I am planning a scrapbook camp for teens in August. While I once blogged about the craziness of teaching teens to scrapbook, I am actually excited about this camp. Yes, it’s four hours a day for a full five days! Can you imagine? But how completely awesome to be able to focus on scrappin’ for so long. I mean, totally intense, eh?
So, here are the lessons I’ve learned from my previous experience teaching teens…
- Create a Proper Lesson Plan. I’ve broken down the week by day and each day by hour. I think the important thing in teaching teens is making sure that every moment is accounted for. Otherwise, if you let them go free, they’ll actually go wild! (No offense to all the scrappin’ teens out there… I LOVE your energy or I wouldn’t be running a scrapbook camp.)
- Ration the Materials in Advance. Knowing exactly which tools will be used for each session means less mess and more focus. It goes back to the freedom leads to wildness concept. Each day of camp will focus on a different aspect of scrapbooking. I will give the 5 to 10 minute lesson and then provide the exact materials necessary for using that technique/element.
- Inform all Participants in Advance of the types of photos to bring. By not specifying in advance what type of pics should be brought allows too much freedom and we’re right back at the workshop gone wild. I’m planning a theme album to be finished in one week. Therefore, I’m informing all the “campers” to bring pics from one event (i.e., a ski trip with friends, the prom, camping out, etc.).
With a focus and a “curriculum” in hand, I can teach the elements of scrapbooking while making sure that the hours remain focussed. Supplies won’t become depleted and I won’t feel like a chicken with its head cut off running around the table trying to guide and help everyone there.
Teens are filled with an innocent and raw imagination that grown-ups seem to loose in their adulthood. Their energy runs wild which helps create amazing layouts. I can’t wait till August!
Happy Scrappin’
