On a bright afternoon in CHV’s open-air arts pavilion, campers crouch over spray-painted banners, sculpt clay figurines, and swap ideas for their next STEM experiment. It’s all part of a bold summer vision led by Raylyn, CHV’s Director of Arts and Knowledge Is Power (KIP): “Art is Resistance.” “With everything happening in the world, kids can feel powerless,” Raylyn says. “Art is how we remind them: you have the power to shape your world.”

Arts and KIP are distinct programs — Arts focuses on creativity through painting, music, and performance, while KIP sparks curiosity with hands-on STEM and critical thinking. But under Raylyn’s leadership, they intersect in powerful ways. “Great leaders throughout history had to resist,” she explains. “Here, we teach kids to resist by leaning into their strengths—whether that’s performing a poem, experimenting in science, or spray-painting their vision onto a banner. At CHV, you’re celebrated for being exactly who you are.”

This integrated approach is already transforming the island. Campers are building confidence as they create, invent, and explore, while learning that their ideas matter. “In a world that moves fast and can feel overwhelming, art and learning are ways to push back,” Raylyn says. “When kids create something from their heart or figure out how something works, you see it click: they feel powerful. That’s what this summer is about—helping them realize they already are.”