Six Haines students traveled to Oregon over spring break to visit colleges and attend a four-day ceramics camp. The trip was a year in the making and the fundraising began last fall. In addition to organizing fundraising events, the students made pottery (four carry-on suitcases worth) to travel with them.

The camp, East Creek Art Center, is a two-hour drive south of Portland in the mountains. The focus of the week was to increase skills, introduce atmospheric firing methods, and allow ample time to be creative. Lucia Chapell, a sophomore on the trip, particularly enjoyed the creative studio time with friends. “We could all hang out, make art together, and we had a studio space to do that as long as we wanted,” she said. Students could use the studio space day or night.

“We don’t always get that kind of experience in school,” said senior Matilda Rogers, “Where we all come together because we love the same thing, and exist and create in that space.” Along with making time, students helped load and run a gas-fired soda kiln, build a pit kiln and create Raku pottery. While running the kilns was exciting, the big takeaway for the group was how much they enjoyed spending time with each other, students said. The camp’s location is just outside of cell service, so students were unplugged from their phones for four days.

“It was such a solid group and we enjoyed each other’s company,” said Griffin Culbeck, a junior. Culbeck emphasized the quantity and quality of time spent outside around the fire with friends. Senior Seth McClurg said he valued that time: “From waking up to a fire, playing cards almost every night, to seeing the open ocean for the first time… I learned so much. I saw so much.”

After the group finished, they packed up their pots and spent a day on the Oregon Coast.

Flanking either end of camp, students visited several colleges including Pacific Northwest College of Art. For some students the visit to an art college opened up the idea of pursuing a career in the arts. “I never really thought about going to college for art. I thought the options were going to college for something else, or don’t go to college and pursue my own art. I never really thought of combining the two,” said sophomore Emma Dohrn.

The ceramic students are planning an evening art show in May to share their work with the public. They are also planning a high school art camp out with a pit kiln once temperatures warm, introducing the process and experience to fellow students.