Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA)
Feb 2011
Can anyone recommend a good art program for the summer?
Preferable several weeks long, perhaps not local, even abroad?
My daughter needs to get away from home, nuture her natural
talents and do something new this year.
My artist needs a change of pace
I can highly recommend Oxbow Summer Art Program in Napa. My son
enjoyed going there for 2 summers. I was impressed with the quality
of the program, facilities and food. http://www.oxbowsummercamp.org/
Wilma
Art Camps for Kids
March 2011
Hi all,
I am looking at sending my 6 year old daughter to
Studio
One's Summer Art Camp for part of the summer. I was
wondering if anyone out there has sent their child there and
what your experience with it was. I didn't see anything in
the Archives about this.
Mostly I am concerned that the kids are well supervised and
that the teachers/counselors actually pay attention to the
kids rather than spending more time chatting with
themselves. (My sister works in Parks and Rec in SoCal and
I've heard some stories...) Also, I want to make sure that
there is structure/discipline because I can see the
potential for a bit of chaos.
Claire
We did a week two years ago. It was fine -- not outstanding, not horrible.
It was a little chaotic at dropoff. I wasn't there during the day so don't
know how much the staff socialized with each other vs. focussing on the kids.
I kind of felt like I got what I paid for (at that great price) but not
particularly more. I felt like my just-finished-K daughter was perfectly
safe there all day, and she liked it all right but didn't love it. I
wouldn't want to sign my kid up for a whole summer, but for a week or few
it's fine.
reasonably satisfied customer
My daughter attended one week of Studio One summer camp last year, and we all
loved it so much that we've had her in their after school program (they pick
up from several Oakland schools) during the school year. The art activities
with the artists are engaging, and the Oakland Parks and Rec staff are
enthusiastic, positive and seem well-trained. They lead the kids in games
when they're not doing ceramics or cooking or print-making, and thus no one
seems to get bored or get into trouble. We'll definitely send our child there
again!
Happy with Studio One
Jan 2011
My son turns out to be pretty talented and very interested in
drawing. Because the arty camps we've done and his school art
program do such a wide variety of media exploration, including
countless glued recycled projects and playing with colors, he
doesn't get much of the drawing. Does anyone know of and
afterschool program or camp where life drawing is a frequent
activity? Thank you!
looking for a camp that believes in arts and kids?
look up ParkDaySummerArtsCamp.com
this is their 22nd year.
they hire working artists to teach all their classes
you can see examples of staff and programing on their web-site
albeit 2010
2011 should be posted by March 1st, but you can get the feel for the camp.
best
Judy
April 2010
Hi, I am looking for a visual art camp for my 8 year old
son. He has done several years of Camp Galileo and loved
it, but we are looking for something with a bit more
focused approach that is still fun. We are in Oakland but
willing to travel a bit for the perfect camp!
Thanks.
Stephanie
I would like to very enthusiastically recommend
Imagination
Kids Art Camp, the brain child of long time local artist and
art teacher Lucy Ames. My daughter has been attending
Lucy's camp every summer for one or weeks for the last 4
summers. The program is wonderful. The group is small,
taught by Lucy in her studio, and the projects are fun and
sophisticated. Lucy breaks the work up so that it is
manageable and keeps the pace going so that everyone is very
involved, learning tons, and having a great time. At the
end of the week, the kids have an art show: each time the
work is so beautiful, I am amazed at what Lucy is able to
teach.
Cate
We highly recommend Lucy Ames'
Imagination Kids summer art camp. Lucy
teaches art during the school year at two Berkeley public schools and holds her
camp at her home studio in El Cerrito.
Our 4th grade son has enjoyed his sessions every summer for the last four
years. Lucy's teaching style is friendly and approachable, yet focused on
providing technical art skills and enormous freedom of expression. The camps
are kept small enough for individual attention and often are based on a theme,
such as world art, color, or artists' styles. Lucy is a pleasure to talk with and
would be happy, I'm sure, to give you more information directly. Here's her
contact info: (510) 527-4777 www.lucyames.com
Miriam and Ben
My kid is a teenager now and will always remember all the
laughing that was shared and the creative energy of
Art
Yowza. (ARt Yowza is for children ages 5-11) I see the
campers Art exhibits all around town in Alameda ( at the
Starbucks at Park St., Starbucks at Alameda Towne Centre
and The Blue Dot Cafe) so I see that the art work still has
the same vibrancy and humor. Rebecca Stees is a gifted
teacher and her day camps are a talent-nurturing place. I
highly recommend this experience for your son.
www.ARtYowza.com
Louise
Art Yowza
is a wonderful place for young artists. Rebecca
has fun one week theme camps that appeal to both boys and
girls. My grand-daughter(8)and our friend and neighbor's
son have been going to Art Yowza for years and always look
forward to their time there and learning something new.
This year, Rebecca has added four new camps to the summer
season (June 14-August 28) that focus on building skills.
Young Designers, Art Tricks, Sculpture Wow and Cartooning
Fun all look fun to us for 2010!
