Once upon a time, in the heart of Texas, where cowboys roam the vast plains and the air smells of BBQ, there was an extraordinary group of kids. These were not your ordinary, everyday kids, oh no! They were the Texas Doodle Squad, a group of sharp-eyed, quick-witted, pencil-wielding whiz-kids. Their passion? Drawing and sketching. Now, the head of this band of imaginative rascals was none other than a funny-looking character known as Sketchy Sam. Sam had a beard made of charcoal sketches, a hat decorated with colored pencil shavings, and boots that left ink stains behind every step he took. He was just as peculiar as he sounded, but he was also the best darn sketch artist in all of Texas. Under the sweltering Texas sun, these kids, with their sketchbooks clutched in their hands, would wander the bustling streets of Austin, the serene rivers of San Antonio, and the sandy beaches of Galveston. They would draw anything they could lay their eyes on - from the prickly cactus to the bustling rodeos, from the towering Alamo to the scenic Pecos River. There was never a dull moment in the Texas Doodle Squad's adventures. They'd have sketch-offs at high noon, instead of gunfights. Their pencils were their pistols, and they'd duel to see who could draw the funniest looking armadillo or the most majestic longhorn. The Texas Doodle Squad, led by Sketchy Sam, were the champions of creativity in the Lone Star State, proving that in Texas, even the wildest dreams could be sketched into reality.
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
For over six decades, the Quillian Center has been a haven for children looking to enjoy a memorable summer camp experience. Nestled in the heart of Houston's vibrant westside, Camp Quillian has won the hearts of the Westchase District community, becoming the most popular choice for a summer camp. Accredited by the American Camp Association, we offer day camp services for children aged 5-12 and a special Teen Camp for those aged 13-14. With flexible camp hours running from 8AM to 6:30PM, we provide an experience that is both enjoyable and convenient. We understand that each family's schedule differs, and as such, we are pleased to offer half-day options for both morning and afternoon sessions. Morning half-day campers are welcome to join us as soon as our doors open, where they can partake in specialty camps and grand assemblies. These campers can be picked up at the end of their lunchtime. Our afternoon half-day campers begin their adventure at 1PM, participating in facility rotations, special events, and daily swimming opportunities. Pick up time for these campers is 6:30PM when our camp closes. Camp Quillian is not only about fun, but also about diverse activities that keep children engaged. We boast a host of resources including a gymnasium, two swimming pools, an indoor climbing wall, game rooms, athletic fields, and a playground. Our programs are designed to cater to a variety of interests, from indoor and outdoor sports to enrichment classes, arts and crafts, special events, guest speakers, and games. We even host a Vacation Bible Camp! This summer, we're going for gold as we celebrate the 2024 Summer Olympics. We invite you to join us and discover why Camp Quillian is the ultimate destination for a fun-filled summer!