🖌 What Summer Camp Taught Me About Art, Kids, and Creativity + a Freebie!
For the past four years, I’ve had the absolute joy of running a 6-week art-based summer camp — and I mean art, all day, every day. No dodgeball. No scavenger hunts. Just paint, glue, scissors, and pure imagination.
And guess what? Even kids who say they “don’t like camp” end up loving this one.
🖌 A Day in the Life of Art Camp
Every Monday, students walk in to see the week’s projects hung on the wall — a visual roadmap of the creative adventures ahead. Some projects take days to complete, others we finish in a single afternoon. I design every lesson myself, often building on concepts across the week to give kids the chance to go deeper and try new techniques.
Campers range in age from 6 to 13+, and every year I’m convinced that the big kids are just as into it as the littles. Some even travel across state lines — and one amazing artist returns every summer from Mexico! My former campers-turned-interns are a huge help and a beautiful part of our creative community.
💡 The Art of Connection
One of my biggest goals is making time for every single child. I’m fun but firm — and fiercely committed to making sure kids feel safe, seen, and celebrated. We use art journals throughout the week to sketch mini versions of our projects, reflect on process, and creatively fill any spare time.
And our Friday Art Shows? Legendary. Parents come to see every single piece their child made that week, displayed gallery-style on the walls. There’s music, sweets, and so much pride — students take their parents on personal tours, then pull their work straight off the walls and tuck it into their custom portfolios to bring home.
🎁 Want a Taste of Camp Magic?
To celebrate the joy of summer and share a little of what we do, I’ve turned one of our favorite projects into a free downloadable lesson plan — ready for your classroom, home, or camp!
✨ Download the Free Project: "Mini Artist Journals" ✨
(A one-page guide to help kids create and decorate their own sketchbook inspired by our camp journals)
💬 Final Thoughts
Art camp has taught me a lot — not just about teaching, but about listening, experimenting, and letting creativity lead. If you're looking to bring a little of that energy into your own space, I hope this post (and the freebie!) gives you a spark to start with.
Let’s evolve. Let’s inspire.
– Mary 🎨🔥