Evergreen Connections
Full-Day Art Enrichment
Registration is open for September!
Time to Register for Summer and Fall Art Programs!
Registration is open for September!
Evergreen Connections is a weekly, full-day art enrichment program designed to foster children's creative development through immersive learning, meaningful activities, and collaboration.
The studio provides an inviting space where students can ground themselves in creativity, learn new skills, explore their ideas, and work alongside others in a supportive, small-group setting. Whether a child is homeschooled or taking a day away from their regular school routine to enrich their learning, they will find a community where art and inquiry serve as shared vehicles for discovery.
I keep the groups small to ensure every child receives the personalized attention they need. The day is designed around a thoughtful rhythm, balancing focused work with active outdoor play. In addition to our planned projects, each day includes plenty of time for open art and creative games. My goal is for every student to leave the studio feeling inspired, energized, and proud of the connections they have made in their art and friendships.
This fall offers a photography program on Tuesdays and a multi media art program on Thursdays. Program descriptions are below.
Photography for ages 9-12 yrs
Tuesdays 9:30-3:30
September 8 - October 27
$600
This weekly, full-day enrichment program focuses on both learning photography and learning through photography. Students build their technical skills, learning the camera's functions as they experiment creatively —working with natural light, and exploring composition and other elements of design in visual storytelling. At the same time, they will use the camera as a tool to investigate the world. By using the lens to hone their observation skills, explore new perspectives, and examine the environment closely, students learn to see like an artist while being active learners.
Throughout the term, time is spent both in the studio and out on field trips around Ottawa, visiting interesting locations to photograph while exploring nature, local history, architecture, and more. We dive into a wide variety of subjects and themes, including nature photography, urban landscapes, abstract imagery, still life, portraiture, and multimedia projects. Students learn how to operate their cameras in manual mode, with lessons on basic camera settings—such as ISO, aperture, and shutter speed—integrated into each day's activities in fun and creative ways. They also learn the basics of digital editing to refine their favourite images. At the end of the term, we will celebrate everyone's work by sharing our photography in a special exhibition.
Please note, each week, students will need to bring their own digital SLR camera with a memory card and charged battery.
Multimedia Art and Nature for ages 7-11
Thursdays 9:30-3:30
September 10 - October 29
$600
In the fall, we venture outdoors to gather inspiration from the natural world. Each day is a holistic blend of inquiry and visual arts. Using the framework of "I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of...", I guide students through deep observation of their environment, using nature journaling as a tool for recording their observations.
Outdoor time is balanced with focused time in the studio where we engage in projects inspired by our observations in nature. Students explore a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, 3D art, fibre arts, and mixed media. We work with high-quality, non-toxic art materials, as well as recycled materials and found objects, and even craft some of our own art supplies.
The program provides a balance of instruction and student-led activities, offering guidance when needed while ensuring every child has the space to experiment and follow their own creative ideas.
If you are interested in registering your child for the Evergreen Connections program please email me , Susie Shapiro, at evergreenlifelearning@gmail.com.
Next term dates:
Ages 9-12: November 3 - December 15 (Multi-media)
ages 6-9: November 5 -December 17 (Multi-media)