Arts & Crafts at Camp

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.

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

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

Slab Construction - Using the things learned in "Tile Making", 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.

Wheel Throwing - Learn how to use the pottery wheel to make your own bowl, cup, plate and more! Wheel Throwing is also offered as a course for campers who would like to spend time learning how to perfect the art of the pottery wheel!

Ceramic Mold Pouring - 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.

Greenware Trimming - When a mold is poured, it needs time to fit and take the shape of the mold before removal. 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.

Ceramic Painting - Each camper will paint a ceramic sculpture of their choosing during the week. Painting takes a lot of patience, so this is a great way for campers to spend time centered and relaxed. We love seeing what they create!

Ceramic Firing - After painting their masterpiece, campers will learn how to load their artwork into the kiln! The Kiln process requires a lot of practice, so the Instructor will be making sure the kiln is loaded properly. Campers will learn about the history of Kilns and the multiple uses for them in different cultures and in history.

Ice Cream, Jams and Syrups - Exothermic reactions are chemical reactions that release heat. When campers make ice cream in this class, they see how this reaction works in a delicious way! Campers will also learn about the properties of food preservation and sugars when they make their own syrups and jams.

Dumplings and Pretzels - In this class, campers make their own dough with flour, water, sugar, salt , and yeast. They talk about the process of allowing the dough to rise and the chemical reaction that sugar has with yeast to create the gas that makes it swell!

Pancakes and Butter Campers will learn about emulsions and fats by churning their own butter. They will also review what they have learnt about flour in previous classes by also making pancakes.

Let's Bake a Cake Campers will make a variety of cakes to find out how heat and expanding gases makes a light and airy cake.

Cake Decorating With Cupcakes made the day before, campers will learn different decorating techniques including how to pipe flowers, leaves and different borders.

Photography 101 - Learn the fascinating history of the camera and photograph by building your own "Camera Obscura"! Campers will then dive into the basics of taking a great picture.

Nature's Alphabet - This is a photographer's hide and seek. The group will look for the shapes of letters out in nature and photograph them. By finding a "Y" in the shape of a tree, or an "O" in the shape of a puddle, find all 26 letters of the alphabet by the end of class!

Tricky Pics - It's all about perspective. Learn how to make the impossible happen by tricking the eye and camera with these fun and funny pictures. Campers will think of creative pictures to take and pose with their friends in this class.

Photos from the Field - Today camper's will go "on location" to get some great action shots. They may follow around the camp photographer or photograph nature i the Animal Area or on our beautiful nature trails.

Uploading, editing and storing photos - At the end of the day, photographers have to select their best pictures to present for a portfolio. Campers will go over their photos from the week, choose their best, and create a portfolio on a disc drive to share with their peers.

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.

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!

FIMO Art - 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!

Beady Buddies - Create animals by stringing together colorful beads. Show off your work by attaching a keychain and displaying your beady buddy on your bag or name tag! For a more intricate craft, try "Seedy Buddies"! These beads are so small they fit on a safety pin!

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