Summer Camp Staff

Summer ART Camp Staff

Sascha Newell - Executive Director
"Ms. Sascha" is an Artist, Founder and Executive Director of Fine Art Starts. She has a BFA in Visual Art and a Master's Degree in Teaching. She has taught fine art to children and adults since 1997, and was one of three nominees for the 2021 Art Educator of the Year Award for the state of Oregon. Sascha teaches Art full time at Jesuit High School, directs Fine Art Starts, and taught as a Professor of Art Pedagogy in the Master's Education Department at George Fox University for three years. She has a blended family of five children and loves making art in nature, travelling and putting on memorable events. Find Sascha's resume here.

Nina "Neo" Manning - Lead Camp Counselor and Assistant Director
"Ms. Nina/Neo" grew up spending hours in the Fine Art Starts studio, attending years of art classes, has several years of assisting and teaching for Fine Art Starts at various schools. Neo has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Animation with a minor in Game Design from Pacific NW College of Art. They enjoy making art and spending time with their two cats, Inky and Penny and their crested gecko named Barnaby.

Jorie Helwig - Lead Camp Counselor & Studio Manager
"Ms Jorie" is a multidisciplinary artist, specializing in ceramics. She holds a BFA in Photography, and an Associates of Applied Sciences in Interactive Media and Web Design. She worked as a Teacher’s Assistant and a Lead Tutor for college art courses. She has taught many media including photography, lino cutting, printmaking, knitting, and most recently handbuilding and wheel throwing. After working in the tech industry as a software engineer and technical writer for the last 14 years, she is excited to be teaching and creating as an Artist educator.
Jorie is the Fine Art Starts Studio Manager in Raleigh Hills. Please direct any studio-related questions to her at: [email protected]

Zaza Jeffers - Camp Counselor
Alexandra ("Ms. Zaza" ) Jeffers has a degree in Graphic Design and teaches for the Fine Art Starts after-school program during the school year and part time during the summer Art Camps. She has experience teaching a range of ages, from children through adults. She has studied many art mediums, including drawing, painting, and calligraphy. She is a mom to a 2-year old boy.

Laura Schick, Studio Instructor & Clay Week Guest Artist
"Ms. Laura" teaches mathematics at Jesuit High School by day, and the rest of the time she is a multidisciplinary artist and maker, working in clay, textiles, leather, wood, basketry, and most recently stained glass. She fell in love with the pottery wheel in 2022 and her favorite thing about teaching is helping students develop their confidence, voice, and passion for whatever subject or medium they're working with! This summer Laura was a guest potter at the Clay and Pottery camp.
When not teaching or making, Laura spends time with her family and volunteers with her therapy dog, Greta, (who some of the summer Art Camp participants might meet)!

Emma "Rocky" - Camp Counselor
Emma (camp name "Rocky") is a third year Health Science student at Northeastern University, and graduated from Jesuit with three years of learning under Sascha. During their time at Jesuit they began sculpting, and continues to love 3D art alongside painting and collaging. This is Emma's third year at Art Camp and they are so excited to be back in the PNW with all their favorite little artists. Emma has experience lifeguarding, teaching swim lessons, and providing adaptive care for special needs children; Emma's favorite thing about working with campers is watching them become comfortable with their skills and themselves!

Edgar - Camp Counselor Sub
"Mr. Edgar" is a bilingual visual artist inspired by community, nature, and the small details of everyday life. He has collaborated with local organizations and businesses across Portland on creative projects, using both English and Spanish to connect and communicate with diverse audiences. Edgar has a background in visual arts and design, and continues strengthening his artistic and educational training through community-based work and ongoing professional development. He is excited to share his love for art with students at Fine Art Starts. For him, teaching means encouraging children to try new things, express who they are, and discover that in art there are no mistakes—only new discoveries.

