By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–For the week of June 13, students in the Helena area had a chance to brush up on their artistic skills during a weeklong enrichment camp called summer art camp with Miss Alice.

Miss Alice refers to Alice Lobel, who was the art teacher at Helena Elementary School for 25 years before retiring two years ago.

Lobel still enjoys being a part of children’s lives by hosting the summer art camp that spans one week with three separate sessions each day.

“This week we have created several ceramic pieces as well as an acrylic painting that they will get to take home,” said Lobel.

On Friday, June 17, the campers were finishing up an acrylic painting of a beach scene with a boat in the foreground as well as a lighthouse and ocean in the background.

As the finishing touches were put on the acrylic painting, campers began to get more excited when they knew they would be getting back their ceramic projects.

Upcoming sixth grader Foster Johnson created a box vase and a pinch pot and said it was his favorite part of the week.

“My favorite part of the camp was making the clay pieces,” said Johnson. “Art isn’t my favorite subject but I still really enjoy doing it.”

The specialty enrichment camps are open to all students who are zoned for Shelby County Schools. The camps are offered through the Shelby County Schools Community Education Program.

Other students in the camp created ceramic pieces like rabbits, larger standing pieces and more.

For those interested in the summer specialty enrichment camps, multiple camps are offered throughout the summer at various schools throughout Shelby County. Fees will vary depending on the classes that are offered.

For more information and to view a full list of dates and times summer camps are offered, visit Shelbyed.k12.al.us/community/enrich.html.