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A group of 22 Polk County Schools middle school students recently participated in an AIG Summer Seminar camp that combined nature, art, creativity and exploration.

The week-long session, led by Stephanie Luedi and offered through Polk County Schools in collaboration with the Polk County Community Foundation, provided students with a unique opportunity to engage with the local environment while expressing their creativity.

During the camp, students created personalized nature journals where they sketched scenes from the natural world and wrote haikus inspired by their surroundings. They also contributed to the outdoor classroom site by building birdhouses and working on independent projects that celebrated the local flora and fauna.

The seminar included hands-on art experiences with a professional artist at Tryon Arts and Crafts School, where students made pottery and foil-pressed art. The group also explored local natural landmarks, including Pearson Falls and the Missing 40, deepening their connection to the area’s biodiversity.

Collaboration was a key element of the camp, with students working together on group art projects that fused their individual interests and personalities with the rich biodiversity of the region.