Carter takes a plunge this summer in a pond. This was a fun memory.
Encouraging Creation and Digital Literacy Through Our Summer Memories
You know how one small stone can create a hundred ripples in the water? Our summer program has been a lot like that. We spent so much time on the land, and we’ve come back with hundreds of photos that feel like little ripples of those moments.
All summer, our hubs have been coming together once a week to learn about digital arts and creativity. Most of that work is being done in Northwestern Ontario from the Arts Incubator hub there, but a bunch of us have been joining in from time to time. This week, we decided to do more than just use filters. We’re actually learning to build our own tools to convert and shape our images. It’s been a lot of fun to get under the hood of digital manipulation and see how we can make these memories feel even more personal and alive.
It’s been especially great to see the kids and grandkids get into this. They’re already so tech-savvy, but this program gives them a new way to engage. Instead of just consuming content on social media, they’re learning to be creators. It’s a huge step toward building real digital literacy, giving them the skills to not just adapt photos but to truly understand how they can change them around and make something new. This focus on creation over consumption is something we feel is really important for the next generation.
Our summer of land-based experiences and traditional knowledge has almost come to a close, but the journey continues. We’re so excited to announce our Fall and Winter program starting in October, where we’ll use these new skills to create our own storybooks and publications.
We really want to thank everyone at The Arts Incubator Winnipeg Hub, Art Borups Corners, the Ontario Arts Council Inter and Multi-Arts Projects program and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Creative Entrepreneurship program for supporting everything this summer; they made all these incredible learning opportunities possible for us. The kids and grandkids especially enjoyed it, since they’re always using digital tools.
Here’s the original photo:
And here’s the version the kids will get to colour 🙂
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