5-DAY Adventure to Russian Culture Age 7-12 (JUNE)

TIME: 

Mon-Thurs June 24-27 (4 days) (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP) 

Mon-Fri, June 24-28 (5 days) (Sign up below)

VENUE: 

- South Whidbey Community Center, Room 

AGE: 7-12 

Russia has a long and rich cultural history whose impacts on the world cultures span across many aspects: literature, ballet, visual art, classical music, and architecture. The vast country is also the home of almost 200 ethnic cultures with beautiful legacies expressed in vibrant stories, beautiful crafts, and delicious foods. Exploring Russian culture can be a layered experience full of fun surprises and wonders.  

WILASC is hosting a Russian language and culture camp for all those who want to embark on this adventure to explore this unique and vibrant culture! The camp is taught by an experienced and enthusiastic native Russian instructor -  teacher Maria Ellis.  

In this five-day language & culture discovery camp, teacher Maria will guide students through diverse authentic activities. 

Sample activities during the five days of the Camp:

• Explore the Cyrillic writing system and alphabet – a 12 centuries-old writing system that’s still used by around 250 million people in Eurasia. (Students will learn to make their own name posters in Cyrillic Khokhloma-style.
• Observe and practice the unique Khokhloma-style painting, an old Russian folk handicraft dating back to the seventeenth century that’s still prevalent in Russian arts and everyday artifacts.
• Learn basic words and phrases in Russia. We may even be able to connect the students with Russian peers for a Zoom conversation exchange!
• Learn to cook oladyi, the famous Russian pancakes, and make tea using the iconic samovar
• Art, crafts, and games with the matryoshka dolls
• Play outdoor Russian traditional games
• More cooking and games, physical exercises, storytelling, and theatre — all combined with practical basic language learning.

There will be a play and a gallery show on the final camp day to showcase to parents what they have learned in the camp.

Language requirement: Beginner level. Camp activities will be conducted in both English and Russian to accommodate speakers of all levels.

NOTE:

- Tuition already includes fees for teaching materials and food supplies.

- Please pack your children's lunch. While we may serve some cultural food as part of our lessons, we depend on families to provide nourishing meals and snacks that suit your children's preferences and dietary restrictions.  Thank you.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR 

Maria Ellis, PhD, comes from a family of educators. She holds advanced degrees in education from the University of Russian Academy of Education and Seattle Pacific University in geophysics. Born and raised in Russia, where she has traveled extensively, she has resided with her husband Arthur on Whidbey Island for the last 15 years. 

As a program manager at the Northwest Language and Cultural Center to which she dedicated a decade of her life, Maria has designed, managed, and taught numerous and diverse language and cultural awareness programs for children and adults, which included language and culture summer camps, after school clubs, and Global Cultures Experience K-12 at local schools. 

Maria believes that education should be active, engaging, project-based, developing teamwork skills, and reflective thinking habits. She strives to help her students to achieve all-round excellence in their lives and learning. Maria is fluent in Russian, English, Spanish, and French, and feels she has a calling to bridge cultures and contribute to peace and well-being for all on this planet.