The Positive Approach by Diane Heaney

A big experiment was recently executed at First Lutheran Church in the month of June. The First Lutheran Church-Jessica Lokken Music and Art School was held June 7 to 11, June 14 to 18 and June 21 to 25 free of charge for any child who was interested.  Children had a chance daily to sing in a chorus rehearsal and then had choices of sessions where they made art, learned piano, had private voice instruction, played percussion and focused on music reading and listening. The ages of the  children ranged from 4 to 13. The final commencement service was held on June 26 and was a grand celebration of all they learned, complete with singing, a display of art projects and a spectacular reception with food and gifts.

The camp is named in honor of Jessica Lokken, a young woman with a big heart and love for people, art and music, who died in January 2013 at age 30. Her family, Brian and Julie Lokken and their children Jeremiah and Jedadiah, wanted to do something to honor her memory and keep her kind spirit alive. When music director Tim O’Shields was hired at First Lutheran Church, he had a vision to use some parts of the building that were not being used very much to do something special for children. When the two ideas merged, the fire to start a school focusing on music and art was ignited, and with support from many donors and some fundraising the camp was held for the first time.

Whenever something of this magnitude is attempted for the first time, there are always surprises. The first week the attendance varied between eight children and 13. The second and third weeks, there were more children and more of the same age group. All in all, just short of 30 children were able to take advantage of the programming. They met daily for four hours in the morning, beginning with a brief chapel talk and then branching out into various interest sessions. The children were fed lunch before going home. “Even if a kid came for only one day, I know they learned something,” O’Shields said. Many of the children came all three weeks. Sessions were led by Sharon Astrup-Scott, Connor Larson, myself and Jack Buendorf with assistance by Noah Iverson, Alexis Tasker, Hannah Silva and Jedadiah Lokken.  Julie Lokken provided amazing snacks, lunch and many “perks,” including a bag of supplies needed for the camp.

Plans are being made to have the camp again next summer with some revisions. Ideas for change might be running two weeks in June, with a week break between school and the camp and going Monday through Friday. Organizers would love to at least double the enrollment, and will work to publicize the event earlier so families can make their summer plans to include the camp. There will be a fundraiser in the fall and any donations can be sent to the church designated for the camp.

Most summer camps have a hefty fee, but this one is open to anyone free of charge thanks to the generosity of the Lokken family and the Albert Lea community. “If we can spark an interest and inspire kids to be involved in music and art activities, they will love it for their whole lives and pass it on to future generations,” O’Shields said.

 

Diane Heaney is choir director at Albert Lea High School and a member of Experience Albert Lea.