Summer Art Camp | The Seed Theate

Surely you know about The Seed Theatre. Their mission is to support marginalized communities (particularly LGBTQ+, BIPOC and their families) by providing resources, education, support and community while celebrating differences through arts and culture.

Enter Summer Art Camp, led by the acclaimed art educator Brouquelle Long. Designed to spark creativity in Chattanooga’s youth, campers aged 6-18 explored painting, sculpture, and more through engaging workshops and collaborative projects, all within a supportive and inclusive environment.

The camp featured three dynamic 3-day sessions (yeah, 9 sessions total) tailored to different age groups: 6-10, 11-13, and 14-18. Each class was taught by Brouquelle, whose six years of experience and numerous awards make her a standout in the art education field.

Our $3,000 grant offered 24 scholarships to ensure that financially marginalized children can participate at no cost, with the remaining spots available to paying participants.

Shouldn’t everyone have access to art education? It offers them a chance to express themselves, boost their confidence, and develop vital skills—all while having fun. By making the arts accessible, future generations of artists and community leaders can spring to life.

Camp Wakawalu | Downside Up

Congratulations to the now 2X UNF grant winner, Downside Up!

Downside Up is a nonprofit that envisions a world where all people with special needs and their loved ones have access to the environments and experiences they need to grow and thrive. They provide creative activities, fun and educational events, and family experiences for all ages and all abilities.

Our $3,000 will go to support families who have children with disabilities to experience an overnight weekend camp. But not just any camp.

Camp Wakawalu isn’t another conference or retreat. There are no sessions, no seminars, no keynote speakers. Camp Wakawalu is simply a camp, with a single purpose: to bring together children who have disabilities, and their families, for a weekend of away-ness.

Do you want to help, too? Donate, volunteer, or buy them something on their Amazon Wish List on their website. You can read about the grant they won for the 2018 Camp Wakawalu here.

Spring Break Camp | Young Ladies of Power

Young Ladies of Power (YLOP), started in 2012 by Joyce Watson, educates, mentors, and empowers young ladies aged 4-18 focusing on self-improvement, self-esteem and self-respect. COVID-19 took a toll on young minds, with virtual school work at home. The YLOP spring break camp put aside the computers and brought learning and activity outside. They visited downtown landmarks, swam at the YWCA, created art in the park, and did yoga. They also danced with drums and took pictures with their disposable cameras on Main Street and on the North Shore, not areas they typically frequent. Our $3,000 grant wet to everything from art supplies to the yoga instructor.

YLOP come from different schools and neighborhoods all over our city. Through this Summer camp they get to see the downtown area in a way they don’t normally see it. These young ladies of color are the leaders of tomorrow, so getting to know our city at a young age and being exposed to people of all races is a win for everyone.

Camp Wakawalu | Theresa Nix

Theresa Nix runs Downside Up, a parent-directed non-profit providing support, education, and encouragement for parents, families, and others who love and care about people with Down Syndrome. Children are connected with the resources they need to grow and thrive. Our $2,500 grant will be used to make Camp Wakawalu free for all families who wish to attend. It will cover expenses like lodging at Camp Lookout, food, art, entertainment (Jennifer Daniels), & recreation for 150 campers May 4-6, 2018. 

Why fund this? Because uniting families who have loved ones with disabilities, creating more understanding in our community about the importance of inclusion, teaching PT and student teachers in our area who they will be helping someday when they graduate, and improving the lives of the families involved sounds like a win to us.

Fall Daycamp for Woodmore | Wauhatchie School

The Wauhatchie School (wa-ha-chie) is a 501C3 nonprofit organization and nature based school promoting place-based, nature immersion experiences that foster holistic growth, the love of learning, and compassion for all. Wauhatchie School provides education for students and training for educators, facilitating students holistic development—body, mind and soul–and helps them grow into lifelong learners and compassionate stewards of the earth.

Back in November 2016, a terrible accident occurred involving a Woodmore Elementary School bus crash. Numerous children were badly injured. Tragically, some lost their lives. This experience left families shaken, some broken, and many with questions unanswered; a scar on our community still felt today. For many of the children at Woodmore, this experience meant the loss of close friends and others family. Many children still live in the wake of this incident. November 2017 will be the one-year anniversary of this trauma, a time experts recognize results in the reawakening of anxiety, panic, fears of the past experience.

In October 2017, Wauhatchie School is working with community partners to host an Arts and Outdoor based Day Camp for the Woodmore Elementary School students that teachers believe have been most affected the accident. Wauhatchie School will provide an adventurous weeklong outdoor day camp packed with art and water based activities, demonstrations, and games. Community partners will provide daily activities for students, facilitating a safe space for expression and learning of new skills. This will be a free gift to Woodmore students, providing the cost of camp, transportation, and all needed materials and gear.

The UNFoundation is honored to be able to play a small role in this effort by providing $800 for outdoor gear and materials that the Woodmore students will be able to use and take home. 

Camp Horizon Zip Line Adventure May 2014

Recipient: Steven Sharpe

Fun stuff should be for all kids, right? We think so. That’s why we granted to Camp Horizon. The purpose of Camp Horizon is to allow kids with physical disabilities the opportunity to broaden their horizons by spending time with other kids in similar situations in the outdoor environment. Broaden horizons wanted to be expanded upon by Steven Sharpe, husband of camp founder Lindsey, to include a zip line. Camp Horizon is held every August at Camp Lookout and through Peyton Manning's Peyback Foundation built the zip line and wheelchair accessible platforms. We funded the necessary hardware and safety equipment so kids in wheelchairs could use it too. And this is the only wheelchair accessible zip line east of the rockies, folks. Wow!

Mrs. Jessica’s Summer Camp May 2013

Recipient: Mrs. Jessica Lawrence

Mrs. Jessica Lawrence, a longtime resident of East Lake Courts, started a summer camp over ten years ago for the children in her community. She wanted to create a safe and fun place for children to be able to go for the summer months. While social services and education funding is being cut from municipal and state budgets across the United States, the UNFoundation was eager to fund such an awesome example of do-it-yourself community building.

The summer camp ran from May 28 through August 7, with the hopes of transitioning to an after school program. The camp was organized as a collaboration between the East Lake Courts Recreation and Community Center, Grove Street Settlement House, and the Chattanooga Housing Authority—all with the help of some critical volunteers including university students from area Universities and Colleges. A majority of the attendants were students from Clifton Hills Elementary or East Lake Elementary, where over 95% of students are receiving free or reduce lunches. The program provided a critical source of meals for breakfast and lunch each day, but also a place for them to continue critical learning through LEXIA, a computer-based reading program.

Summer Art Camp April 2013

Recipient: BRUSH Paint and Sip

BRUSH Paint and Sip is a painting part business based in Chattanooga.  The business is owned by John and Connie Tallman. John is an artist with over 20 years experience in art and teaching. Connie has over 20 years of experience in the business world. They offer classes to businesses, organizations, and individuals to folks that typically have no prior experience in art.

In coordination with the Glass House Collective, the UNFoundation funded BRUSH to offer a one-week summer art camp to some of the most vulnerable and under-served children in the Chattanooga community. It was free for participants and provided an opportunity for these kids to experience art in a way they had never before.