7 Secrets to Running a Successful Art Camp

By Spramani Elaun

It’s art camp time for me, so I thought I would share my 7 secrets to running a successful art camp.

Crazy as it might seem, you too can run a successful art camp!

I’ve been running art camps for close to 20 years, and I have tips that can fast track you like a pro.

Maybe you know lots of kids that need activities to do this summer, or maybe you’re in charge of activities at church, or youth organization?

Whatever the reason kids love art camp and they cherish the memories.

I know this because my families start asking me way head of summer “When’s art camp happening??”.

So here are my 7 secret tips to running an art camp.

1 Plan Art Camp

Get the word out as early as you can to your families.

Try at least two weeks before art camp to advertise, but if you have the luxury – start months before the actual date.

Families are looking well in advance for activities to fill their child’s summer calendar.

Art camps were designed to help working parents find activities for their children during the summer months for at least 3 – 5 hours daily.

So decide dates and time before you advertise.

2 Daily Art Camp Agenda

Create your daily agenda timeline, this might include:

Check-in

Activities & Projects

Snack

Lunch

Clean-up

Check-out

Lunch time tip:

Have families pack their kids lunch and drinks just like school.

I know kids get excited for snack time at new places.

Good snacks for you to provide can be; fruit, pretzels, popcorn, veggies, or cookies.

Don’t over sugar your attendees, you will have to tame those beast. 🙂

3 Get Art Camp Support

Don’t run an art camp on your own if you have more than five kids to attend to.

Get help by enlisting a teenager helper or an adult volunteer.

These art helpers can really come in handy when you are setting up, or doing something that needs your attention.

4 Make Art Projects Adjustable

Be sure all your activities can be adjustable for all ages.

You will attract different ages with different capabilities.

So be flexible on what you want kids to create daily.

You will most likely attract siblings at different ages, which might need help making some of the projects.

5 Budget & Shopping For Art Supplies

It’s a good idea to plan out each days projects ahead of time.

This will give you a good idea of what you’ll need, and help you budget out each project cost.

Take a stroll around your local craft stores to get some ideas, inspiration, and get a better price on art supplies.

6 Make Art Camp Fun

Don’t get caught up in the final product of each project.

Kids have been rushed around all year-long in school and really need down time to play, explore, discover, and make new friends.

Don’t take it serious that you need to be teaching crazy art skills or projects.

Kids should have memorable fun art camp experiences, not complex ones.

Play games, and do fun bonding collaborative art making projects.

Have kids plan to create something they can give their parents the last day of camp, this planning can start earlier in the week.

7 Art Camp Project Ideas

The skies the limit here, but here’s some ideas I do annually.

Collaborative mural painting

Fabric drawing on t-shirts

Face Painting

Tie-dye t-shirts

Nature Art Making – sticks, rocks and leaves

Recycle Art – paper rolls, cardboard, or bubble wrap

Magazine Collage

Highlight an artist for the day like Eric Carle, or Jason Pollock

Action painting – marble painting, spray bottle painting, or splatter painting

Hot Glue Constructing

Mono Prints

If you have questions on this topic, feel free to reach: spramanielaun@gmail.com

Warmly,

Spramani

No part of this blog may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in

the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.