QUESTIONS: What fosters creative expression? What stimulates communication skill, encourages literacy and helps develop critical thinking? What is a lot of fun?

ANSWER: ART! An Elementary School Arts Program!

Welcome to the BATS website! Bringing Art to Schools is a program of the Tahoe Art League, a non-profit organization in South Lake Tahoe, California. The League’s mission is to promote fine arts and art education in the community.

BATS is an art appreciation and art history program for students in kindergarten to fifth grade. This important visual arts program presents a unique opportunity for elementary students to become more informed about classic works of art, their meanings, and the styles and movements that inspired them.

The program teaches artistic perception and offers children an opportunity to create their own artwork based on the lesson theme.

Let me tell you a story!

Once upon a time, in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the shore of beautiful blue Lake Tahoe was the little community of South Lake Tahoe, California. Children studied hard and learned to read, write, and do their arithmetic. But something was missing! Art was missing! And this was about to change!

Living in the town was Darlynn Babb-Sharpe, a woman with a vision. She recognized the need to offer art in the elementary schools. She created a structured program to be presented by trained volunteers at the Bijou and Al Tahoe Schools. The program was designed to meet the California State Standards for Arts Education. Darlynn obtained grants from the local Soroptimist clubs, purchased portfolios of fine art pictures and developed what was called the Elementary Arts Program. She directed the program from 2001 to 2003.

Gina Stowell became the next director and expanded the Elementary Arts Program to include all four public elementary schools and St. Theresa Catholic School. Now about 1800 students in South Lake Tahoe and the nearby little town of Myers, California were receiving visits from volunteers, learning about art and creating colorful expressive artwork in the classroom. Gina served until 2008.

Following Ms Stowell’s tenure, Joy Rogers led the program. During this time the name was changed to BATS, Bringing Art to Schools. Joy initiated field trips to the Lake Tahoe Community College Haldan Art Gallery for students to view fine art in a professional gallery setting. She invited local artists to visit the classroom for special projects. Three large art pieces were created and now hang in the El Dorado County Courthouse. She partnered with the El Dorado County Branch Library to provide space in the Children’s Room for the schools to display student art created during the BATS lessons. Joy directed the program until 2011.

Haldan Gallery Field Trip

BATS Visiting Artists Program

Mexican Metal Folk Art

El Dorado County Courthouse Permanent Collection


Penny Fairfield is the current director of the BATS program. Each school has its own Lead Volunteer who coordinates the program at that facility. About 100 dedicated parents and retired community members volunteer in the classroom. They visit their assigned class five times a year to bring an art lesson to their students. In the spring each school presents a huge art show, displaying selected pieces from each student. The children are so proud of their work and love sharing it with families, friends and neighbors.

And the story of BATS, Bringing Art to School, is not over yet! Chapters are still being written.

Bring Art to Schools depends on the generosity of donor and grant funds to support the program. Donations can be made to the Tahoe Art League and specified to apply to the BATS program. Thank you!