Agnes Niewiadomski
Camp Director
Agnes graduated from OCAD University’s Sculpture/Installation program in 2008 and hasn’t stopped making things since. Her desire to spread the joy of maker culture led her down the path to create Mindful Makers, founding the camp in 2016.
Participating in community projects and events is a big part of why Agnes loves living in Kitchener-Waterloo. She has been an active member of kwartzlab makerspace over the past 15 years. Her latest crafting obsessions include all things basketry, which include public artworks woven from willow. You can follow along with her latest adventures in making on her Instagram account @agnesmakes.
Meet Our Instructors:
All of our staff are First Aid and CPR Certified and have passed a Vulnerable Sector Screening.
Marta Orlowska
Assistant Camp Director & Leadership Coordinator
Marta is a maker who loves nature. She graduated from UW’s Fine Arts program in 2012, and has applied her skills in a plethora of ways since then; the rich unfolding of her journey as an artist has included working with local arts organizations (CAFKA, NIGHT\SHIFT), designing and leading arts and nature programs for all ages, and performing her songs in costumed characters. She believes that every day is full of opportunities to express creatively, from getting dressed in the morning, to how you plate your dinner in the evening. She is endlessly inspired by the beauty that surrounds us and loves to share her love of the natural world with younger generations.
Donia Neekman
Classic Camp Instructor
Donia is a young artist from the K-W area, who is enthusiastic about learning and experimenting with different types of artistic mediums. She is a graduate of Conestoga College’s Animation program and is always creating, whether it be sculpting, drawing, animating, painting, storytelling, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. Her hobbies include making funny birthday cards, playing games, watching space movies, and learning new crafts/skills. She is excited to be teaching the art of craft all summer and to show others how fun it is to learn.
Caleigh Stone Scott
Caleigh is currently studying Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Guelph. She is a maker from Kitchener whose artistic interests include jewelry-making, painting, and designing miniature ecosystems. Caleigh loves spending time outdoors and enjoys using the natural world both as inspiration and as a canvas. She is excited to be returning to Mindful Makers this summer and is passionate about helping campers learn new skills and express themselves through art!
Jaime Wyatt
Classic Camp Instructor
Jaime is a recent high school graduate who will be starting Environmental Geoscience at Trent University this fall. A long-time camper, she’s been part of Mindful Makers for seven years. She recently completed the first volume of her comic book and hopes to continue developing it in the future. Her hobbies include camping, paper sculpture, painting, and gaining new experiences. She’s excited to join the team for her first year and is looking forward to bringing creativity and fun to the program!
madeline Richards
Classic Camp Instructor
Maddy has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree and will return to school in the fall to pursue her Bachelor of Education. She wants to become a primary school teacher and believes art education is integral to children’s development. A fun fact about Maddy is that she lived in France for a year and solo travelled around Europe last summer. In her free time, Maddy loves crafting, baking, cooking, and practicing aerial arts. She loves to try new things and is excited to share her passion for lifelong learning and making with campers this summer!
bella richards
Mini Makers Camp Instructor
Bella is a recent graduate from the University of Guelph with an Honours BA in International Development and Creative Writing. She is a maker from Kitchener whose artistic passions include sketching, painting, writing, and dancing. Bella likes to explore and interact with the world around her through art and she believes that our unique experiences shape the works that we create. Bella is thrilled to spend another summer encouraging campers on their artistic journeys!
CAILEY HUDSON
Mini Makers Camp Instructor
Cailey is an undergraduate student at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec where she is currently studying Studio Arts and Art Education. While her specialty lies more with painting and drawing, Cailey is always trying to experiment in as many different techniques, styles, and mediums as she can.
It is her own personal philosophy that as educators we must also be open to constantly learning ourselves. Both learning and aiding others to discover all that the arts have to offer is what Cailey is truly most passionate about - and she is excited to share this passion at Mindful Makers this summer.