Happy Squirrel Arts

Happy Squirrel Arts offers a different kind of arts program because they offer a smaller, more intimate and affordable program that favors individual attention and instruction. The projects focus on process and creativity and allow the students’ unique style and expression to be evident in the product.

Happy Squirrel Arts, Sandy Buchner and Tamara Nelson, offer a Folk Art Camps with a focus on music and visual arts. Projects range from the folk arts of baking, felting and sewing to painting, making toys and planting. Upcycled and repurposed materials are collected for the majority of these projects. An informal production of the camp’s community project that is open to the public, takes place on the last day of camp.

Sandy and Tamara’s teaching approach is unique because of their combination of art and music instruction and our ability to assess individual students needs. They have a compatible hands on approach built on kids strengths, focusing on process rather than end result, which results in kid's ownership of their projects and pride and their abilities. The flexibility to take projects in different directions based on students wants and interests makes Happy Squirrel Arts distinct.

Happy Squirrel Arts Leadership Team

Tamara Nelson: Tamara has worked as a teacher for Seattle Public Schools for the past 7 years, the previous 5 teaching visual arts. She is currently teaching kindergarten at Adams Elementary, an arts-infused school in the Ballard neighborhood.

Sandy Buchner: Sandy is a music artist in residence at Seattle area elementary schools and child care programs since 2000.