A parent volunteer program at Calabash Elementary School takes students on a journey to a better appreciation and understanding of art.

The program, called "Art Trek," brings volunteer parent docents together and trains them in the basic techniques of art. The program has been in place for two years at the school in Woodland Hills.

It provides the materials needed to fulfill lessons in art and assigns parent docents to classrooms to teach students.

The school held its second annual art show on April 25. Held in conjunction with Calabash's open house, the show featured student artwork on display in the school's auditorium.

"The mission of the Art Trek program is to create an atmosphere of positive and confidence-building experiences for the students while they problem solve and take artistic risks to produce their own work," said Connie Rodriguez, Art Trek coordinator. "It also promotes our parents to volunteer and join the classrooms."

Art Trek develops on a six-year cycle, building on what the students learned the previous year, such as developing drawing and painting skills, heightening the visual senses and appreciating their own creativity and that of others - both famous artists and their peers, Rodriguez said.

The students also learn to "relate historically and culturally through art," she added.