confidence and unlock their potential so they can thrive—where they are now. Thrive{ology} is our research-based approach to teaching every kid or teen how to be a better friend, student, son, daughter, member of society, sister, brother...today. Every Camp Fire program across the country uses Thrive{ology} to teach youth to identify sparks, develop a growth mindset, learn goal management, and take time to reflect.