12-Week Art & Skate Program
In addition to art and creativity, Stichting Push is actively committed to the athletic development of young people, with a focus on skateboarding. This accessible street sport has grown significantly in Curaçao in recent years, partly thanks to Flipside Skatepark and the efforts of founder Patrick Kort. His vision: skateboarding is more than a sport – it’s a lifestyle that teaches young people values such as self-confidence, perseverance, empathy, and cooperation.
For this reason, Stichting Push has partnered with the Curaçao Skate Academy (CSA). We believe that the creative and athletic pillars reinforce each other and together provide a powerful foundation for the development and empowerment of youth in Curaçao.
We want to initially focus on young people from vulnerable neighborhoods who may never have had the opportunity to take lessons in sports or the arts, even though they may have hidden talents. We aim to reach these youths by connecting with schools in these neighborhoods through CSA. Over the past few years, CSA has delivered skate workshops at multiple schools, which has established many valuable connections.
The 12-week program we aim to implement consists of two parallel tracks: a creative art track and an athletic skateboarding track. Both are designed to foster the personal, social, and motor development of young people in Curaçao. Children are encouraged to develop their self-expression, cooperation, and perseverance through weekly lessons focused on fun, structure, and safety. Each week centers around a new technique or theme, and the program concludes with an exhibition and a skate competition.
12-WEEK SKATE PROGRAM
Week 1 – Welcome & Materials
• Intro workshop and goal setting
• Meet the coaches
• Skateboard theory
• Safety
• First steps
Week 2 – Level 1
• Pushing the skateboard
• Carving
• Making turns
Week 3 – Ramp & Obstacles
• Theory about ramps and obstacles
• Foot placement on various ramps
• Rolling down a ramp for the first time
Week 4 – Next Step in Foot Positioning
• Kick turns and Tick Tacks
• Learning how to brake
Week 5 – Transition Skating
• Balancing in the halfpipe
• Your first drop-in!
Week 6 – CSA Level 1 Exam
• Show the skills you learned in Level 1 and receive an official Skate Passport to track your progress!
Week 7 – Level 2 & Skate Tool
• First steps in the next level
• Learn more about skateboard components and the skate tool
Week 8 – 4 Wheels Off the Ground!
• The Ollie
• Acid Drop
• Ride over a kicker
Week 9 – Skating Solo
• Drop into a bank or quarter pipe solo
• Kick turn on a bank or quarter pipe solo
• Ollie; 4 wheels off the ground
Week 10 – Flip Trick
• Theory – how does it work?
• Flips and Shove-Its
• Your first hop flip
Week 11 – CSA Level 2 Exam
• Show the skills you learned in Level 2 and progress further in your Skate Passport
• Competition training
Week 12 – Skate Competition!
• Participate in a real skateboarding competition
12-WEEK ART PROGRAM
Week 1 – Welcome & Materials
• Intro workshop and goal setting
• Icebreakers and creative drawing games
• Learn about different brushes, paints, canvases, and how to mix paint
• Practice: explore without rules, just paint!
Week 2 – Color Theory & Mixing
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors
• Warm vs. cool colors
• How to mix tints and shades
• Practice: create a color wheel or gradient chart
Week 3 – Brush Techniques & Texture
• How to hold and move a brush
• Discover painting with dry brushing, dabbing, stippling, blending, etc.
• Practice: paint abstract textures using learned techniques
Week 4 – Shapes & Composition
• Introduction to shapes, balance, and composition
• Practice: paint a still life or abstract work using shapes
Week 5 – Light, Shadow & Depth
• Learn how to create contrast using light and dark
• Simple introduction to highlights and shadows
• Practice: paint a 3D object with shadow
Week 6 – Background & Layers
• How to build a painting in layers
• Creating depth using foreground, middle ground, and background
• Practice: make a landscape or abstract painting in layers
Week 7 – Emotion Through Color & Shape
• Expressing feelings using color and shapes
• Practice: create an abstract artwork with emotion incorporated
Week 8 – Characters & People
• Introduction to drawing simple people or characters
• Body language and facial expression
• Practice: paint a scene featuring a character and their personality
Week 9 – Animals & Nature
• Painting animals or plants
• Focus on shapes, patterns, and personality
• Practice: paint your favorite animal or place in nature
Week 10 – Your Own Painting (Part 1)
• Start creating your own painting
• Sketch your idea first, then begin painting
• Guidance as needed
Week 11 – Your Own Painting (Part 2)
• Finishing your own painting
• Get tips for the final touches
Week 12 – Art Show & Reflection
• A real exhibition where friends and family are invited
• Reflect on what was learned over the past weeks