Arts & Crafts Track

Arts and Crafts have been a cornerstone of summer camp programming since its inception in the late 1800’s. We offer many traditional camp crafts like friendship bracelets and tie dye. But, we also offer more technical crafts, that allow campers to develop and try to master a skill. These include pottery, ceramics, and photography. Depending on a campers passion for arts and crafts, they can try a single arts and crafts class, or explore more by signing up for one of our week long courses.

Pottery

Whether you enjoy working on the wheel or forming your own original sculpture, working with clay can be a very rewarding experience. Campers have the opportunity to let their imaginations soar as they learn to create wonderful works of art. During the week long course, campers will learn to use our slab roller, extruder, and the pottery wheels as they create with clay. This course and its classes are available to juniors and seniors.

Day One - Tile Making

Campers will use our slab roller to flatten a ball of clay into tiles. They will then press natural resources from around camp, such as flowers, grasses, and twigs into the clay to create organic patterns and designs

Day Two - Coil Pots

The technique used to make these creations dates back to Ancient Greece! Campers will roll out long, cylindrical tubes of clay, then coil them into pots by gradually stacking and joining coils of clay one on top of the other.

Day Three - Pinch Pots

Starting with a ball of clay, campers will use a pinching method to create a simple form of handmade pottery called a pinch pot. Creativity is encouraged as campers can create anything from creatures to jewelry dishes!

Day Four - Slab Construction

Using the skills learned earlier in the week, campers will create slabs and place them together to make a larger object. Building pottery using slabs of clay is a unique way to create shapes that couldn't be made with a potter's wheel.

Day Five - Wheel Throwing

Learn how to use the pottery wheel to make your own bowl, cup, plate and more!

Pottery Course Book

Pottery Study Guide

Ceramics

Our ceramics studio is equipped with its own slip table and dozens of ceramic molds. In the ceramics course, campers can learn to pour a mold, trim and fire their greenware (unfired pottery), and glaze their sculpture! At the end of the week, they will have a piece of artwork to take home. Campers who don’t want a full week of ceramics' fun can choose to drop by for an hour of ceramic painting. This course and its classes are available to juniors and seniors.

Ceramic Mold Pouring: Slip Casting

On the first day of the ceramics course, campers choose what piece of ceramic they would like to paint and fire. This ceramic mold has already been poured and dried, but they will need to replace the one they took! We allow them to pour a replacement mold of the one they chose so a future ceramic student can choose the same.

Ceramic Painting: Glazing

After the piece is cast and fired, campers will spend a few days applying the paint-like glaze to color and seal the outer surface. Glazing takes a lot of patience, so this is a great way for campers to spend time centered and relaxed. The piece is then fired again to melt the glaze onto the surface of the clay.

Cleaning Greenware & Ceramic Firing

While their pieces are in the Kiln being fired, campers will learn how to remove the poured clay from the mold, trim up the edges, then allow it to dry and become a piece ready to paint. As they smooth up the pieces for next week’s campers, they will learn the proper use and history of kilns, the ovens used to fire their creations.

Ceramics Course Book (In Progress, Going to Change Soon)

Indoor and Outdoor Crafts

Campers will get creative with fun and colorful arts and crafts! They will make keepsakes, explore new skills, and take home handmade treasures. New and different Arts and Crafts are offered every summer.

Tie Dying

How can anyone think of camp and not think tie-dye?! Bring a white t-shirt or anything else white and we'll make it campy in this traditional summer camp arts and crafts class.

Colorful Clay Pens

Campers use polymer clay that bakes hard and creates intricate patterns on the outside of a pen. Campers enjoy the process of creating a unique pen to carry around in their name tag.

Paracord Bracelets

Campers create a useful and artful survival bracelet or lanyard out of paracord that can be unbraided and used in a pinch.

Smash Journals

A fun mix of scrapbooking and journaling! Campers use stickers, drawings, and keepsakes to make a creative, memory-filled book.

Beaded Jewelry

Campers will string colorful beads to make necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, choosing from simple or complex patterns.

Macrame

Campers learn knotting techniques to create keychains, wall hangings, or plant holders using macrame.

Wire Works

Campers will twist and shape wire into jewelry, sculptures, or decorative art piece.

Nature Art Solo

Campers can spend some time outside working on an art project.

Studio Time

Campers who want to spend more time on an art project from another class can request to spend an activity period working on it in the studio. *By Request Only*

Friendship Bracelets

Make one for yourself and share one with a friend! This camp class is iconic and allows campers a chance to create something that is a memory keeper while gain skills in a traditional art. Advance your skills with Advanced Friendship Bracelets that teaches campers how to make really complex patterns!

Beady Buddies

Campers create animals by stringing together colorful beads. Campers can show off their work by attaching a keychain and displaying their beady buddy on their bag or name tag! For a more intricate craft, try "Seedy Buddies"! These beads are so small they fit on a safety pin!

Card and Bookmarks

Campers can design personalized greeting cards and creative bookmarks using paper, stamps, and stickers. Perfect for camper’s who want to send a unique note home!

Paper Quilling

Campers will create beautiful designs by rolling and shopping thin strips of paper into decorative designs and pictures.

Dream Catchers

Campers will weave a traditional dream catcher using hoops, string, and beads, creating a special keepsake to hang at home.

Candlemaking

Campers will customize their own dip candles with different colors and scents to take home.

Camp Bead Jewelry

Campers can use their beads they’ve collected through their time at camp to make jewelry to remind them of their favorite camp moments.

THERE IS NO COURSE BOOK FOR ARTS & CRAFTS. INSTRUCTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL CRAFTS WILL BE GIVEN DURING STAFF TRAINING.

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