Campers carve out fun with Sand Sculpture Camp

The sands of Siesta Beach are beloved by sand sculptors the world over for its flour-like consistency and ability to be molded into masterpieces of temporary art along the shore. 

The Sand Sculpture Camp offered by Sarasota County Parks & Recreation included three sessions this summer that allowed children to learn from sands sculpting professionals Bill and Marianne Knight of The Sand Lovers. 

“We’ve all played on the beach but this is how professionals start their works,” said Bill Knight who serves as instructor for the camp alongside his wife Marianne.
 
Sand Sculpture Camp helps build a foundation for children interested in expanding their sand sculpting skills set beyond castles. In four days campers learn the basics to sand sculpting from packing sand to brushing a smooth surface and how to use a straw to blow off excess loss grains of sand. 

In the final day of camp participants are required to bring in a photo for inspiration and bring it to life using tools that they were introduced to earlier in the camp. Among the tools given to the campers are specially designed plastic tools made for children such as a small spatula, a tool to carve bricks, eyes and circles out of the sand. 

“At a minimum they’ve got a concept,” Bill Knight said. “Now they can build for their whole lives.”