NJY Camps values the freedom it gives campers, to choose activities which interest them from a wide variety of options. In addition to very strong Sports and STEM programs, NJY Camps prides itself for its ever-growing Arts Program as well. At this age, campers should be able to test their interests, and challenge themselves creatively. One distinct form of art that NJY Camps endorses is called Raku. Raku has been adopted by the Western World as a type of low-firing process to finish clay art with a beautiful, patterned glaze. The history of Raku comes from Japan, where it is valued for its ‘simplicity and naturalness’. When Raku is preformed, all the elements of nature are used- earth, fire, air, and water. Campers create beautiful arts projects out of clay that are able to withstand high temperatures without shrinking. Once the clay is heated to temperatures upwards of 1800 degrees, it is placed in a kiln, or firing container. In the kiln, the hot clay is mixed with combustible materials, such as paper, which causes smoking and blackening of the clay. The result is a blackened craze and a beautiful glazed surface. The clay, still very hot, is then submerged and cleaned off in water. No two pieces will look identical as a result of Raku. The word Raku itself means “Happiness in the Accident”. The unpredictability and the use of natural elements used in Raku make it an exciting addition for campers and quite the spectacle for onlookers. For more information and enrollment, contact us at, https://totalspecialtycamps.org/contact For more pictures of Raku projects by campers, please visit our gallery: https://pictures.njycamps.org/view-photos/1049
