Six of our current Arts & Smarts after school participants are second generation “Patchwork kids.” Their families know that they will be supported and cared for as individuals. Their families know this because they have experienced it themselves. We are part of their community. One man lives in a house near Patchwork. He’s very tall […]
We spend a lot of time talking about sparks in the Arts & Smarts after school program. Our adult volunteers and staff have shared them. Then the children have added their own. No, it’s nothing dangerous. Sparks are actually something that helps kids succeed in life! It’s all based on research that comes from The […]
Patchwork’s Arts & Smarts program began its fall semester this week, and what a good week it’s been. We’re seeing some familiar faces and some new ones among both our participants and our volunteers. We’ve marveled at how much some of our returning participants have grown over the summer. We’ve introduced ourselves to new children and […]
Tuesday afternoon I got a report of a school supply explosion at Patchwork Central. Everything was OK, though. It was all in good fun. The report came from someone who had volunteered as a “Bagger” to help prepare for Patchwork’s 22nd annual Back to School Sale. The group had moved a mountain of boxes and […]
Last night Patchwork held a fantastic Garden Feast to celebrate this summer’s Arts & Smarts children’s programming. And what a feast it was! The room was packed and every seat was filled. Three food tables were full of tasty potluck treats. Susan Fowler filled the room with the sounds of “Love Grows” and Mr. Roger’s […]
Jane Vickers stood in Patchwork’s kitchen cutting fresh fruit for the day’s snack and watching the group of kids and adults moving together to the music of a Hawaiian song. “There’s a lot more than dance going on out there,” she reflected. “And more than just bikes last week.” She’s right. Yes, there is a […]
So far, Patchwork’s Summer Arts & Smarts children’s activities have been a joy. This past week was the first of two Bike Weeks for youth ages 10 and up. These Bike Weeks are being held in collaboration with the volunteers in Patchwork’s Bike Shop and the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library’s Year of Hip Hop project. Each […]
Every summer, June arrives and Patchwork is transformed. Perhaps it will be a garden where a rabbit plays tricks on a bear in order to get the best garden produce. Maybe it will be the moon with astronauts walking on it. Or perhaps it will become a boat on the Ohio River that is carrying John […]
Last Thursday was a pretty typical afternoon in the Arts & Smarts program. It was also pretty wonderful. First came open-ended time for everyone to relax and play board games or do other activities of their choosing. Then came snack and conversations around the snack table. Meanwhile, a group of children were being tutored. The […]
Join us for the summer at Patchwork! Our summer schedule is below. It is full of educational and enriching opportunities for children and teens! Registration forms for participants in grades 1-8, for high school volunteers going into grades 9-12, and for adults are available in Patchwork’s main office and here on our website. All programming […]