Theme: Playground

Playground Prototype: Kinetic Design & Construction

This week, students will take on the ultimate design challenge: creating a fully functional miniature playground. We’ll go beyond the basics, exploring how to build moving parts—think functional swings, spinning carousels, and working slides. Students will draft their site plans and then bring them to life using wood, wire, recycled materials, and clever mechanics. It’s a masterclass in structural integrity and creative problem-solving!

This weekly summer program is all about playful art making with a focus on the process and experience of creating! Classes are sold in 3-day sessions.

Meet Tracy

Tracy Smedes-Hepler is a former teacher and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with 13 years experience as a preschool teacher at the Leelanau Children’s Center. She has been a mother and nanny for over 22 years! Her love of the arts and creativity inspired her to launch an arts exploration business, Tearwater T, which aims to provide art programming to local children. After a successful first year, she is excited to begin her second year engaging with the youth in her community this school year as a creativity mentor and process-arts teacher at the OAB.