The Sammamish Arts Commission will host a “Make It a Clay Day” event from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 1 from at the EX3 Teen and Recreation Center in Sammamish. This event is free and aimed at providing a opportunity for developing teens to serve as role models, mentoring students with special needs.

“We will have approximately 20 students with special needs and we will pair each of them with a local teen mentor for the creative art activities of the day,” said Lin Garretson, director of the Special Arts Sammamish program and a Sammamish arts commissioner.

Garretson said that during the event, students and mentors will get the opportunity to experience how to create with clay. They will do a hand-building activity, try the potters wheel and sculpting. They also will get to experience glazing their finished projects, making the clay creations ready to be fired in the kiln.

Parents are welcome to meet other families, share insights and encouragement for the community building event.

“We have added a new feature to our Special Arts Sammamish programs whereby parents can share a time of facilitated conversation, exchanging resources and encouragement while their children “Make It A Clay Day!” with their teen mentors,” Garretson said. “The parents will enjoy coffee, generously donated by Starbucks, and snacks in the comfortable conference room where they can see their children, while allowing them to interact independently with their teen mentors.”

Garretson said they are working on accommodating more people at the event. To pre-register, visit http://www.sammamish.us/events. For additional information, contact Lin Garretson, Sammamish Arts Commissioner at specialartssammamish@comcast.net.