The cat adoption story

Once upon a time, in a town very close by, there was a lonely cat lost in a garden. The cat waited and waited for someone to give it love and care. She sat sadly in a flower bed and watched people walk by never stopping to give her affection, food or water.

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One day, a kind woman heard the cat meowing in the garden while she was waiting for a bus. Concerned, she decided to call the Friends of Alameda Animal Shelter because she wondered if the cat might be hungry and without a home.

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The kind woman whispered soothing words to the cat and stayed her until the Friends of Alameda Animal Shelter rescuer showed up. The cat was very scared because she didn’t know what was happening. The rescuer took her to the shelter.

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When the cat got to the shelter, she heard lots of loud barking. This scared her even more.

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The anxious cat was put into a quieter room where two women and a little girl. came to play with her. Little by little, the anxious cat became less stressed by playing with the kind family, who gave her love.

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After play time, the cat heard the Friends of Alameda Animal Shelter volunteers talking. Suddenly the little girl turned around smiling and ran over to the cat.

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The cat was given the most love it had in its entire life. The family took the cat home and loved it from that day on.

Everyday after that, FAAS helped lost cats and dogs find forever homes.

Written and Photographed by Olive Little, age 15

Performed by Puppet Parade Campers July, 28,2019

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Written by:

Hi my name is Olive. I’m 15 years old and have been coming to Art yowza since I was eight years old. One weird food combination that I like is rice and ketchup (I know it sounds really weird). My favorite, weird word is “widdershins”.

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“This week was really fun! I hope they will come back in the future.” Maddie- Community Leader/Art Helper

“I loved being with all of the campers this week. Everyone had their own way of making me smile . Thank you for this awesome time!” Nicole- Game Designer

“I’m so happy that each and every camper had fun this week. I had an amazing time getting to know and being with them. They made me happy everyday.” Olive- Storyteller

This week, our Heroes Journey had been to help FAAS

The mission of Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) is to shelter and care for abandoned companion animals, find them new homes, and prevent animal cruelty through education and community programs.

Did you know?

FAAS is thrilled to announce the imminent launch of its first satellite adoption center, FAAS South Shore, set to open in June. It will be located at 2228A South Shore Center, in the heart of Alameda’s popular outdoor shopping mall.

The new location will offer FAAS the opportunity to expand programs, welcome the community, and involve local businesses. It will have:

  • Cats and rabbits for adoption.

  • Professionally designed window and store displays showcasing adoptable animals.

  • Special events, including “yappy hours” and monthly dog adoption fairs.

  • A conference and training room for a monthly Pet Loss Support Group, education seminars, and activities for youth organizations.

FAAS will continue to operate the main animal shelter at 1590 Fortmann Way in Alameda.

There are many ways to volunteer to support FAAS!

Hope you can join us again!

Sign up for the day or whole fun week!

Thank you for this amazing week!

Help name an Osprey Chick!

 

Photo by Kat (from the live chat stream)

Photo by Kat (from the live chat stream)

Our community partner - The Golden Gate Audubon Society asks

 

Can you help us generate name suggestions for these two young Ospreys that will hopefully grow up as gorgeous as their parents, Rosie & Richmond?

 

We are looking for name suggestions that have cultural significance or represent the dignity and grace that benefits a wild Osprey. Gender-neutral suggestions are optimal!

  

Help us generate some great names for a shortlist that will go up for a public vote..

 

To suggest a name:

 

Go to the  livechat page on the SFBayOspreys.org website:

Post the name suggestions directly on the live chat,

Include brief note about why think your proposed name is great !  (e.g.  Fisher -- in honor of the Ospreys' excellent fishing abilities)

 

or

 

go to the Golden Gate Audubon Society Facebook page

Influence

 
Influence by Rebecca SteesCreate something and then increase or reduce it by a power of 10 (i.e. 10 times larger or 10 times smaller). Repeat. #k12creativesprint


Influence by Rebecca Stees

Create something and then increase or reduce it by a power of 10 (i.e. 10 times larger or 10 times smaller). Repeat. #k12creativesprint

When I visited my grandmother and her best friends when I was a child, they delighted in taking me out to eat in Ottawa, Kansas. Her friends were also retired teachers and before they sat down they’d scan the restaurant, nod or wave. And every time, someone came to the table (server, cook, fellow diners) to connect how with one or all of them with the recognition that they’d been their teacher, or taught their children or even grandchildren. Imagine teaching a whole town to read!

