From myth to melody, campers explored creative expression across music, design, art and culture. In one session, Imagine by John Lennon became the foundation for band-building and musical storytelling. In another, wool transformed into felt, fabric, and folklore as pupils experimented with ancient techniques and Okinawan symbolism.
Spinning Stories with Wool
In our Design and Technology sessions, pupils explored wet felting, one of the oldest textile techniques, to better understand material properties and sustainability in design. From sculpting felt balls to layering coloured wool into flat textile artworks, campers experimented with texture, colour, and pattern while learning how heat, moisture, and motion can transform natural fibres into fabric.
Far from a simple craft, the session introduced campers to ideas about sustainability, natural materials, and form versus function in product design. Pupils experimented with colour, layering, and composition as they created small felted artworks that were both beautiful and structurally sound.
Guardians at the Gate: Shisa in Okinawan Culture
Later in the week, pupils returned to their creative toolkit with a cultural arts session centred around Shisa, mythical lion-dog guardians from Okinawan folklore. Typically seen in pairs outside homes or temples, Shisa are said to protect homes and share good fortune. Using clay and decorative materials, pupils created their own Shisa sculptures, and in doing so, learned to connect craftsmanship with cultural narrative.
The project encouraged campers to reflect on how art can carry meaning, tell stories, and preserve traditions across generations. Together, these sessions showed campers that design is both tactile and thoughtful, combining skill, experimentation, and cultural awareness.
Music with a Message
In the Performing Arts space, campers came together to reinterpret John Lennon’s Imagine, a timeless anthem of peace and possibility. After warming up their voices and discussing the song’s themes, pupils worked collaboratively to build a full-band rendition.
Starting with basic keyboard chords, they explored the song’s structure and harmony. Some took on the challenge of learning simple bass and drum parts, and by the end of the session, the group performed the piece together. It was a powerful shared experience that highlighted the joy of music-making and the power of collaboration.By combining ancient techniques with modern perspectives, RSJ’s summer camp showed campers that creativity is about more than making things, it is about understanding the world, and our place in it.
