Art is usually one of the first classes cut when school budgets become tight — and budgets are always tight — so most kids don’t get to create a lot of art at school. Whether your child is a dedicated artist or just curious, summer is the perfect time to explore the arts. Campers can paint pottery, learn woodworking, turn recycled objects into art, draw, create mixed media, fuse glass, make mosaics or even sharpen their chef skills.
Pratt Fine Arts Center (Seattle)
Weeklong summer classes for ages 6–12 provide a variety of projects that will help kids develop their artistic voice and creativity. Teens can experiment in a variety of mediums, including painting, glassblowing and jewelry making. Financial assistance is available.
Ages: 6–17
Cost: Varies
Seattle ReCreative (Seattle)
Located in Greenwood and Georgetown, Seattle ReCreative’s small group summer camps focus on the magic of turning reused, reclaimed and recycled materials into beautiful art. All camps are led by two teachers and run in weekly Monday–Friday blocks, with each week featuring a unique theme.
Ages: 4–10
Cost: $375
Illumination Learning Studio (Seattle)
With locations in Greenwood and Ballard, Illumination Learning Studio offers weeklong day camps (half-day camps for preschoolers) with creative themes that focus on drama, dance, visual arts and pop culture. Camps include field trips, engaging activities and outdoor playtime. Weekly music lessons can be added on.
Ages: 3–11
Cost: $320–$395
Museo Art Academy (Issaquah)
Campers can choose half-day camps for three or four days a week or sign up for the full-day camp by adding a supervised lunch hour. With the focus on a different medium each week, kids will enjoy painting, sculpting, drawing, creating mixed media and more. One-day pottery camps are offered on Fridays.
Ages: 5–13
Cost: $150–$275
FrogLegs Cooking School (multiple locations)
These half-day camps run for four or five days, serving youngsters in the mornings and tweens in the afternoons at locations in Redmond, Kirkland and Seattle. Kids learn kitchen skills in the process of preparing themed recipes, including entrées and desserts, each day. Among the themes are “Pixar Party,” “Mad Food: Science of Yum,” “Galactic Grub” and a special farm-to-table camp in Snohomish. A daily drop-in option is available.
Ages: 4–14
Cost: $375–$675
Paint Away! (Redmond)
Redmond’s popular Paint Away! is offering weeklong summer day camps again this year. Young artists will create a variety of art pieces in mediums such as pottery, painting, glass fusion, tie-dye and more.
Ages: 6–14
Cost: $519
Woodworking at The Center for Wooden Boats (Seattle)
Design & Build campers will learn to use hand tools safely and build small objects, such as a birdhouse or tool box. Quick & Daring campers will design, build and test a (hopefully) functional wooden boat. Center for Wooden Boats members get a $75 discount.
Ages: 10–14
Cost: $670
Arts & Camp (Vashon Island)
Offered Aug. 4–9 only, Camp Fire’s Arts & Camp gender-inclusive overnight arts camp will explore a mix of fine arts and traditional camp crafts and activities, with each cabin choosing projects from crafts such as batik, tie-dye, seed bead jewelry, basketry, wood carving and others. Tiered pricing. Financial assistance is available.
Grades: 6–8
Cost: $1,089–$1,289
Arts Aloft (Seattle)
At day camps at Arts Aloft in Madrona, kids will create art in a variety of mediums. In addition to the studio’s familiar “Fairies,” “Harry Potter” and “Last Blast” themes, new offerings include “Percy Jackson,” “Narnia” and “Ancient Egypt.” Kids should bring lunch and a snack. A sibling discount is available.
Ages: From 5 and a half to 12
Cost: $465
Rock ’n’ Rolling Camp! at MoPOP (Seattle)
Formed in a partnership between the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) and Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT), teaching artists from both organizations help campers practice acting skills, songwriting techniques and learn about the history of music videos to help bring their own music to life. July 14–18 only.
Ages: 10–13
Cost: $560
Young Chefs Academy (Covington)
Campers learn new techniques and seasonal recipes, preparing between 16 and 20 recipes during each four-day camp. At the end of each day, caregivers are invited to taste their campers’ creations. At the end of the camp, young chefs receive a binder containing the week’s recipes so they can re-create their favorites at home.
Ages: 7–15
Cost: $395
Summer@Cornish (Seattle)
For students who are serious about art, Summer@Cornish is an intensive program offering high school students a taste of the college experience from July 7 to Aug. 1, with full-day, half-day and residency options. Students create and perform new work, with the opportunity to take electives beyond their primary medium. Financial assistance is available.
Grades: 9–12
Cost: $730–$8,950