I’ve been thinking about scale.

Once upon a time, Art Yowza was just my dream. Now, I am reimagining it as a place where creative kids can develop social entrepreneurial skills to use their creativity for world good.

I researched the Powers of Ten and found this video by Charles and Ray Eames about the exponential powers. It starts with a close-up shot of a man sleeping near the lakeside in Chicago, zooms out to Outer Space and then back down to the size of an atom within the man’s hand.

Note to teacher self:

What could happen if each on of my campers became magical mentors and taught 10 of their peers?

Creative Comment Question:

What in your lifetime have you seen grow?




Daydreaming Superpower

 
Daydreaming by Rebecca SteesDay 9 #k12creativesprintWrite a note to your second-grade self.

Daydreaming by Rebecca Stees

Day 9 #k12creativesprint

Write a note to your second-grade self.

My second-grade report card noted “Becky daydreams in class.” When my parents showed it to me I didn’t know what to think about it. It didn’t seem like praise. I wasn’t sure if it was something that I was caught doing that I shouldn’t be (like picking one’s nose or yawning).

I just did a little research and it turns out that there are a bunch of reasons why daydreaming is great!

Though a time travel machine, I’d like to send this note to my second grade self…

“Dear Bucky Cheese (not a typo) ,

You don’t know it yet but—daydreaming is your superpower. Believe in yourself!

Signed,

Grown Up Rebecca

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Note to teacher self:

Remember to ask Art Yowza campers what they’re thinking and get their ideas and input.. Check and see if they want more engagement. If not, trust their creative process.. Respect their need for some freedom to connect their own dots through exploration.

Creative Comment Question:

Can you make up a silly reason that there is a magenta cloud in the picture above?

Creative Courage

 
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Grapple

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Rules give you quick information about how to get started.

They provide safety, a grounding and give you structure.

You’ll grapple with the new: materials, process and trust

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The camper above is grappling with some ideas of what he wants to try and is looking at the building blocks.

But what should he make and why?

Rules offer motivation within creative communities.

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FIRST RULE - Make something 1) inspirational 2) in 30 minutes that includes 3) an energy source.

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Lean

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Rules give you an expectation.

They give you a scaffold of supportive goals, community values and technique help.

You’ll lean on the inspiration of your teacher, ideas from your peers and perhaps step by step instruction at first.

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The camper above is leaning on support all around him... a foundation of the ideas of others, a teacher pointing at a higher goal ,mirroring his progress (through photos) and encouraging his unique path by - the experience of others below, his teacher pointing to a higher goal, the prize of being a pirate (and doing it your own way)

But how can he use his new knowledge and skills to make something personally meaningful to him?

Rules offer stepping stones to build skills.

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RULE HELP- Remember you only have 30 minutes. Try pairing opposite things.

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Build

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Rules give you a foundation to build.

They give you a place to apply your wobbly skills, work toward your vision and make something unique.

You’ll build through trial and error, solo or with partners, prototypes that get better with each iteration.

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Here the camper above is building

But how can he get his idea to have the integrity to stand on it’s own?

Rules may need not be needed at this point if a truer solution is discovered.

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RULE INSPIRATION - Did you include a circle and a flame? What else can you add or subtract in the next 10 minutes?

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Fly

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Rules give you trampoline to leap higher and farther.

They give you a timeframe to create learn new things, take risks and make something

You’ll fly with confidence because you have skills and structures, courage and inspiration.

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Here the camper above celebrates that his creation can fly because it has a joy stick, wings and rocket fuel.

But how can he keep his passion for creating alive?

Rules offer you a way of meaningfully organizing your independence and enjoying your freedom.

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RULE PROCESS - Teach someone else the creative constraint of rules. Give them three rules to start.

