The Community School Association’s annual craft fair has been one of the biggest and most anticipated events on Bowen since 1984. The craft fair has always included crafters and artisans of all ages and has always made room for youth to encourage the next generation. A few years ago, the association created the youth craft fair rooms in the upper part of the school as well as a youth entrepreneurship education program to strengthen skills needed for success. You will see some youth, grades five and up, in the main part of the craft fair in the gym and they are to be congratulated for graduating from the youth craft fair into the main craft fair!
With the youth craft fair, children as young as five have the opportunity to create works and to sell them. During the craft fair, be sure to go upstairs and check out what the youth, ages five to 19, have created as it’s important to recognize the work of youth as they grow. There will be over forty youth at tables upstairs with everything from baked goods, to candles, to ornaments, to hand sewn item, to jewelry and more. It’s always wonderful to see what the youth create and often their prices are very reasonable – thanks to support from their parents who are a key part of helping the youth craft fair alive. The youth craft fair is also run by the craft fair subcommittee members: Jennifer Pardee and Sarah Haxby.
Youth entrepreneurship should be supported as it builds resilience, encourages creativity, innovation and mathematics. The youth craft fair is a complex experiential learning opportunity that includes a social element as well as a charitable element. Plus, there’s something for everyone! Who can resist a jar of snowman poo, a hand felted tree ornament or a carved piece of Bowen driftwood? A half dozen of last year’s youth crafters donated hundreds of dollars to various local and global causes and won the 2018 ACEbc Youth Leadership Award, and many more are fundraising so that they can travel, participate in events and continue their education and growth.
So please plan to spend a bit of extra time at the CSA’s craft fair (10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sunday Dec. 2) and make the trek upstairs to see this year’s youngest crafters and artisans. Help them build their entrepreneurial skills, help build community through intergenerational social activities and help keep community spirits bright.
