Students bring objects to life

A look at the Animation Explosion summer camp, a program jointly held by Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation and Thurston Community Television, the local community and government access station. Other classes on animation and video production are being held in Lacey and Olympia throughout the summer as part of TCTV's efforts to increase young people's education and access to the station, said Peter Epperson, TCTV community initiatives manager. Expansion into other parts of the county is planned for the future, as the station plans to start youth classes in Yelm next summer, and will follow with classes in Rochester and other locations, Epperson said. The station aims to increase public awareness of their access to the nonprofit membership organization, he said. The youth program, which also includes classes at TCTV's west Olympia studios, is part of the Young Producers Network. The station also has a media skills and literacy program for at-risk youth and young adults called YAYA Media, which focuses on documentary, news and public service videos.