MEANINGFUL

 This spring, I am stretching my creativity by participating in #creativesprint , a 30 day prompt challenge. You’ll see my creative process in three parts: 1. Making an Image   2. Reflecting on Ideas and   3. Sharing insights and excitement about the Art Yowza Camp Heroes Journey.

1. IMAGE

Create an illusion of a window- looking out on to whatever you want - on a wall that doesn't have one.  #creativesprint 21

Create an illusion of a window- looking out on to whatever you want - on a wall that doesn't have one.  #creativesprint 21

2. IDEAS

I love to play with the ipad app Zen Brush. I chose a flecked black background to add a window with a happy cat.  I started drawing Dr Suess-like trees that created a sort of funny space.

Stability, trustworthiness and order are values conveyed by a square logo according to my quick intenet search.  The logos for Legos, Gap and Home Depo are not trianges.  Squares say planning and structure in a way circles might not.  Squares seem to represent foundational building blocks.

If not a window, what might my gold shape illustrate?

BINGO

On Mondays, HERO ADVENTURERS  figure out where we’ve been and where we want to go through Empathy Bingo.

CARRYING CRATE

On Tuesdays, MAGICAL MENTORS  help us feel secure and special by instilling a peaceful place in our minds where we can remember that someone believes in us.

ROCKET

On Wednesdays, WILD CHALLENGERS know we've been launched and are wondering what will happen next as we're moving fast into outer space going toward our hopes, wishes and dreams

FOURSQUARE

On Thursdays, FUTURE INVENTORS bounce a lot of ideas around and everyone plays their part to keep the fun going.

A GIFT

On Fridays, CHANGE MAKERS love to share with others the gift of purpose.

 

3. INSPIRATION

 How can a window be a strong metaphor in the Heroes Journey?

1. HERO ADVENTURERS frame their mission. Their point of view changes as they go through the window and enter the special world.

2 MAGICAL MENTORS help us see things more clearly and build our self-trust intuition through mirroring

3 WILD CHALLENGERS explore their perception by looking out and looking into themselves and reflecting on their decisions.

4 FUTURE INVENTORS are open to possibilities and letting in “fresh air”

5 CHANGE-MAKERS show their consciousness and insight on current events and implore you to share their outlook and perspective.

 

HEROES JOURNEY TIP

A Heroes Journey is your window of opportunity to create a meaningful life.

Creative Comments Challenge

Why is this cat looking in or out?

Guidance

This spring, I am stretching my creativity by participating in #creativesprint , a 30 day prompt challenge. You’ll see my creative process in three parts: 1. Making an Image   2. Reflecting on Ideas and   3. Sharing insights and excitement about the Art Yowza Camp Heroes Journey.

1. IMAGE

Select a photograph from a magazine and extend the image beyond its current frame or edges. #creativesprint

2. IDEAS

As always, I just start creating.   I found a photo of three children jumping in the air and digitally erased everything but the shirts and arms that connected them.   I gave them new faces and legs.

Different from the original drawing, I made one grounded figure and two leapers.   Also, from the direction of the eyes, the figure in the middle seems to be helped by two guides. 

Each character’s legs seem to embody a different energy. Our of curiosity, I googled the dream symbols of horse, kangaroo and frog and the meaning of colors.

On Tuesdays during summer camp, we focus on magical mentors that give us the tools, skills and special powers to be successful going forward on our Heroes Journey.

Perhaps the three figures in my drawing represent magical mentors in the form of camp director, counselors and campers.

 

SYMBOLS

Horse (red shirt) 

The grounded horse is like the Camp Director that provides daring, support and freedom

Kangaroo (green shirt)

The kangaroo is like the Heroes Journey Guides (aka CIT’s) that provide protection, reassurance and growth

Frog (yellow shirt)

The leaping frog is like a camper that delights in potential, friendship and change.