Kate Alperin - Camp Counselor Sub
“Ms. Kate” is a multidisciplinary artist who has been creating and teaching art for as long as she can remember. Currently, she works out of her studio, Orange Pink Purple Blue and at the Haven PDX. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Natural Resource Sociology with a minor in Sustainability, and a Master of Science in International Relations and Global Affairs focused on global health and development. Kate also manages a food pantry and works with youth organizing efforts across the Pacific Northwest, bringing these values of care, compassion, and community into the art classroom. Outside the studio, Kate enjoys volunteering, listening to music, and spending time with her cats.

Hayden "Meadow" - Camp Counselor in Training
Hayden (camp name "Meadow") is a Jesuit High School graduate (and AP Art student) who studied Art under Ms. Sascha for four years. She's experienced in many media, particularly enjoys digital art and character design, and is studying Game Design at NYU. Hayden has been a committed classroom assistant for the past two years in the after school program, and looks forward to returning to Art Camp on this year's summer staff. She's excited to get to know this summer's campers!

Simon "Edwin" - Camp Counselor in Training
Simon (camp name "Edwin") graduated from Jesuit High School after taking four years of art with Ms. Sascha and is now at NYU. He likes to use pen and ink, and likes to explore with wet media different types of papers. He is a fan of card games including Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering, especially looking closely at their art and learning about their artists. He is excited to return to Art Camp for another great summer!

Alexa "Captain" - Volunteer & Camp Assistant
Alexa (camp name "Captain"), is a recent Jesuit graduate who spent 4 years in the Fine Art program and will be attending Seattle University in the fall! She loves arts and crafts, reading, writing, and cooking. She is excited for her first year of camp and can’t wait to be creative and meet all the campers!

Makayla "Sunshine" - Volunteer & Camp Assistant
Makayla (camp name Sunshine) is a rising senior at Jesuit High School and is thrilled to be starting AP Art IV in the fall. She enjoys all art mediums and especially likes to watercolor in her free time. She also loves going on hikes and spending time with friends. She is very excited to volunteer at camp this summer!

Colette "Coco" - Volunteer & Camp Assistant
Colette (camp name "Coco") is a rising senior at Jesuit High School. She is excited to embark on her AP Art journey next year with Ms. Sascha and her future classmates. SHe is a n active member of the Jesuit theater community, and also enjoys painting, reading and writing. When making art, she loves to mix the realistic with the cartoon! This summer she is very eager to participate in ART Camp and meet of the the campers!

Spencer - Volunteer & Camp Assistant
Spencer is a rising senior in high school who has stayed with art classes every year. She has been a student under Ms. Sascha Newell for three years soon to be four at the AP Art IV level. She enjoys vibrant colors and finds inspiration within nature and people. She has three dogs and loves being outside and surrounded by nature.

Natalie "Rain" - Volunteer & Camp Assistant
Natalie (camp name "Rain") is currently a student at Jesuit High School. She is well versed in many different fine arts, being in her high school choir and doing costumes for a few plays!
She loves to bracelet-make and make banana bread in her free time. She is excited to start volunteering this summer and meet all the campers!

Scarlet "Honey" - Youth Volunteer / Jr. Counselor
"Honey" is a rising 9th grader. She has been doing pottery for four years and participated in Fine Arts Starts summer camps for three years. She also grew up in the Fine Art Starts after school program during her elementary school years. Her favorite art medium is sketching, digital art and pottery. She loves art, skiing and biking with her family, hanging out with friends, and watching TV.

Inclusion

Every child’s life and diverse experiences are respected. Our goal is to ensure that students are truly seen, valued and feel a sense of belonging and safety during times of creation and sharing.

Engaging Instruction

We place the best-matched instructor with the course being offered. Our instructors are valued for their artistry, experience and time.

Community

Students feel a sense of community during camp times, art shows and the support they receive from peers and leaders.

Find our Policies HERE.

We are a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. Your charitable contributions are tax-deductible.

It is a policy and priority of Fine Art Starts that there is no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, sex, marital status, religion, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation in any educational programs, activities or employment.