Diana
Jan 2009
I haven't yet been successful at finding an art camp for my 5 year old.
He loves to
draw, paint, do arts and crafts, etc. I was hoping to find him an art
camp that he could
to go this summer either in June or July. I was hoping to find something
in Berkeley or
Oakland but could go as far east as Lafayette if necessary.
thanks
art mom
I've grown to love Art Yowza
Camp through my daughter's
involvement. Rebecca Stees is an excellent caring teacher. Her
Summer Camps are perfect for young children. I just found out
that Art Yowza now offers after-school classes and children's
birthday parties. Her cute carriage house studio is adorable.
For more information go to : http://www.artyowza.com/
Louise
Hi,
Art Yowza
rocks! The School Holiday Camps has been very
convenient for me as a working mother. Rebecca is incredibly
creative in her approach and it's been amazing to see what my
child makes with new inspirations and support. It's also been
fun to invite my child's friends to join her at camp. Art
Yowza is in a lovely cottage setting with a beautiful yard.
And it's overflowing with cool ideas and tons of art supplies.
It' been an enriching and fun experience for our child.
Contact Rebecca Stees at: www.artyowza.com
Best wishes,
Deirdre
ART YOWZA
in Alameda has been a big hit with my granddaughter. She attended
Rebecca Stees's
''Passion for Fashion'' this summer, and learned to drape fabric on a small
wooden
mannequin. Now, every day after school she comes home and creates fashion
looks
on her mannequin. Forget Barbie! She has been so creative with this that we
featured her holiday masterpiece on our family Christmas card this year.
Rebecca has the unique ability to ''pull' art out of virtually anyone, and
they have a
blast doing it.
Check out her website at www.artyowza.com
Highly recommended!
There are camps for many areas of interest.
simonsays
Aurora School,
in the Upper Rockridge neighborhood in Oakland,
has a variety of wonderful half day camps for 5-12 year olds--
art and other subjects in the summer. You can take one half
day camp or 2 for full day and extended care is available as
well. My kids have taken many of these over the years. They
have always been taught by wonderful teachers and have been
very creative. Many of the kids attending do not go to Aurora,
so all are very welcome. The homey environment makes it
especially great for younger kids. Info will probably come out
in the next few weeks. During July, they also run a fabulous
theater arts camp where the kids put on a musical at the end.
www.auroraschool.org
Lori
April 2008
Our 10 year old son is interested in taking a summer arts or
drama program that emphasizes drawing and/or acting.
Does any one know of programs in the Oakland or Berkeley area
that we could examine? I have contacted both Studio One and the
Oakland Parks and Recreations Department. However, their camp
dates conflict with our summer schedule.
Thank you for any information you can provide.
David
Check out Monart in Oakland http://oakland.monart.com/. They
offer wonderful summer art camps as well as weekly art classes
throughout the school year. Each week has a different theme. The
instructor works well with kids of all ages/levels. My son has
attended the weekly classes for nearly 2 years and the summer
camps 2 years in a row. He really enjoys the program.
Sophia
Our camp is a music, art and theatre camp.
There is a lot of emphasis on music and he would probably be encouraged
to either try violin in a beginning group or play a set of percussion instruments.
We do have a wonderful art teacher and do a dramatic performance. The kids get to
work on the script during the week.
The dates are July 21st to the 25th.
It's called Creative String Summer Camp and
we are in Berkeley.
www.stringimprovisation.org
Irene
Feb 2008
I am looking for a summer camp (preferably at least 6 hours a
day) that focuses on art for the week for an elementary school-
age child. Many combine science, art, p.e. but I have only
found Pleiades' Pallete to do art for a full day camp, but it
is only offered in June. Any suggestions for mid-August (11-
22?). Actually, any suggestions for art camps described as
above for any dates will be useful for the future.
Thanks
My children had a good experience at MOCHA art camp in downtown
Oakland last August.
Jennifer N.
I don't know what dates they are running but my kids really
enjoyed Richmond Art Center's camp last year. They are actually
just 3 hour sessions but some kids did am and pm sessions making
it into a more full day. only downside there would be different
kids in am and pm with a handful doing both and probably not so
many of their friends to eat lunch with. But the teachers are
really great, they are in spacious real art studios with
excellent materials, and each 3 hour session is split between
visual arts projects/ teacher and ceramics studio/ teacher.
anon
Children's Fairyland Summer Day Camp might be what you are
looking for. We offer a multi-cultural performing arts camp,
and August 11-15, 2008 is our last session of the summer.
Though the program does focus on performing arts, there is also
arts & crafts, puppetry, animals, and plant activities. You can
learn more are www.fairyland.org.
There is also a big Summer Camps & Programs Fair in Oakland that
you may want to go to. It's Sunday March 9th from 1-4:30pm at
the Scottish Rite Center. http://www.aauw-op.com/documents/CampFairFlyer08.doc
Good luck and I hope you find what is best for you and your
child.
programs@fairyland.org
A good art camp in central Berkeley that operates most of the
summer (and thru August 22) is Kalen Meyer's. About 15 kids from
9am-3pm, each week has a separate theme. She's a great
instructor, and the art projects are fantastic! They are always
the one we put up on the wall.