 

CONNECTION

All three figures share…

  • purple arms of imagination and wisdom

  • legs of mystery and power

  • symmetrical hearts of love and  attention

 

3. INSIGHTS

I love that my intuitive drawing gave me the words to further shape the spirit of the Heroes Journey

Monday

Daring, imagination and love start new beginnings for HERO ADVENTURERS

Tuesday              

Grounded support and trust develop intuition for MAGICAL MENTORS

Wednesday

Awareness, strength and growth define character in WILD CHALLENGERS           

Thursday

Stamina, experimentation and expression cause transformation for FUTURE INVENTORS

Friday

Freedom, success and wisdom bring movement for CHANGE MAKERS

 

Heroes Journey Tip

Your magical mentor appears when you are ready for adventure!

Creative Comment Challenge

Can you see any symbols of transformation in the drawing?

Change-Maker

This spring, I am stretching my creativity by participating in #creativesprint , a 30 day prompt challenge. You’ll see my creative process in three parts: 1. Making an Image   2. Reflecting on Ideas and   3. Sharing insights and excitement about the Art Yowza Camp Heroes Journey.

1. IMAGE

Make something using money (whatever coins or bills you an get your hands on) as your medium #creativesprint

2. IDEAS

I joyously spilled my jar of change on the table and thought about the beauty of finding shells on the beach.   It's so curious which ones you'll pick up, clean up, carry, keep and share.  I started sorting the change and created the word YES with the quarters, dimes and nickels.

I know a local elementary school has a fundraiser that starts with everyone bringing pennies on Monday, nickels on Tuesday, dimes on Wednesdays, etc.   I love the idea of starting small and building skills and value.  In fact each day of the week of summer camp builds on a heroes journey.

 

3. INSIGHT

We study 

  1. Curiosity and Hero Adventurers on Mondays

  2. Caring and Magical Mentors on Tuesday

  3. Challenges and Wild Challengers on Wednesdays

  4. Creativity and Future Inventors on Thursdays

  5. Change-makers and game changers on Fridays

Here's a brainstorm about how Yes, Change and Money are good teachers on a Heroes Journey.

ON YES

  1. Curiosity---Say yes to adventures

  2. Caring ---Yes is the magic word

  3. Challenges ---Yes, I can

  4. Creativity ---Say yes and you'll figure it out

  5. Change Maker ---Rise up, show up and just say yes.

On CHANGE

  1. Curiosity --- Why change?

  2. Caring--- What is the value of sharing change with another?

  3. Challenge --- How do you deal with change?

  4. Creativity --- What difference can change make?

  5. Change-Maker --- How can change be an investment in the future?

ON INVESTMENT

  1. Curiosity --- Get start to build dividends

  2. Caring --- Choose to invest in something/ someone that grows over time

  3. Challenge ---Discover how to invest wisely

  4. Creativity ---Attract growth and opportunities

  5. Change-Maker --- Offer intrinsic value and empowerment

Heroes Journey Tip

You can support yourself and your community through your creativity

Creative Comments Challenge

What could you change with $1? 

What could you not change with $100?

Collaboration

This spring, I am stretching my creativity by participating in #creativesprint , a 30 day prompt challenge. You’ll see my creative process in three parts: 1. Making an Image   2. Reflecting on Ideas and   3. Sharing insights and excitement about the Art Yowza Camp Heroes Journey.

1. IMAGE

Make something from a disposable cup. #creativesprint

Make something from a disposable cup. #creativesprint

2. IDEAS

 Starting to work with my hands helps me get into 3-D thinking.  As a warm up, I used my first cup to make a chair throne.  

With a second cup, I wanted to be surprised so I experimented  and  

  • made a crown by trimming off the bottom

  • cut a Matisse pattern into the side

  • pulled down wings from triangular cuts

  • taped on legs and details with the warm up scraps

I thought about the riddle of Humpty Dumpty .... the assumption that a clumsy person falling off a wall might not be irreparably damaged, whereas an egg would be.   I thought about Growth Mindset and about getting past labels like good or bad egg.   And then I looked up some quotes about leaping.

3. INSIGHTS

On Thursdays during Summer Camp, we work in pairs and teams as Future Inventors using design thinking.    

It's my job to convey a sense of safety that communicates, "You'll figure it out.  Give it a try. There's freedom in knowing how to fly."  Excited to use their creativity, campers love exploring what could benefit our community partners (Operation Smile, FAAS or the Golden Gate Audubon).  Using empathy, we define, ideate, prototype and test our ideas. 

