Thirteen-year-old Jamie Downing is one of the newest members of a unique art club in north St. Louis County. Her older brother, Shane, has been a member since the club started five years ago.

Founder Brad and Laurie Walkenhorst started the club as a way to help area kids develop both individual creativity as well as cooperation on group projects.

Many of the kids who join the club heard about it by word-of-mouth. Many are looking for a type of organization that is different than those offered at school.

Laurie Walkenhorst said there are lots of extra-curricular activities available for top students and also many for kids with difficulties. "We're looking for kids who want something extra but aren't satisfied with what else is available," she said.

What WHM Services offers are activities based on a wide variety of art. Some of their projects might be considered "different."

For instance, when Shane Downing joined five years ago, the club members' first big art project was an "art car." Someone had donated an old-but still running-car.

Shane said the kids had "free rein" to paint and decorate the car anyway they wanted. The garishly decorated car became a moving billboard for the art club.

"Lots of people saw it and knew that I had been involved in decorating it," Shane said.

An "art truck" was another project. The main art this semester isn't quite as ambitious. But, it's pretty big and quite creative.

The kids have built an over-sized board game called "Nine Man Morris." When laid out, the game measures 9' by 9'. It has giant moveable pieces shaped like buildings and trees. Each team tries to get three of their pieces in a row before the opponent can block them.

The major art project is a group activity. The kids first compiled a long list of possible games. Then, they voted on one which would be built. Each member had a hand in making the various game pieces.

This semester, another art project involves individual creativity. The kids are making banners and costumes for their appearances in the Earth Day "All Species" parade and in Florissant's Valley of the Flowers celebration.

Brad Walkenhorst urged kids to make banners that "say something about you as an individual." The banners didn't have to be just Earth Day or Valley of Flowers themes.

Fourteen-year-old Jada Burks said her banner will express her opposition to killing so many chickens to make fast food items, such as Chicken McNuggets. She said she isn't a vegetarian but has a special feeling for chickens.

She told about an experiment she did at home. "I got three chicken eggs from a farm and hatched them in my room, using a light bulb to keep them warm," she said.

Shane Downing said his banner will ask the question: "Where Are the Hoops?" He said that will be a protest on the lack of basketball hoops in Florissant parks in the summer.

Thirteen-year-old Alicia Reese said she was recruited for the WHM club by Jamie Downing. The two are 7th graders at Cross Keys Middle School. This is Alicia's first semester in the club and she says she's having "lots of fun."

Alicia's Earth Day banner will have a recycling theme. She's making an all-fabric banner that spells out in cloth letters her theme: "Recycle the Earth." The illustration will show the Earth "like a comet from space with people around it," she said.

She said she also does artwork in school and at home. She said some of her artwork has been good enough for display in Florissant's James J. Egan Center. Her favorite artwork is a multi-colored Sun Mask that was displayed and now is at home in her room.

Thirteen-year-old Larina Haley is in her third semester in the WHM club. Her favorite type of artwork is cartooning.

She hopes to translate her interest in art and creativity into a career as an architect. But, she isn't planning to build roads, bridges or buildings. She wants to build playgrounds for kids. "Most of the playgrounds now are rusty," she said.

Seventeen-year-old Danielle Dawson is a first-timer in the art club. She said she likes the idea of artwork that expresses individuality.

"I used to do whatever to be accepted by other kids. But, I've decided I don't care what other people think. I want to just be who I am," she said.

In addition to participating in community events, the WHM kids will close this semester with a season-ending art show late in May. The club will start up again next fall.

If you are interested in learning more about the WHM Services art club, you can call (314) 831-5576 or e-mail to whmservices@sbcglobal.net.

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