Liberty Children’s Art Project in partnership with Powell Township School in Big Bay, MI offered it’s 12th annual 5 day  long Summer Art Camps in 2023.  Each class had a session for children k-4th grade and a session for students age 5th -8th.  This camp was taught in collaboration with two  guest artists working  with each age group.  The  session emphasized a different art medium, method and theme daily for younger students including a plein air painting session on Lake Independence. Older students  learned to create functional pottery by throwing pots on a potter’s wheel (we now have three potter’s wheels) or working with various hand building techniques to create large pots and sculptures. These sessions were taught by Carol Phillips, certified Michigan art teacher with a background in clay and painting and specializing in clay, and Meghan Kelly, Michigan certified art teacher.   This summer session provided stimulation, social interaction and the opportunity for children to experience creative self expression through the visual arts. This program impacted the community by offering educational activities for children during the summer months which are important in particular to  families who have less access to travel outside of the area. This program was made available to visiting children as well which could help the area’s appeal to tourists, economically one of its most valuable resources.