The 2008 Renaissance Child Art Holiday will be held on campus from Friday, Dec. 19,  through Tuesday, Dec. 23. The activities are designed for children ages 6-11 and will give them the chance to try activities like copper embossing, baking cookies, making ginger bread villages and decorating trees on campus with popcorn and cranberries as well as creating other personalized holiday gifts.

There is even a special field trip to the York Ice Skating Rink planned for Monday, Dec. 22. Storyteller Jim Kevin will stop by Tuesday, Dec. 23, for stories and songs.

“The children learn things in a fun way,” said Angela Bayard, program director for the Office of Professional Development, which sponsors the holiday activity.

There is a fee of $110 for all three days or $40 per day for each participant. The day lasts from 8 to 5 at Brooks Gym, and the fee covers all transportation and materials for crafts.

The holiday event is just one part of the Renaissance Program, a broader service offered by the Office of Professional Development. The expanded program is designed for children with parents who are professionals who work 9 to 5 jobs. In these classes children learn everything from math to designing their own web pages. The program is designed to teach the children in a fun and dynamic atmosphere.

“All of our activities meet Tennessee education standards,” said Pat Williams, who is the curriculum supervisor. “We also try to meet the needs of each individual child.”

The Office of Professional Development is part of the School of Continuing Studies, which trains college students in leadership, team building and managing children’s programs. Students from universities around the region like Milligan, UT, ASU and ETSU staff the programs and work closely with 75 to 100 children on a day to day basis.

“They (the students) are really the energy behind this,” Williams said. “We have a fabulous staff.”