Programs
Two programs. One community.
Two programs run side by side at Summer Arts. Younger kids spend their day in Art Squad, with a set group and a daily rhythm built for ages 5 to 7. Older campers ages 8 to 15 design their own schedules in Summer Arts, choosing from dozens of classes across visual arts, drama, dance, music, media, photography, textiles, sports, and writing. Teenagers ages 13 to 15 who want a leadership role can also apply to the Apprentice Program. It's an add-on for already-enrolled campers who want to assist with classes, lead activities, and take on hosting duties at the Arts Festival.
Whichever program a kid is in, they're part of one community. The whole camp gathers daily for the Noontime Show, eats lunch together, and turns out for the Arts Festival.
Art Squad (ages 5–7)
Art Squad is for our youngest campers, ages 5 to 7, who stay together as one group with their own counselors. The classes are set, not chosen: music, art, drama, and outdoor games or dance. The morning Art Buffet rotates weekly through drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, puppets, and mobiles. Their drama class builds short skits that can be shared at the Noontime Show. The day ends with a Squad Time period, a quieter hour for snacks, free play, or finishing projects from earlier.
Summer Arts (ages 8–15)
Summer Arts is where campers ages 8 to 15 design their own day. They pick classes from a catalog of dozens, filling five class periods plus a daily Festival Period for free-choice activities. After an add/drop window in the first two days, the schedule locks for three weeks.
Classes span nine departments: art, dance, drama, media, music, photography, sports, textiles, and writing. The culmination of each session is the Arts Festival, a celebration showcasing all of the work generated throughout the three weeks. Some of the presentations at the Arts Festival include a dance concert, art gallery showings, band performances, fashion shows, vocal performances and a musical.
Apprentice Program (ages 13–15)
Summer Arts participants also have the opportunity to volunteer for our Apprentice Program! The Apprentice Program is for older campers who want more responsibility at Summer Arts. Apprentices can enroll as regular Summer Arts campers and add the apprentice track on top of their schedule. They assist a teacher with a class of their choice, plan and run one Festival Period activity per session, meet weekly as a group with program leaders, and take on hosting roles at the Arts Festival and other camp events.
During the first week of camp, students will have the opportunity to sign up for the apprenticeship program.
To apply, email director Toby Dewey.
Founded in 1967, Fayerweather is an all-gender independent private school enrolling students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and located in Cambridge, MA. Children here are taken seriously — as thinkers, as individuals, as people whose presence in the world already matters. They learn by doing real things, in real places, for real audiences. They become themselves, in community, over time.