Hero Journey Guides (ages 12-15) are on hand to help the campers:

  • Understand the need

  • Work with other people

  • Create workable bite-sized pieces

  • Piece together prototypes

  • Share their out of the box ideas

Design-thinking is a rewarding process that kids can use their whole lives.

Art Yowza Camp is a place where  you can

  1. Be curious,play and discover

  2. Share you ideas and listen to your team

  3. Keep an open mind

  4. Try your ideas to learn what works

  5. Make improvements by getting feedback

HEROES JOURNEY TIP

We bust the box and build with the pieces.

We fly by testing our wings.

CREATIVE COMMENT CHALLENGE

What's your favorite quote about leaping?

Hope


This spring, I am stretching my creativity by participating in #creativesprint , a 30 day prompt challenge. You’ll see my creative process in three parts: 1. Making an Image   2. Reflecting on Ideas and   3. Sharing insights and excitement about the Art Yowza Camp Heroes Journey.

1. IMAGE

Create something that fits in the palm of your hand, using materials found only in your immediate environment

Create something that fits in the palm of your hand, using materials found only in your immediate environment

 

2. IDEAS

I often see my campers trying to save popcorn seeds from snack time.

Nearly everyday during camp, I get the questions......

Can we keep them?

If I plant it - will it grow?

What will happen if.....?

Will it make me dance if I swallow it?

Are the ones at the bottom of the bowl--more buttery?

Can I have more?

 

HEROES JOURNEY TIP

Kernels of hope spur the adventure forward.

CREATIVE COMMENT CHALLENGE

TO YOU, WHAT DOES POPCORN SYMBOLIZE?

Experimentation

This spring, I am stretching my creativity by participating in #creativesprint , a 30 day prompt challenge. You’ll see my creative process in three parts: 1. Making an Image   2. Reflecting on Ideas and   3. Sharing insights and excitement about the Art Yowza Camp Heroes Journey.

1. IMAGE

What words can you spell using only the letters of your name? Make something inspired by what you come up with.

What words can you spell using only the letters of your name? Make something inspired by what you come up with.

2. IDEAS

I made a list of words I could find using the letters A R T  Y O W Z A.

Here's a few observations from this creative exercise--

!. I changed the order of the letters to see more possibilities.

2. Making up new words is so fun.   Yas and Zow could be fun names for cats.

3. The words "Rat, Tar and Rot" seem like wild challengers in a way that "Arty, Tray and Toy" do not.

 

3. INSPIRATION

Heroes are explorers on a unique path.

Discovery comes through play and staying curious.

Having a mission gives your Heroes Journey a starting structure .

HEROES JOURNEY TIP

Get ready to improvise creatively. You can’t know what’s ahead.

CREATIVE COMMENTS CHALLENGE

Can you make a new word with the letters in ART YOWZA?

Resilience

This spring, I am stretching my creativity by participating in #creativesprint , a 30 day prompt challenge. You’ll see my creative process in three parts: 1. Making an Image   2. Reflecting on Ideas and   3. Sharing insights and excitement about the Art Yowza Camp Heroes Journey.

1. IMAGE

Find out something that happened today in history and make something inspired by it.May 7, 1934- World's largest pearl (6.4 kg) found at Palawan - Philippines

Find out something that happened today in history and make something inspired by it.

May 7, 1934- World's largest pearl (6.4 kg) found at Palawan - Philippines

 

2. IDEAS

I started drawing a pearl that morphed into something more.   

Can you see .....

a map,

a rock,

a bird,

an island....  

ripples

and dawn?

 

3. INSPIRATION

Occasionally, at the end of the day, we play a treasure hunt game.   

I always say keep your eyes open AND it's ok if you don't find anything this round because I'll teach you how to seek.  

The fun of the game is often what grows perseverance.   

 

HEROES JOURNEY TIP

Grit is what starts the pearl.

CREATIVE COMMENT CHALLENGE

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU FOUND THIS MAP AS A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE?