“In Celebration of Our Children & Youth”
ABILITIES TREE and CREATIVE CENTRE
ABILITIES TREE
Children and youth who attended the festival were asked to provide their creative expressions using
the many leaf templates provided by the festival or by creating their own. Each had the opportunity
to express their individuality and creativity while engaging in a collaborative activity that
celebrated unique abilities.
Some leaves were elaborately and meticulously coloured using crayons and markers, some children drew
pictures on their leaves, some had buttons or stickers added, some used sparkle glue and paint to
embellish the leaves, and some included collages of colourful paper. Some leaves included a picture
of the child and still other leaves expressed the views of the child as to what is important in life
and what they hope to get from the festival.
With the skeleton of a tree mounted on the wall, during the festival leaves were attached to the branches.
Over the course of the Children’s festival the Abilities Trees came to life as more and more children
contributed their creations.
CREATIVE CENTRE
At both the Columbus Centre and Sala Cabato an area was set aside where children could participate and
create. There were a variety of leaves, markers, crayons, pencils, pens, stickers and other materials.
Students could draw a picture! Write a poem! Tell us what they were thinking and feeling!
Then they could add their new creation to the Abilities Tree.
