Preston Hollow mom Lilly Neubauer, founder of Camp Crafty Parties and author of the website, Open Hearted Home, will teach an online Emerging Leaders: Creativity + Authenticity Workshop for high school students in partnership with Southern Methodist University’s College Prep program. For young families, Neubauer is launching Open Hearted Home’s Simple Summer Craft Challenge, a free family resource and online community that offers 25 summer camp-style craft prompts using 10 basic art supplies and backyard nature.

High schoolers in Neubauer’s SMU College Prep course will discuss what it means to be an authentic leader on “the hero’s journey” and create mission statements along with tie dye, personal mantra bracelets and vision boards. Families participating in Open Hearted Home’s Simple Summer Craft Challenge will find craft ideas meant to help kids at home express themselves “outside the craft kit box.”

“The thought of running summer programming for our children with many options canceled is intimidating. With that said, it’s also important that we stay focused on the socialization and mental health of our children navigating this unprecedented type of summer break,” says Neuabuer.

Neubauer’s background includes a history of art education with Dallas Contemporary and her work as the owner of Camp Crafty Parties, LLC, a private craft party event planning service. Lauren LaRocca of the Lifelong Learning department at SMU recruited Neubauer to develop a course concept for their summer program after learning about Camp Crafty Parties.

Registration for both the Emerging Leaders: Creativity + Authenticity Workshop and Open Hearted Home’s Simple Summer Craft Challenge are now open. Emerging Leaders will meet online June 22-25 and July 20-23. Open Hearted Home’s Simple Summer Craft Challenge kicks off on Monday, June 8.