SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Carianne Brown might only be 9, but the Daphne art enthusiast already understands that creativity often flourishes outside the mainstream.

“We get to put these wherever we like. In a normal art room they usually tell you where to put things,” said Brown, one of about 20 youth between the ages of 6 and 14 attending “Nature of Art: Going Green” at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center.

The camp targets Eastern Shore students interested in exploring a variety of artistic media during one of two weeklong crash courses taught by area art teachers Cindy Becker, Judy Humphrey and Karin Marrero.

The conservation theme for 2011 was inspired by 5 Rivers’ environmental education mission and picturesque setting, said Becker, noting the annual camps have rotated locations for the past several years.

“(Fairhope’s) Eastern Shore Art Center has a camp and so does the Bay Rivers Art Guild in Daphne, so we started doing this because there just wasn’t anything up here for years,” Becker said. “We’re very privileged to work in the beautiful environment here.”

The first session ends today, and the second begins Monday.

The location also allows the instructors to incorporate science, conservation and even a little cultural significance into the lessons, giving the students a more well rounded experience, Becker said.

For instance, Humphrey’s students talked about Native American culture and symbols before making pendants for medallions they’ll complete in Marrero’s class.

“We talked about how the pendants help people understand a little bit about them on the inside,” Humphrey said.

Her class also made glass-fusion light catchers and worked Tuesday on mandalas that will ultimately serve as book covers for a memory book project.

In addition, the 5 Rivers staff provided a stuffed screech owl to be used as a model for one of the projects, and snack time each day includes a visit from some of the facility’s furriest – and friendliest – residents as well as leaf and plant samples.

“The green theme was (Humphrey’s) idea, and it’s been an opportunity for us to teach these kids how to recycle and use materials for their art that most people would throw away,” Becker said.

Castoff cereal and cracker boxes, for instance, were donated and cut into tiny pieces to provide vibrant color for mosaics being completed in Marrero’s class.

Becker’s drawing classes covered everything from drawing from memory to instructional and observational techniques before moving on to acrylic painting.

“The three of us work in lots of different media, and the children travel to each teacher each day,” she said.

Marrero, meanwhile, focused on mosaics and the aforementioned medallions before moving on to batik, or wax drawings with crayon of butterflies on brown paper bags.

The intimate setting really helps both the students and the teacher, Becker said.

“We all teach the masses during the school year, so it’s nice to spend some individual time with each student and really walk them through some of the more difficult aspects,” said Becker, who teaches at Spanish Fort and Rockwell elementary schools. Humphrey teaches at both Fairhope Elementary and Fairhope Intermediate schools, while Marrero is a teacher at Mobile’s Covenant Christian School.

The only requirements for attending the camp are that children have finished kindergarten, have a love of art and want to be part of the experience, Becker said.

Carson Washington, 10, of Spanish Fort is in her fifth year of camp, while Abrielle Le, 9, is a first-timer.

“It’s really fun,” said Le, who is a student at Rockwell Elementary.

Gillian Benson, 9, who also attends Rockwell, agreed with Brown that being given almost free rein to find her artistic voice is the best part.

“I’m really having a good time. It’s so different to just be able to do whatever you want and create whatever comes to your mind,” Benson said.

Eleven-year-old Malorie McIntyre agreed.

“It really makes you feel like you can do anything you want in art.