The students created homemade modeling clay during Dodger Academy at Butler Elementary School.

Dodger Academy is an after school program that focuses on academic progress and improving social skills.

Amanda Peterlin, an art teacher at Fort Dodge Senior High, visits the academy twice a week.

She brought a few helpers from the high school with her.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Trace Rial, 10, a fourth-grader at Butler Elementary School, samples some of the product before making modeling clay during Dodger Academy Wednesday afternoon. The ingredients consisted of salt and flour.

“The Art Club students are volunteering this year, which is new,” Peterlin said. “They will help me plan and execute projects.”

Kate Tyre, 15, a sophomore; Tabitha Teske, 14, a freshman; and Hannah Drummond, 14, a freshman; were the volunteers.

“I like kids and I thought it would be fun to help out,” Drummond said.

Teske said she enjoyed helping students paint the last time she helped at Dodger Academy.

“It went well,” she said. “It was kind of messy.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Tabitha Teske, 14, a freshman at Fort Dodge Senior High, helps Luke Munden, 9, a fourth-grader at Feelhaver Elementary School, add a little color to his modeling clay during Dodger Academy at Butler Elementary School Wednesday afternoon.

Peterlin is happy to have them.

“Last year I found that having extra hands really helps,” Peterlin said.

The group prepared the ingredients for the modeling clay, which included: flour, salt, oil, and water.

“Do a quarter cup of salt and half cup of flour,” Peterlin said.

Peterlin also brought dye for students to add a little color to their project.

It didn’t take long for students to dig in.

Trace Rial, 10, a fourth-grader at Butler Elementary School, decided to sample some of the product.

“It’s pretty good,” he said.

At another table, Ava Potter, 8, a second-grader at Butler Elementary School, noticed his fingers change color.

“We have pink hands now,” Potter said.

One perk of the project is students got to take home the clay.

Peterlin said her goal is to lead the students into new activities.

“Our job is to try and get them involved because they usually regret it if they don’t,” she said. “Really to have fun and experience something new.”