Programs
Three programs. One community.
Three 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 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 to share at the Noontime Show. The day ends with a Squad Time period, a quieter hour for snacks, free play, or finishing projects from earlier. They eat lunch alongside the older kids and join them on stage at each Arts Festival.
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 few days, the schedule locks for three weeks.
Classes span nine departments: art, dance, drama, media, music, photography, sports, textiles, and writing. Some run through the whole session and culminate in a piece at the Arts Festival — a band performance, a printed newspaper, a 12-page comic, a fully staged musical. Others are about practice, exploration, or just trying something new.
Apprentice Program (ages 13–15)
The Apprentice Program is for older campers who want more responsibility at Summer Arts. Apprentices 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.
It's a step toward becoming a CIT, and a chance to find out what teaching feels like before applying for staff.
To apply, email director Toby Dewey.