‘Make it a Clay Day’ a huge success

Published 4:03 pm Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Developing teens and children with special needs came together last weekend for ‘Make it a Clay Day’, and left with not only newly made clay sculptures, but newly found friends.

Lin Garretson, director of the Special Arts Sammamish program and a Sammamish Arts Commissioner, said the ‘Make it a Clay Day’ event could not have gone any better.

“I’m still in awe,” said Denise Markley, Special Arts Sammamish volunteer. “When I think about the room filled with adults and children I just see smiles and hear laughter from one corner of the room to the other…I don’t think it could have gone any better. I was so proud to be part of this event and I can’t wait for the next one.”

Garretson developed the idea and brought it to the Sammamish Arts Commission approximately two years ago. They approved it, and have directly funded the concept since.

“We had more people than we anticipated, with 34 kids and 42 volunteers,” she said.

The event, sponsored by the Sammamish Arts Commission, was a chance for developing teens to interact with children with special needs.

Garretson said that there were several goals of the event, from social interaction to creating through cognitive exercises. She said it was nice to have an event just for the children with special needs–they were not tagging along, she said, this was just for them.

Garretson said that the event was also very eye-opening for developing teens, who got to directly interact with kids who are different from them.

“Often times, when kids see someone who is a little different, they avoid them,” Garretson said. “It’s such a neat thing to see the exact opposite thing happening here (at Make it a Clay Day). They have such a big heart. When you look around the room you see all these little pairs laughing and creating together.”

A third thing that has developed from this event, Garretson said, is a time for the parents. The event encouraged the child and parent to let go a little bit and give the child an opportunity to branch out while making new friends, Garretson said. While this is happening, the parents have the ability to talk with each other and share resources and encouragement.

“It starts out about kids with special needs and goes into so much more,” Garretson said. “It’s a feel good day. Everybody left with a big smile. It was a job well done.”