Last week, Rickie Lee Jones, a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, musician, and author, offered tips and inspiration to a group of budding songwriters during Vashon Center (VCA) for the Art’s Young Songwriter camp.

Jones’ two sold-out concerts at VCA, on July 17 and 18, marked the end of a five-week tour for Jones and her band throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. But on the afternoon before the last show, she found the time and energy to drop in on the camp — and described her experience there as both unusual and deeply moving.

“I don’t get to spend much time with children anymore,” Jones said, in an email to VCA. “Their teacher had helped them create a very sophisticated song, really, a story with drama and resolve. It’s a wonder to watch children’s relationship to storytelling, and once they connect to music — they have an unlimited resource at their disposal. There are a thousand ways to sing a story. I had a great time. I am so glad I met all those kids, and was the recipient of the very tender trust it took to share their songs.”

Wendy Finkleman, the director of VCA’s Blue Heron Education Center, stated that Jones spent about an hour with the children, listening attentively as they shared with her songs they had written during camp. Jones also played some of her own songs for the campers and gave them pointers on how to hone their songwriting skills, emphasizing creativity and practice.

At the end of the session, the students, aged six to 12, presented Jones with a bouquet of flowers, which she displayed atop the piano during her performance on July 18. Jones told the crowd about her visit with the children earlier that day and sang a song she had written during the camp.

Havillah Rand, a singer/songwriter based out of Bellingham who taught the Young Songwriter camp, described how the experience was meaningful both to the campers and herself.

“As a young girl and budding songwriter, Rickie Lee Jones was one of my greatest influences and her songs were among the first songs I learned as I began my career as a working musician,” Rand said. “Rickie Lee’s visit with the young songwriters in my program was an unforgettable and encouraging experience that made me feel inspired and more connected to my purpose as an artist.”

The students at the camp were excited to meet a professional songwriter, and “took her wisdom to heart,” Finkleman said.

“I liked when she said that you don’t have to make the audience love you, you just have to love them in return,” one of the students said.

Allison Halstead Reid, VCA’s executive director, was thrilled that Jones was willing to stop by the songwriting camp, stating that her interaction with kids that day was an example of how VCA can bring performers and community members together to connect and engage.

“The opportunity to cross-pollinate and to integrate and find connections is hugely important,” Reid said. “I love that we have these different programs. They’re all about the arts and bringing in new kids that are discovering their passion for art and, you know, connect them to somebody that is doing it for a living.”

“It’s just another reminder and example of how we can take things beyond the concert,” Reid added. “I think it’s a deeper connection for the artist too when they can engage on a bigger level.”

The Young Songwriters camp — which helps young people find inspiration for songwriting through games, theater, nature, and other forms of arts, is one of many summer camps and classes offered by VCA.

Find out more about VCA’s youth education programs at vashoncenterforthearts.org.