By Kim Hilsenbeck

Students in the Negley Elementary School art camp went around the world in five days. Or at least that’s how it felt.

Teacher Amy Cigainero ran the ninth year of art camp for 18 students. The ‘around the world’ theme gave the participants a chance to create art reflective of Ecuador,  Tibet and Nicaragua, among other locales.

“On Saturday, I leave for Nicaragua,” she said.

For Cigainero, the theme is generally tied into her personal travels.

She said she normally has time for about 4-5 projects each day of camp.

So the students spent the week creating facemasks, recycled art projects, robots and more. Each day from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., they painted and glued and applied the finishing touches to their creations.

And while they took breaks to eat and have some outside playtime, for the most part, the camp is all about learning more about the process and even the history of art.

Eight student helpers worked with Cigainero throughout the camp, assisting with a variety of tasks. Some are volunteering to earn their community service hours for the National Jr. Honor Society, like Isabella Guerrero, 13, of Kyle. 

“She has been in art camp since kinder, now she’s a helper,” Cigainero said.

Her younger sister, Giselle Guerrero, 7, was in the camp. Middle sister Anabelle Guerrero, 11, was off at dance camp, missing art camp for the first time in a few years.

Giselle said she likes making new stuff and learning how to do these things.

She also wants to be a doctor, just like her big sis.

Isabella said she enjoys helping Cigainero with the camp.

“I’ve always liked art and crafts,” she said.

Is she planning to be an artist or a teacher someday?

“When I grow up I want to be a doctor — a specialist of some kind,” she said.

Caleb Doyle, 9, was in art camp for the first time. 

“It’s really fun,” he said. 

What is his favorite part?

“When we made the robots,” he said.

Much of his summer will be spent playing soccer and basketball at sports camps.

“But he’s an art kid,” Cigainero said.

Though she teaches art at Negley, Cigainero said it’s more difficult to do some of the summer projects during the regular school year because she doesn’t have the room to store the final products. 

“Art camp is way more fun,” she said.