There aren't too many people who can say they learned hip-hop dance moves, made a basket, played African drums, sang like a pop star, designed jewelry and developed their acting skills in one day. But for students entering grades 3-10 in the next school year, Artscape makes that a possibility.

Artscape is a five-day arts camp operated by the Allied Arts Council at Missouri Western's Potter Hall. It will be held from Aug. 3-7.

Classes include artist trading cards, basketweaving, colored pencil drawing, fabric art, hip-hop dance, jewelry design, mask making, world percussion, postal art, School of Pop (singing), Take the Stage! (acting), 3D sculpture and watercolor painting.

"We try to offer a variety of hands-on art as well as the performing arts," says Cathy Ketter, operations manager for the Allied Arts Council.

There are often more than 175 students enrolled in Artscape, and Ketter says they all come from different walks of life. About one third of Artscape participants are home-schooled or attend private schools, another third are from public schools, and the final third come from many of the surrounding towns in the area.

"It's an enrichment camp and an exposure camp," Ketter says. "A lot of times they don't have art in the classrooms in the private schools or the smaller schools."

Even for those kids who do have art classes at their schools, it can be an enlightening experience. Simon Barbosa is a teacher at Bode Middle School and is also the Artscape basketweaving instructor. He says the opportunities Artscape offers are rare and rewarding.

"It has given me pleasure when students tell me years later, 'I still have my basket,'" Barbosa says. "I don't think young people get a chance to build anything from raw material anymore."

Even if basketweaving or hip-hop dancing sounds too challenging, Ketter says kids shouldn't hesitate to give it a shot.

"The arts are fun and they also help build self-esteem. It's not a graded thing," she says. "It's a chance to come and try something new."

Artscape offers three registration options: The full-day option with six classes from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day for $95, the half-day morning option with three classes from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for $70, and the half-day afternoon option with three classes from 12:15 to 3:30 p.m. for $70. For more information, call the Allied Arts Council at 233-0231 or visit www.stjoearts.org.