Drawing for Doctors: See the MC Summer Camp Art That Honors Frontline Healthcare Pros
The global pandemic challenged the nation’s healthcare workers, who offered care for patients in spite of exhaustion, risk of personal infection, or transmission to friends and family members. The past two years have taken an enormous toll on the stress and anxiety levels of these professionals.
To recognize these frontline heroes, last summer Montgomery College’s Youth Program held two camps, themed Learn, Create, and Give Back, to educate middle school-aged campers about the pandemic and show their gratitude to healthcare workers.
According to Youth Programs Director Mary Mukherjee, “These camps were designed to look at the pandemic from a different view.”
The two summer camps, held in virtually, combined art, science, and community awareness. During the camps, participants learned to blend biology and graphic art in a creative fashion.
“I really appreciate the frontline workers. They work so hard to keep us safe and to help us feel better.”
In Painting for Physicians and Drawing for Doctors, students learned about the organ system, scientific phenomena, and future career options in medicine, including Montgomery College’s educational pathways. The young artists used watercolors, paint, and colored pencils while simultaneously learning specific art techniques. The finished artwork, matted on colored cardboard, is ready for local frontline workers.
Because Montgomery College has partnerships many local with medical groups, program coordinators imagine the artwork will adorn many medical offices throughout the area.
“It was important to students to create something to celebrate and express gratitude to all of those working so hard to protect our community,” Mukherjee added.
Students also made thank-you cards and wrote special messages for the frontline workers. Karen D., who participated in the summer camp, summed up her gratitude: “I really appreciate the frontline workers. They work so hard to keep us safe and to help us feel better. I never actually took the time to realize how important they are. I thank them for their work.”
Another student, Prisha L, said, “I learned that the frontline workers had to go through a lot for the pandemic, going across the country as well as dedicating so much time to the patients.” Prisha noted that the ability to make one’s day brighter piqued her interest in participating in the camp.
“I love Montgomery College Youth Programs,” Karen D. added. “If possible, I would love to be in-person (not virtual) for science programs in the summer of 2022”.
Program coordinators believe summer 2022 will allow for more in-person camps on all three campuses, but the College will still offer online options. For those who want their child to participate in a similar camp, Montgomery College offers Health Care Heroes: Healing Hands, Caring Hearts, Endless Possibilities session. Find out more about what camps are being offered by visiting the Summer Youth Program website.
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