Welcome, dear adventurers, to the grand state of Illinois, a magical land nestled right in the heart of America! This enchanting state is fondly known as the "Prairie State" for its vast, sweeping grasslands that stretch out as far as the eye can see. Illinois is also a realm of towering skyscrapers, delicious deep-dish pizzas, and bustling ball games, but today, we’ll be diving into a different kind of fun - pottery! In every corner of Illinois, from the bustling city of Chicago to the smallest, sleepiest farm towns, you’ll find a merry band of kids with clay-smeared faces and twinkling eyes. These are the Pottery Pranksters, a legendary group of imaginative kids who transform lumps of earth into masterpieces with just their bare hands and sparkling imaginations. The leader of this group is a charming, mischievous sprite known as Clayface Charlie. Charlie, a native of Illinois, is not your average pottery enthusiast. He’s a clay-whisperer! With a flick of his fingers, he can shape clay into any form - a soaring eagle, a laughing gnome, a spaceship, or even a replica of the towering Willis Tower! Under Charlie’s guidance, the Pottery Pranksters turn Illinois into a wonderland of wacky creations. They host pottery battles in backyards, hold clay sculpture contests in parks, and even transform school art rooms into pottery paradise. The Pranksters' laughter echoes through the streets, their hands always a little muddy, their hearts brimming with joy. So, folks, next time you visit Illinois, keep an eye out for these pottery prodigies. Because in this state, there’s no telling what enchanting clay creation you might stumble upon next!
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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.
At Camp Ben Frankel, we focus on creating a lifetime of memories for Jewish children of all backgrounds. Our leadership and staff are experienced and highly trained in providing a safe, welcoming camp environment, and we’re proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association. We strive to meet and exceed the expectations of our campers, parents, and staff. During the summer of 2021, we reopened our in-person camp and experienced no cases of Covid. In 2020, we launched CBF Online, our virtual summer camp program. It quickly gained recognition from the Jewish Telegraph Agency, The Forward, The Telegraph (UK), the St. Louis Jewish Light, and eJewishPhilanthropy. We partner with organizations like the Foundation For Jewish Camp, JCamp180, Jewish Camps USA, Life and Legacy, and Jewish Federations across the country to better serve our community. We are proud to have been presented with the JCamp180 Outstanding Board Leadership Award in October 2020. At Camp Ben Frankel, our mission is to provide a lifetime of memories to Jewish children from all backgrounds. We create an inclusive and welcoming environment that invites exploration of identity. Our staff are trained in safety protocols, and we use best-practices, strategic partnerships, and an open-minded approach to develop programs and activities that meet our high standards. We are thrilled to have been able to offer both in-person and virtual camp in 2021 and look forward to continuing to provide high-quality programming for years to come.