Messy Play is a mixed-age ( 5-12y) day camp where children can explore nature, art materials, movement, noise, and everything parents usually say no to. 

Stories were read, words were drawn, dinos were lost and found (lost and found, lost and found), homes were built in the Dino Valley, nay cities were formed in Dinoland. A new continent was reached, bridges were crossed. The floor is lava! Dinos were put to bed; then dinos went extinct. Snacks were eaten, Pokemon Cards were shown, Havana ooh na-na song lyrics were scrutinized, birthdays were celebrated, dance-outs were planned, planes were taken, fish were fished, A. warned us of a rattlesnake. Phew.

Friends were made, Minecraft village built and destroyed, someone glitched, paintings packed. Parents came.

That was fun!

It is such a joy to see these little kids begin the day as their every day shy, naughty, clingy, cheerful, grumpy version of themselves and, within a few hours, transform into a confident, tight-knit group of pure PLAY force.

Messy Play is an unstructured Play and Explore environment where kids do not hear the usual Nos or have to adhere to a strict schedule. It is a teaching method that boosts creativity, self-determination, confidence, trust and responsibility. This works really well with reserved kids, kids that don’t quite feel at ease in a structured setting, kids with high tactile needs (that is all of them), kids that like to make up stuff ( again, most of them). 

          Messy  Play is facilitated by Despina Stokou

Despina Stokou is a contemporary artist and writer in Los Angeles, California. She primarily produces gestural, expressive paintings, often large and displaying vivid color, that include layered collage elements like cut paper letters spelling out pointed phrases and topical passages that tumble and pile up across her canvases. Stokou is represented by Derek Eller Gallery in New York. 

As a writer, Stokou has been a strong voice for women in arts, publishing polemical texts that are both provocative and highly entertaining.

Stokou is a single mom by choice and lives in Sun Valley with her son (7y), poodle (10y), and cat (unknown).

Rates: Workshop fees are set at a daily flat rate of 90$ a day

Late Pick up fee: 10$ every 15 min after 3pm
Payment: Fees can be paid with Zelle or Venmo.
Reservation: You must pay the fee to reserve your kid’s spot.
Refund: Fees are not refundable but can be transferred to a different kid on the same day.
Schedule: The workshop takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please ensure the kids are dropped off by 9:30 and allow enough time at pick-up to gather their stuff before 3 p.m.