The camp always fills by its first registration deadline, this
year Feb 23. Ages 5-12. kalenmeyer.com for details.
--happy art camper parent
Brushstrokes Studio (http://www.brushstrokestudio.com/) in
Berkeley has a great art program for summer camp. The owner
Jessica is truly gifted. Brushstrokes is a pottery painting
studio, but the camps are varied and include things like
mosaics (which I believe Jessica has won an award for a public
mosaic work.) The space is amazing and they just expanded to
the second floor. The upstairs can be rented out for parties.
The staff is amazing for parties and camps. I brought my three-
year-old there for a private party. I thought she might be a
bit young. Anyone who has painted with a three-year-old knows
the challenge and potential mess. The staff kept our area so
clean that she was able to move from project to project without
feeling overwhelmed. She painted three peices and was
captivated for over an hour straight. They really do take care
of all age groups. There is even a changing table and
comfortable nursing chairs for mom's groups.
tracy
Montclair Summer Arts Workshop -- offered through Oakland Parks and Rec. Takes
place mid-to-late August each year. My 6 year old and several of his friends LOVE it.
Check it out online at http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/programs/
Maybe we'll see you there?
My kids LOVE Mocha Art Camp in downtown Oakland. They have all
day care there if you want it from 8-6, but their regular program
is 9-3. Each week has a different theme, and these can be wildly
different and fun, they've done mask-making, puppets, art of
different countries, etc. Their teaching staff is very
professional, and they are convenient to BART. Their phone number
is (510) 465-8770. They also have a pretty good website,
www.mocha.org.
Satisfied Mocha parent
You may want to check out Brushstrokes in Berkeley or
Art Yowza in Alameda. I think they should both be in
the archives. Good luck!
lucy
You should check out Monart in Oakland. They also have a studio
in Alameda. My son attended the summer camp last year and he
loves it! He now goes to the weekly art program after school as
well. Monart offers different themes each week. My son gets to be
creative while learning drawing techniques on the subject. Kids
are also provides fun facts about the subject. My son looks
forward to his Monart class everyday! Monart has an open house
coming up in Oakland. Check it out: http://www.oakland.monart.com/
sophia
March 2007
Looking for suggestions for a fun and creative art camp for 6-8
year olds this summer. Prefer something in the Oakland
Berkeley area 1/2 day or full day. The emphasis can be on any
different kind of art projects--painting, drawing, clay, etc.
in a fun, easy-going environment.
want my kids to love art
I'd highly recommend YAWS (Young artists workshop)summer camp
located in Berkeley- the teacher/director is a wonderful art
teacher and artist- each week has different themes and media so
you can choose what seems most intriguing or do more than one
week with a new focus. I don't immediately see a website, but
you can contact the teacher Jennifer Burke at jennyaws@yahoo.com
chris
Imagination Kids is a great art camp.Lucy Ames runs it, it's
very small (6 kids) in a studio in her back yard. 510-525-2523
I highly recommend it.
a
Children's Fairyland offers a Performing Arts Day Camp that
might be good for your child. It is a week long program from
9am-5pm Monday-Friday, each week focuses on a Fairytale from a
different culture. There is arts & crafts each day and a
performance for the parents at the end of the week. Good luck!
programs[at]fairyland.org
April 2009
Summer Art Camp with Dianne Stockler is a charming, creative
summer camp experience! Each of the weekly sessions has a
unique theme in clay and every camp every year has a new twist
as she teaches new methods to work with clay to sculpture true
pieces of art (fountais, bird baths, etc)that the entire family
cherish! My kids (now 7, 12, 14) have been going for years to
the summer camps, holiday and spring camps and are always
asking when they can go again! The camps are small and they
usually tell their friends and plan a session together. The
camp is located in a quaint studio on top of Dianne's Berkeley
home, and a charming yard and special treats for break time.
Working with Dianne is also such a fabulous experience as she
gets to know your children and helps them find an outlet for
their creativity! She can be reached at 510-849-3654,
d_stockler@yahoo.com.
ch
Berkeley-Albany YMCA Art Camp
Has anyone had (recent) experience with the Art Camp given at the Albany
YMCA? My daughter loves art, and from the brochure it looks like she could
have a lot of fun in the program. But I'm well aware that things aren't always
as good as they look on paper! Any comments, positive or negative, about
the Albany Y Art Camp would be most appreciated.
Greg (3/00)
My 10-year-old daughter had on-site after-school care from
Albany-Berkeley YMCA staff for several years; great bunch of counselors.
On the other hand, I've found their summer day camps erratic: one
one-week session with a mystery/puzzles/problem-solving theme was pretty
good, and another, which purported to be about mosaics, got as far as a
single small paper collage, and that was it. (Rather shoddy environment,
too.) I wrote a letter of complaint to the program's director and never
received a response.
I daresay a multi-week program might be different, but I would definitely
recommend asking lots of questions and requesting some references from
parents of past students in the program.
Melanie
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